Salmon Arm equestrian Rebecca Howard has received the top honours in the country.
Howard was named the Canadian Equestrian of the Year, and her horse Riddle Master earned Canadian Bred Horse of the Year at the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala held Feb. 7 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Upon receiving the Dr. George Jacobsen Trophy for the Canadian Equestrian of the Year award, Howard is quoted in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard as saying: “I am honoured to receive this award and would like to thank Equine Canada for this fabulous evening and for the recognition. I am also delighted for Caroline Blazely, who owns Rupert (Riddle Master) and has collected his Canadian Horse of the Year Award tonight. “Caroline has been such an incredible support to me and believed in us from the outset. Furthermore, she is providing a further exciting opportunity for me, Rupert and Canada in 2014.”
After the 2012 London Olympics, where Howard and Riddle Master were members of the ill-fated Team Canada, Howard relocated to Marlborough, England to continue training Riddle Master as well as other mounts.
She has since had several big competitions and established herself on the international eventing scene, with Riddle Master finishing the season in 13th place in the 2013 FEI World Horse Rankings. Howard is looking forward at the moment to the World Equestrian Games in August in Normandy.
