FEI Awards

About the FEI Awards

The FEI Awards were launched in 2009 to put a spotlight on the men, women, young people and organisations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progress and excellence of equestrian sport – in or out of the arena.

The five FEI Awards categories are:

  • Rising Star

    Rising Star, for a person aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment.

  • Best Athlete

    Best Athlete, for the athlete that, over the past year, has demonstrated exceptional skill in the arena and taken the sport to a new level.

  • Best Groom

    Best Groom, for that important person who works behind the scenes and ensures the horses he or she looks after are given the best possible care.

  • Against All Odds

    Against All Odds, for a person who has pursued his or her equestrian ambitions despite a physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances.

  • FEI Solidarity

    FEI Solidarity, for an FEI Solidarity or equestrian development project, an individual or organisation that has demonstrated skill, dedication and energy in expanding the sport.

The nominations

  • Each year the nominations in the five categories are open to the FEI Family for a certain time period (to be communicated each year).
  • Four nominations are shortlisted by the FEI in each of the five categories and presented to the public vote. Throughout this time period which is newly determined each year nominees have the opportunity to promote themselves in order to obtain a maximum number of votes.
  • The results of the public vote count for 50%. The remaining 50% will be made up by the panel of judges.
  • The winners will be announced at the FEI Awards Gala tasking place in a different location each year.

The ceremony

The winners will be flown to a glittering and glamourous gala evening where over 350 guests representing 134 National Federations, enthusiasts and stakeholders from around the world will celebrate their achievements.

Nominations are closed

Get to know the winners, their stories and all the latest from the FEI Awards

  • Winners of 2018 Awards in Manama

    Winners of 2018 Awards in Manama

    The winners of the FEI Awards 2018, from left to right: FEI Solidarity Award winner The Horsemanship Movement (CHN); FEI Best Groom Award winner Lee McKeever (IRL); Fosun Best Athlete Award winner Simone Blum (GER); FEI Solidarity Award winner The Horsemanship Movement (CHN); FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibañez; Longines Rising Star Award winner Victor Levecque (FRA); FEI President Ingmar de Vos; Against All Odds Award winner Leila Malki (PLE); Longines Vice President, Head of International Marketing Juan-Carlos Capelli; Masters of Ceremony Natasha Baker and Juan Matute Guimon in Manama (BRN) 20 November 2018.

  • Winners of 2017 Awards in Montevideo

    Winners of 2017 Awards in Montevideo

    The winners of the FEI Awards 2017, from left to right: FEI Solidarity Award winner former Vice President of the Indian Equestrian Federation, Manoj Jalan; Longines Rising Star Award winner Harry Allen (IRL); Against All Odds Award winner Emma Booth (AUS); FEI Best Groom Award winner Alan Davies (GBR) and FEI President, Ingmar De Vos in Montevideo (URU) 21 November 2017

  • Winners of 2016 Awards in Tokyo

    Winners of 2016 Awards in Tokyo

    Master of ceremonies Liz Price (1st from the left) and Japan’s Koji Murofushi (third from the left) with Against All Odds winner Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA), Longines Rising Star Sönke Rothenberger (GER) and Badre Fakir representing the Moroccan Federation – winners of the FEI Solidarity Award. Unfortunately Best Athlete Nick Skelton (GBR) and Best Groom Mark Beever (GBR) were unable to attend the FEI Awards Gala due to sporting commitments. For more on the winners, click here.

    © FEI/Richard Juilliart

  • Winners of 2015 Awards in Puerto Rico

    Winners of 2015 Awards in Puerto Rico

    From left to right: Longines VP Juan-Carlos Capelli, Hollywood actress Bo Derek, Boyd Exell, Jessica Mendoza, Oriana Ricca Marmissolle, Jose Eduardo (Eddie) Garcia Luna, Anne-Rose Schoen (Les Chevaux qui pansent les plaies (Horses that heal wounds)), FEI President Ingmar de Vos.

    Photo: FEI / Richard Juilliart

  • Winners of 2014 Awards in Baku

    Winners of 2014 Awards in Baku

    From left to right: HRH Princess Haya, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Melissa Tan chairman of equine therapy centre Equal Ark, Jackie Potts, Lambert Leclezio with (centre) Sydney Collier and her service dog Journey. Photo: FEI/Liz Gregg

  • Winners of 2013 Awards in Montreux

    Winners of 2013 Awards in Montreux

    From left to right: Carmen Thiemann, Colonel Antonio Fernando Nuñez (director of the National Army School of Uruguay), Joann Formosa, Reed Kessler, Charlotte Dujardin

  • Winners of 2012 Awards in Istanbul

    Winners of 2012 Awards in Istanbul

    From left to right: Celia Rijntjes, Courtney King-Dye, Sharon Boyce, Thomas McDermott

  • Winners of 2011 Awards in Rio de Janeiro

    Winners of 2011 Awards in Rio de Janeiro

    From left to right: Adelinde Cornelissen, Nina Lamsam Ligon, Lisa Wells (from Reem Acra), Alice Gaillard, Soraya Ourrais.

    Photo: FEI / Rosane Bakierman

  • Winners of 2010 Awards in Taipei

    Winners of 2010 Awards in Taipei

    From left to right: Michelle Tipper, Caroline Roffman, Ros Spearing, Angelika Trabert.

    Photo: William Tzeng/FEI

  • Winners of 2009 Awards in Copenhagen

    Winners of 2009 Awards in Copenhagen

    From left to right: Michelle Robson, Darlene Milord, Alex Hua Tian, Wendy Gidlow.

    Photo: © Klaus Sletting Jensen