Show jumper Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum took home the first ever Fédération Equestre Internationale rider award from the gala dinner during the General Assembly meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Nov 19. 

Five equestrians were honored—in addition to Germany’s Michaels-Beerbaum, Michelle Robson won Best Groom, Darlene Milord won the Against All Odds award, Alex Hua Tin took the HSBC Rising Star, and Wendy Gidlow received the Development Award.

Michaels-Beerbaum, 39, has won the last two Rolex FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals aboard Shutterfly. She’s also earned two bronze World Equestrian Games medals and three gold European Championships medals.

“It’s a great honor for me to win this award, particularly as it’s the first time it’s been awarded. It’s an accomplishment every rider would consider very important, and it’s so nice to have my achievements recognized,” said Michaels-Beerbaum.

Robson, 25, won the Best Groom award for her work with Australian Olympic event rider Shane Rose.

Despite severe handicaps, Haiti’s Milord has gone on to perform in the Special Olympics and earned the Against All Odds award.

Hua Tin eared the Rising Star award as China’s first-ever international event rider.

Gidlow received the Development Award for her work to bring horses to underprivileged children as the owner and manager of Heritage Equestrian in South Africa.

The FEI received more than 1200 nominations for the five awards.  The awards were designed to reward fair play, team spirit, inspiration and prowess, as well as celebrate the outstanding achievements of often-underrated athletes.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya headed the judging panel along with eventing and show jumping Olympian Mark Todd, Dominican Republic dressage rider and judge Diana Ramos, Italian show jumping organizer Eleonora Ottaviani, German vaulting champion Kai Vorberg and several Alltech and HSBC representatives.