The voting for the 2023 FEI Awards opens today, and Switzerland's Steve Guerdat is among the riders nominated in the category Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete.
Established in 2009, the FEI Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progress and excellence of equestrian sport, both in and outside the arena.
Other members of the international showjumping community that have been nominated are:
In the Cavalor FEI Best Groom category:
- Millar Brooke Farm's groom Danny Ingratta
- Steve Guerdat’s groom Emma Uusi-Simola
In the Longines FEI Rising Star category:
- USA’s Mimi Gochman
In the Pivo FEI Inspire category:
- Mexico's Federico Fernandez, a plane crash survivor who despite severe burns and vision impairment competes successfully at 5* level
- Great Britain's Jennie Sharpe who defied medical expectations after being diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome, and made a triumphant return to the saddle despite physical challenges
The public have until 22 October to cast their vote.
The lucky winners will be flown to the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines in Mexico City on 21 November.
To vote, click here.
For a full list of nominees, click here.
The winners will be decided through a system in which 50% of the public’s vote via FEI.org and on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, and 50% of the judges’ vote will be combined to give the final result. The seven expert judges are as follows:
• Ingmar De Vos – FEI President & Chair of the Judges Panel
• Bernardo Tribolet - Vice President Marketing Longines
• Martin Atock - Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award Title Sponsor
• Peter Bollen - Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award Title Sponsor
• Daniela Garcia Nigaglioni – Secretary General of the Pan American Equestrian Confederation
• Jessica Kürten – Chair of the Athletes Committee and member of the FEI Board
• Diane Smith – FEI Solidarity Award winner 2022