Annual Report 2020
In a year where sport was largely put on hold, the FEI found a novel way to celebrate the fantastic ambassadors within the equestrian community with a retrospective lens looking back on a decade of FEI Award winners and success stories.
“Equestrian is not just a sport, but a way of life for many people and this has been a desperately difficult year for the equestrian community, just as it has been for everyone in every sector. Now, more than ever, we need to focus on the positives that our sport has to offer and celebrate the fantastic ambassadors that we have, both on the field of play and behind the scenes making a difference.”
FEI President Ingmar De Vos
All 55 former winners of the FEI Awards – 11 per category – were re-presented to the public to vote for their favourite winner in each category, and effectively select the Award winner of the decade. Once the votes compiled (over 100,000 received) and in order to surprise the winners at home, the FEI liaised closely with their families and friends (secret agents) to capture their reactions and excitement at the great news. The 2020 winners were then revealed with a moving video narrated by British Paralympic champion Natasha Baker featuring online interviews and the moment of surprise when they found out they had won.
Semmieke Rothenberger, winner of the Longines FEI Rising Star Award in 2019 was also the 2020 favourite. The 21 year-old was overcome with emotion when her family held a surprise presentation of the award for her at their home in Germany.
“I’m very grateful that so many people voted for me and that there is such a big fan base of people that support me. It is also quite surreal because there were so many good athletes in this category, including my brother Sönke, so I didn’t really expect that I would win it again.”
Double Olympic Eventing team gold medallist and five-time Olympian Ingrid Klimke (GER) was delighted to win a second Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award.
“This is all still a little bit unreal but I’m so thrilled and happy!”
Ingrid’s win took an even sweeter taste as her groom Carmen Thiemann, who won the FEI Best Groom Award in 2013, also took the win a second time. When speaking about their long term collaboration Ingrid said:
“We have been successful as a team for many years and I would never go to a show or a Championship without Carmen. She is a best friend to the horses and I can totally focus on my job, either in Cross Country or in Dressage, knowing that Carmen brings them out as happy and healthy as possible.”
Ten years after winning their first award, the Ebony Horse Club (GBR) was once again the recipient of the FEI Solidarity Award. General Manager of the Ebony Horse Club Naomi Howgate said:
“This award, coming at the end of a really challenging year, just validates everything that we’re working for. To be recognised as the best of the decade is such a huge accolade and has made us extremely proud of the work that we do here.”
The 2020 FEI Against All Odds Award went to German Paralympian Dr Angelika Trabert. Born without legs and only three fingers on her right hand, Angelika is well known in the equestrian community for her indefatigable spirit and her motto, “It’s ability, not disability, that counts.” She has won six Paralympic medals and four at the FEI World Equestrian Games™.
“I feel this is an award and a reward for the work I’ve been doing and what I feel is important for our sport. You should always look on the positive side, especially in these times. It’s very hard for a lot of people and it counts more than ever to look upon the possibilities and abilities that we have. And there are many.”
The 2020 winners, although unable to attend a glittering Gala ceremony, did receive some wonderful gifts, with Longines offering all the winners a beautiful Longines timepiece (with the exception of the FEI Solidarity recipient who receives a donation); Peden Bloodstock offered Ingrid Klimke a generous travel voucher; and Cavalor offered Carmen Thieman a generous product voucher.
“In, what has been a very particular year, looking back on the history of the FEI Awards has allowed us take a trip down memory lane, to follow up on the evolution of our stars and to celebrate a decade of equestrian success stories. And next year we will hopefully be able to come together in person again to let our stars shine bright at another glamorous FEI Awards Gala.”
FEI President Ingmar De Vos
