Horse of Honor and Horse of the Year
The Horse of the Year award is given to an equine athlete selected through a system that considers the analysis of both members and USEF committees. There are two Horse of the Year winners awarded each year: one to a horse competing in a national breed or discipline, and one to a horse who competes in an international discipline.
USEF Horse of the Year Award Nomination Application
What is the criteria?
Each USEF Recognized National or FEI Affiliate may nominate one horse/pony per their respective breed or discipline. Each USEF Breed/Discipline committee may also nominate. Each nominee must be at least 3 years old, have competed in a USEF-licensed competition or FEI competition in 2025, and have won a national championship at a Federation-licensed competition held within the U.S., a FEI-rated four-star competition or higher (or an FEI-rated three-star competition for dressage), or medaled in an FEI continental, regional, or world championship in its respective discipline. (Only exceptions are Welsh Ponies, Connemara Ponies, and Hunters, for which the Affiliate will set forth the criteria for their nomination).
How do I submit a nomination?
Nominations for Horse of the Year come from USEF Breed and Discipline committees or FEI affiliate committees, with each being permitted to submit one horse or pony for consideration to the USEF Awards Committee.
How do you select a winner?
The USEF Awards Committee analyzes all nominations and votes for up to six horses or ponies to be moved forward as finalists. These finalists are given Horse of Honor awards, representing their incredible season on a national or international stage.
From there, USEF membership has an opportunity to select the title winners. Voters rank national and international finalists in order of preference, with their votes weighted based on ranking. Horses with the greatest number of points are selected as the national and international Horse of the Year.
What is the timeline?
Nominations are accepted in August and close in November. The Awards Committee will select Horses of Honor by December for voting to begin. Voting will close at the end of the year, and Horses of the Year will be announced at the Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the US Equestrian Federation’s Annual Meeting.
When do we present the award?
This award is given at the Horse of the Year Awards Dinner during the US Equestrian Federation’s Annual Meeting.