USEF Announces Top Five Finalists in the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year; Voting Now Available Online
Release: December 19 2007
Author: severs
By Kristyn Kay
The tally has just begun, and your votes will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation’s leading equines will be named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. Merely weeks away from the 2008 USEF Annual Meeting, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year—one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows. This year’s winner will join dressage superstar Brentina (2005 winner) and jumping superstar Authentic (2006 winner).
All of the finalists for Horse of the Year will be recognized during the Annual Horse of the Year gala at the USEF Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 12, with the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year Award topping off the evening. The Annual Meeting will be held January 9-13 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, KY. For more information about the Annual Meeting, visit www.usef.org/convention/2008.
Any USEF member can vote for the Horse of the Year. Simply visit www.usef.org and click on the Horse of the Year Voting link on the bottom-right of the homepage. Voting closes January 4.
Aequus+//
Arabian
Owner: Hazelbank Investments
Aequus+//, the winningest park horse in the history of the Arabian breed in the United States, is the only horse to have won the open and amateur park horse championship in the same year. Furthermore, he accomplished this at the age of 19. Bill Rodgers, who works with Aequus at Freedom Farm said that this unique stallion is “a pet to them – an angel, the sweetest thing.”
As a final tribute to his outstanding show career, Aequus+// will carry the American flag at the 2008 U.S. National Arabian & Half- Arabian Championships in Tulsa, where he will be formally retired from competition. However, we will no doubt be thrilled for generations to come by the offspring of this remarkable horse.
2007 Accomplishments
· U.S. National Champion Park Horse
· U.S. National Champion Park Horse Adult Amateur Owner
Previous Accomplishments
· 2005 – U.S. National Champion Park Horse
· 2004 – U.S. National Reserve Champion Park Horse
· 2002 – U.S. National Reserve Champion Park Horse
· 1998 – U.S. National Champion Park Horse
· 1997 – U.S. National Champion Park Horse
· 1996 – Canadian Champion Park Horse
· 1995 – Canadian Champion Park Horse
· 1995 – U.S. National Reserve Champion Park Horse
· 1992 – U.S. National Reserve Champion Arabian Formal Driving
· Received five top tens at U.S. Nationals in Park Horse through out his career
· Received seven regional championships in park horse and formal driving during his career
Esteban
Friesian
Owner: Deb Goldmann
Esteban, a six-year-old Friesian is described as being gentle and quiet while in the barn by his owner, Deb Goldmann. However, she added, “he’s a ham and loves to be the center of the show,” once he enters the ring. Esteban proved her true at the 2007 International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) World and Grand National Championship Horse Show. When shown at hand with handler Steven Stiller, he was all class, topping the gelding ranks. Goldmann chose Stiller to show Esteban because he is the only handler who can keep up the 16.1-hand gelding. When it came to the driving classes, Esteban demonstrated that he was not only ideal in conformation, but had talent as well. His ability to adapt was showcased as he was awarded national champion titles with three different drivers- David Hennen, Gwyneth Rausch, and Goldmann. As the competition year ended, Esteban held the National Horse of the Year titles for both Friesian in-hand and driving divisions.
2007 Accomplishments
· World Champion Friesian Senior Gelding six and Over
· Wo
