Described as one of the brightest hopes of the US dressage community, the 21-year-old - who trains with Olympian Lars Petersen - won the Five-Year-Old Championships at the USEF National Dressage Championships this year on a horse she trained herself.

She was also the youngest competitor in the Intermediaire I National Championship at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions at Gladstone.

Announcing the winners of the 2010 FEI Awards at a ceremony in Taipei, FEI secretary general Alex McLin commented: "The nominations we received once again demonstrated that the equestrian community counts many heroes.

"It is an honour for the FEI to acknowledge the achievements and dedication of five people - and a horse - whose work on the equestrian stage or behind the scenes has contributed to highlighting the greatness of our sport or making it accessible."

Dutch dressage rider Edward Gal (pictured) and the extraordinary Moorlands Totilas received the Reem Acra Best Athlete Award for their dazzling achievements - breaking world records in 2009, and winning a historic three gold medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.


Ebony Horse Club founder Ros Spearing took the Alltech Development Award for helping to improve the self-confidence and life skills of some of the most disadvantaged children and young people living in Brixton, South London, by giving them the opportunity to ride horses and take part in outdoor activities and educational visits.

Freelance Michelle Tipper won the Best Groom Award.

Starting as a dressage rider in her native England she soon discovered she preferred grooming to competing and worked for three years as a travelling groom for British Dressage champion Nicky Barrett.

She has since worked freelance for international and national riders, including Paralympians.

German Para-dressage rider Angelika Trabert, who was born without legs and only three fingers on her right hand, won the Against All Odds Award.

She has represented Germany at four Paralympic Games, winning the silver medal in 2008.

Trabert has won some 15 medals at world, European and national equestrian championships and this year competed in the Para-Equestrian Dressage World Championships Grade II at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The ceremony, compered by FEI Director of Non-Olympic Sports Ian Williams, was attended by National Federation delegates, equestrian stakeholders and a number of equestrian personalities.

FEI President, Princess Haya, presented the awards to all the winners.