#ERHOTY is back and voting is OPEN!
EquiRatings Horse of the Year is back and the competition is fiercer than ever. The data analysts at EquiRatings have joined the stats with the stand out performances of the year to bring you a hotly contested shortlist. Seven finalists are battling it out to be crowned ERHOTY 2021 and add their name to an exclusive list which includes the likes of Allstar B, Donner, Don Geniro and Rioghan Rua.
For the next seven days, the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast will bring you seven unique interviews with the biggest names in the sport right now, each campaigning for their horse to take home the ERHOTY title. We’ll hear from the Olympic champion, Julia Krajewski, double Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung and the FEI Rising Star award winner, Greta Busacker. Double Olympic medalist Tom McEwen will have his say and we’ll be treated to interviews with the eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy, European champion Nicola Wilson and CCI5* Maryland winner Boyd Martin.
You can listen to the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for free across all podcast platforms, don’t forgot to subscribe to be notified when a new interview goes live. Listen to the ERHOTY launch show here.
Meet this year's contenders...
Amande de B'Neville
In a story with more emotion than a Disney movie, Amande de B’Neville stepped out of the shadows to provide a fairytale 2021 for Julia Krajewski. She won three of her four international runs in 2021, culminating in a history-making gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics (first female Olympic Eventing Champion).
Toledo de Kerser
Few perform better under pressure than Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser. Toledo won Bicton CCI4*-S in the spring to secure his call up to the Olympic team for Great Britain and proved their class in Tokyo winning the individual silver medal. They added just 0.4 time penalties to their dressage score helping to secure team Gold for Great Britain on the record lowest team finishing score at an Olympic Games.
Vassily De Lassos
Even after a lengthy hold on the XC course at Tokyo, Vassily de Lassos was the only horse to finish on his dressage score at the Olympic games. Vassily and eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy were the toast of Australia securing an individual bronze and team silver medal.
On Cue
On Cue ended the long wait for a US CCI5* winner when topping the podium at the inaugural Maryland CCI5* in October and is the reigning USA CCI5* National Champion (Kentucky, best placed US rider) as well as being the current USEA Advanced Champion. What a year, it’s been for this American powerhouse!
JL Dublin
Dublin made Team GB stalwart Nicola Wilson’s dreams come true this year taking home individual and team Gold for team GB at the European championships, finishing on one of the lowest scores ever seen at a Europeans. They won three of their four international runs in 2021 also taking home the win at the NAF Five Star Hartpury CCI4*-S and Bicton CCI4*-L.
FischerChipmunk FRH
A controversial 11 penalties stood between Michael Jung and his third consecutive Olympic title but FischerChipmunk FRH still finishes 2021 as the top rated Elo horse in the world. He only ran five times in 2021 (including the Tokyo Olympics) and won on four occasions.
Scrabble OLD
It was an outstanding year for Scrabble OLD and German rider Greta Busacker who were crowned the European Young Rider Champions 2021. They ran six times internationally in 2021 and never finished outside the top five. They were on the podium five times and won on four of those occasions. One to watch for the future!
This year ERHOTY has partnered with the incredible Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity. Hannah established her charity to fund research into bone cancer, particularly Osteosarcoma and to provide Willberry’s Wishes to seriously ill people of all ages. If you'd like to join EquiRatings in supporting this special charity, you can donate directly here.
