Lucy Davis the winner of the Furusiyya Rider of the Day award at Rotterdam

Davis, riding her chestnut gelding, Barron – who she has partnered since Christmas 2012 – rode two superb clear rounds, ultimately helping Team USA to a consecutive second place finish in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping, in an almost carbon copy of last week's North American qualifier at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows. The 20-year-old American rider pipped the equally impressive Philipp Weishaupt (GER), who also went double clear, and she now joins teammate and close friend, Katie Dinan as a worthy winner of this award.

The Furusiyya Rider of the Day award is presented to the horse & rider combination that is judged to have best displayed qualities such as harmony, partnership, balance and skill throughout their two rounds; values represented and embodied by Furusiyya. The award was judged by Emile Hendrix, Director of Show Jumping at the CHIO Rotterdam. Hendrix was part of the Dutch Jumping team at the 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA), and he has also represented his nation at several European Championships.

Quotes from Lucy Davis:

“It feels amazing to have won this award, and it’s a huge honour. I’m on a team with three women who I’ve looked up to since I started riding, so to have won this award amongst them, and also amongst a very strong German team is a huge honour, and it’s very inspiring.”

“I definitely think that I have a great partner in Barron and he jumped incredible, and this award would definitely not be mine without him. Barron and I started riding at Christmas time 2012 and our first show was at the end of January in California, where I’m from. I then showed him in a sort of Division 2 show at the FEI World Cup™ Final, and he was clear in the Grand Prix there – he's really incredible and i'm very excited for him.”

“Robert Ridland, our Chef D'Equipe had a little faith in me, which I thanks him for. Barron and I got to come here and perform in one of, if not the biggest show of our career, and he rose to the occasion brilliantly. Next week I’ll go to Monaco for the Global Champions Tour, and then it’s a little bit up in the air after that.”

“The atmosphere here in Rotterdam is great, and the ring is fantastic – you really feel as though you’re part of something big. It’s been a very humbling, inspiring and thoroughly great experience for me.”