Ravel is only 12 years old, but he’s already won more than any U.S. dressage horse before him, and the U.S. Equestrian Federation membership honored him for his accomplishments this year with the Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year title at the Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the USEF Convention.
Steffen Peters and Ravel had already shown their immense talent in 2008 by sweeping the U.S. Olympic selection trials and placing fourth individually in the Beijing Olympic Games.
His first big win of 2009 came when took home the Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas, Nev. He won both the Grand Prix and the freestyle, something never before done by a U.S. horse.
He went on to sweep all three Grand Prix classes at the Aachen CDIO (Germany) in July against Europe’s top horses. Again, this accomplishment was a first for a U.S. pair.
“I think it was a great year for U.S. dressage if I may humbly say so,” said owner Akiko Yamazaki. “It put us on the world map, at the top.”
Yamazaki thanked Ravel’s entire team in her acceptance speech, citing the international make-up of the superstar’s inner circle.
Other equine superstars in contention included: Courage To Lead, Kripton-Seni II, CH Our Charming Lady and Sapphire.