Canadian international eventer Rebecca Howard and her horse Riddle Master, who are based near Marlborough, have won Canada’s top equestrian awards for 2013.
At a ceremony in Winnipeg on Friday Rebecca was named Canadian Equestrian of the year and Riddle Master – known as Rupert – was named Canadian Bred Horse of the Year.
The pair finished third in the premier eventing completion at the Barbury International Horse Trials last July.
And by finishing twelfth at both Badminton and Burghley, Riddle Master earned thirteenth place in the worldwide eventing federation’s rankings.
Rebecca Howard was brought up in British Columbia and she began her eventing career based on the East Coast of the United States.
She was a member of Team Canada for the 2012 London Olympic Games and for their pre-Games preparations came with the team to Catherine Burrell’s stables at Ogbourne St Andrew’s.
Disappointingly the team were out of luck in London with only two of their team of five completing the Greenwich cross country course. Rebecca and Riddle Master fell and were eliminated.
Following the London Games, Rebecca relocated from America to the stables of New Zealanders Jonelle and Tim Price at Mere Farm on the downs north of Minal.
After the award ceremony in Winnipeg, Rebecca said she was looking forward to competing with Rupert during 2014 – and especially at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in August.
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