The True North of Horsemanship: Are We Chasing USEF Awards or Something Bigger?

In the whirlwind of the show season, it’s easy to get swept up in the pursuit of year-end awards and the points required to secure them. Schedules are mapped out and scores are tallied, with every lead change and distance under a microscope. There is nothing inherently wrong with being competitive—those tri-color ribbons represent hard work and talent. But for a USEF Horse of the Year Award to have true value, the chase for the trophy must run parallel to the chase for better horsemanship. If the two paths diverge, it's time to ask: Are we winning the class but losing the plot?

The High Cost of the "Win At All Costs" Mentality

When the primary metric of success is a ranking or an award, the "win at all costs" mentality creeps in. Ethics are often sidelined for convenience, and the physical or mental well-being of the horse becomes secondary to the standings.

Consider a recent example from the 2025 season, where a top USEF award winner competed in a staggering 39 shows in a single year. When a horse is on a trailer or in a show stall for nearly 80% of the year, is that horsemanship? Can the pursuit of a prestigious award and the preservation of the horse exist on the same path at that volume? If the prestige of a title causes an owner to overlook the recovery time and longevity of their partner, is the victory truly worth celebrating?

The Mounting Block Divide

At the heart of this great sport is the connection with the horse. Yet, there is a growing trend of riders who meet their horse at the mounting block and hand the reins back the second the work is done. Can a strong connection with the horse exist when the only time spent with the horse is in the irons? Treating the horse as a piece of sports equipment to be delivered ready to go like a valet-parked car means missing the quiet conversations—the subtle flinch that signals soreness or the trust built during the unseen hours of daily care. The best riders in the world know that the win is often rooted in the grooming stall, not just between the mounting block and the exit gate.

Pilots vs. Passengers: The Pre-Flight Check

In aviation, no matter how seasoned a pilot is, they perform a walk-around. They touch the wings, check the fuel, and ensure the craft is flightworthy prior to liftoff. They take responsibility for the machine that carries them.

The sport needs more pilots, not just passengers.

• The Pilot understands that responsibility starts long before entering the ring. They know how to tack up, understand the mechanics of their equipment, and can feel a heat signature in a leg before it becomes a lameness.

• The Passenger may have the skill to navigate a course, but they remain disconnected from the preparation that makes the performance possible.

  
  

Simplifying the requirements of the sport to focus solely on the time spent in the saddle risks losing the foundational skills that define a true equestrian. What does the future look like with riders who can navigate a technical course but lack the comfort or knowledge to prepare their own horse for the ride?

Redefining USEF Awards

Tricolors and year-end honors should be the byproduct of excellent horsemanship, not the replacement for it. Real horsemanship is holistic—it’s the grooming, the tacking, and the advocacy for the animal when they cannot speak for themselves. Being a "passenger" shouldn't be enough in a sport that requires two hearts to beat as one.

The ultimate award isn't something that can be pinned to a lapel or hung on a wall; it’s the integrity of the partnership and the knowledge that the horse's needs always came first. Moving through the season, horsemanship should be the thing leading the way.

Attending the 2021 USEF National Horse of the Year Awards