The open and rookie winners of the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards for 2012 will be honored on January 17 at the United States Equestrian Federation’s annual meeting in Louisville, KY. The Sport Horse Awards are given each year to Thoroughbreds participating in their second careers as performance horses in jumper, hunter, eventing and dressage competitions throughout the year.
Courageous Comet - Eventing Division Winner
The Sport Horse Awards are given each year to Thoroughbreds participating in their second careers as performance horses in jumper, hunter, eventing and dressage competitions throughout the year.
© 2012 by Henry Bucklow/Lazy Photography
Thoroughbreds are bred to be superior athletes and, therefore, excel in all disciplines. These awards were created to celebrate the horses that best represent their breed in these four disciplines.
Competitors earn points toward the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards at USEF-sanctioned events during the show season, and the open divisional awards go to the highest point earners. Rookie awards in each division ensure that newcomers are recognized as well.
At the end of the year, a Horse of the Year is chosen from among the divisional winners by a celebrity committee.
“The fact that organizations like Rood and Riddle, Three Chimneys Farm, and countless others are embracing and promoting retired and repurposed racehorses is helping to bridge the gap between the racing and performance horse worlds, the results of which will benefit everyone, both human and equine.” – Jen Roytz, Marketing and Communications Director: Three Chimneys Farm
Making a return to the awards list was Courageous Comet; Tom and Becky Holder’s two-time horse of the year and four-time open eventing award winner. “Comet” picked up an open award for the eventing division. Also making a return to the list are Thomas Edison and Lord Kenmar.
2012 Rookie Winners:
- Hunter Division: Curb Appeal, by Foxtrail out of Wings of Society. Owned by Charlotte Clark of Ohio
- Jumper Division: Arkansas (Jockey Club Name: Blackcuda), by Cornish Snow out of Western Hula. Owned by Steve Williams of Arkansas
- Dressage Division: Puppylove (Jockey Club Name: Rainy), by Shot of Gold out of Rainfall. Owned by Suzanne Wepplo of Minnesota
- Eventing Division: Nonsensical, by Point Given out of On the Brink. Owned by Emilee Libby of California
2012 Open Winners:
- Hunter Division: Nicki (Jockey Club Name: Nicki’s Favorite), by Favorite Express out of Pretty Nicki. Owned by Susan McCarthy of Clayton, MI
- Jumper Division: Thomas Edison (Jockey Club Name: Raejan Runner), by Handsome Character out of Love to Kiter. Owned by Alex Jayne of Illinois and Ira Schulman of Arizona.
- Dressage Division: Lord Kenmer, by Lord Avie out of Search for Reality. Owned by Shari Wolke of Michigan
- Eventing Division: Courageous Comet, by Comet Shine out of Rosenelli. Owned by Tom and Rebecca Holder.
About Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is a full-service equine hospital established in 1986 as a referral center for horses requiring specialized medical and surgical care. Today Rood & Riddle is known and respected throughout the world for innovative and highly skilled treatment of horses.
The hospital facility offers a full range of services including surgery, internal medicine, advanced diagnostic imaging, a focused Podiatry Center and specialized Reproductive Center. The practice also provides ambulatory services for emergencies, preventative care, general reproduction, radiography, medical care and treatment of your horse at your farm or stable.
Rood and Riddle’s reputation stems from an unwavering commitment to quality, both in the care of horses and in the relationships with clients and community.