Horse Illustrated Magazine

Your vote counts! It 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. All heads are now turning to the five equine finalists—one of which will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year, the most prestigious award the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) bestows. This year’s winner will join dressage superstar Brentina (2005 winner) jumping superstar Authentic (2006 winner) and the late eventing great Theodore O’Connor (2007 winner).

The five equine finalists are:

1. Adams Fire, Half-Arabian owned by Starline Arabians, LLC
His top 2008 accomplishments include:
*2008 Unanimous U.S. Youth National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure
*2008 Unanimous U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Adult Amateur Owner to Ride
*2008 Unanimous U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Open

2. Dante FO, Friesian from Friesian Quest, LLC
His top 2008 accomplishments include:
*2008 International Friesian Show Horse Association Awards Program Accomplishments:
*2008 IFSHA Grand Champion Friesian All-Round High Point
*2008 IFSHA Friesian Dressage Champion
*2008 IFSHA Friesian Hunter and Hack Champion

3. Flexible, Irish showjumping stallion owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman
His top 2008 accomplishments include:
*2008 Winner of the Desert Circuit II FEI IHP $50,000 Grand Prix CSI-W
*2008 Winner of the Desert Circuit III FEI IHP $50,000 Grand Prix CSI-W
*2008 Winner of the Desert Circuit IV FEI IHP $50,000 Grand Prix CSI-W
*2008 2nd Place Rolex FEI World Cup
*2008 Part of the winning American Team at the five-star Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows

4. Jamaica, driving Dutch Warmblood owned by Chester C. Weber
His 2008 top accomplishments include:
*Individual Silver Medal, World Four-In-Hand Championships
*Winner of dressage at World Four-In-Hand Championships
*Winner of CAI-A Riesenbeck
*Winner of dressage at CIA-A Riesenbeck
*Winner of International Driving Derby
*3rd at CAIO Aachen
*USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion

5. Tiziano, Dutch Warmblood owned by Stone Hill Farm
His top 2008 accomplishments inlcude:
*Devon Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter Champion, Overall Large Junior Hunter Champion, *Devon Grand Junior Hunter Champion
*Hampton Classic Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion
*Washington International Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion, Grand Champion Junior *Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament-Large Junior Hunter Champion

All of the finalists for Horse of the Year will be recognized during the Horse of the Year gala at the USEF Annual Meeting on Friday, January 16, with the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year Award topping off the evening. The Annual Meeting will be held January 14-18 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Any USEF member can vote online for the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. Voting is now open at www.usef.org (scroll down to the end of the page where there will be a Horse of the Year voting link on the bottom left corner of the homepage). For more biographical information about the Horse of the Year finalists, visit /redirect.php?location=http%3a%2f%2fwww.usef.org%2f_IFrames%2fnewsdisplay%2fviewPR.aspx%3fid%3d3928. Voting for Horse of the Year will close on January 9, 2009 at 5 p.m. EST.