United States Eventing Association

Throwback Thursday Presented by the Endowment Trust: Horse and Rider of the Year, 1983

In 1984, Bruce Davidson was awarded the Windy Acre Farm Trophy for Rider of the Year for the second year in a row, following a successful eventing season in 1983 on Pilot Kid, J.J. Babu, and Dr. Peaches. At that point in his career, he had won Burghley and the World Championships twice, and had been riding for the USET for over a decade. The award was made doubly special because a horse that he produced and rode up through the levels, Pilot Kid, was awarded Horse of the Year as well. Read the full article here.

From the award announcement:

"Bruce is a sensitive rider who instills confidence in his young horses by starting them slowly as youngsters, and never overfacing them. He spends ample time schooling his young horses at home over a variety of small obstacles and taking time at the lower levels so they are mentally and physically prepared for bigger competition later on."

Thanks to the Endowment Trust for making the Eventing USA/USCTA News Archive available, which hosts issues dating all the way back to 1960! Log in to your Online Services account to view the full archive, and don't forget to renew your USEA membership for 2015 to get Eventing USA delivered to your doorstep.