The U.S. Equestrian Federation’s annual meeting wrapped up last night in Naples, Fla., with a salute to the country’s standout horses in six breeds and disciplines.
The Smart Pak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards featured not only high-score horses in categories from Arabian to American Saddlebred and western dressage, but also equine stars who were candidates for National and International Horse of the Year.
Jenny and Kost Karazissis with USEF President Tom O’Mara after accepting the award for National Horse of the Year Big Shot. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Those honors were voted on by the public, with the hunter Big Shot winning the National title for owner Dulcie Lou Morris and rider Jenny Karazissis. An 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos,
Big Shot’s biggest win last year was the $100,000 World Championship Hunter Rider West Coast Spectacular.
The International title belonged to Ann Thompson’s Balou de Reventon, a 16-year-old Oldenburg stallion by Cornet Obolensky ridden by Brian Moggre.
Brian, who had a top career as a junior, started riding Balou in 2020. They were the reserve combination for the Tokyo Olympics. Brian and Balou led the U.S. team to gold in the Aachen, Germany, Nations Cup, the first time an American contingent had won that title since 2005. Balou also was second in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen.
Brian, who is 20, gave an emotional speech at the convention after accepting Balou’s award, noting that he wrote it by himself and didn’t show it to anyone before delivering it at the dinner.
Brian and Balou du Reventon. (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)
After saluting the other International contenders, Dolton, the double-gold para-dressage mount of Roxie Trunnell and Steffen Peter’s Olympic dressage ride, Suppenkasper, Brian spoke about how he had never before gotten a horse of Balou’s character until he was selected by Ann for the ride in late 2020, and thanked Balou’s owner for the great opportunity he had received.
“The first time I laid eyes on Balou, I thought to myself, `Where is the rest of you?’ ” Brian recalled. But he soon came to realize the little horse was quite the powerhouse.
“I continue to learn something from him each and every day,” Brian said.
The first European show in which he rode Balou was the 5-star in St. Tropez. Brian was a little unsure when he started there, but could depend on Balou and “he showed me the way, as he always does.”
Brian Moggre and Ann Thompson with Balou du Reventon’s impressive trophy. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
As Brian noted, “I continue to learn something from him each and every day. What Balou has in his heart and soul you cannot instill into any horse.”
Ann said she selected Brian as Balou’s rider after looking at his videos.
“I just watched the things that he did that I thought would be really good and match up with Balou. They just seemed like they would be a perfect match for each other, and it worked out great.”
