Lexington, Ky. - At the USEF Year End Awards Gala Saturday night Abigail Wexner's Simon and Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd's Brunello were named International Horse of the Year and National Horse of the Year respectively. Voting was open to the public in December and both horses, already fan favorites, were rewarded for their tremendous results throughout 2013 with support from voters.

International Horse of the Year

Simon (Mr. Blue x Naline)
1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding
Owner: Abigail Wexner

With rider Beezie Madden, who was named 2013 USEF Equestrian of the Year on Friday, Simon's year was one of top finishes in the U.S., and on the biggest international stages. Simon started the year in Wellington, Fla., where he secured a fourth-place finish in the Adequan Grand Prix at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, and jumped fault free as a member of the victorious U.S. team at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm.

Simon's biggest win of the year, and of his career thus far, came in April at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden. After winning the opening Speed Leg, Simon kept up his good form throughout the week. It came down to a jump-off, but under the steady hand of Madden, Simon kept composure well and beat out 2012 Olympic Champions Steve Guerdat and Nino Buissonnets to earn his, and Madden's, first ever Rolex/FEI World Cup Final title. Their win in Gothenburg was the second consecutive the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final victory, and a USEF awards trend. Following in the footsteps of 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final winner's Flexible and Rich Fellers, Simon and Madden won the Final, then went on to win the popular vote and take home the USEF International Horse of the Year and Equestrian of the Year titles.

Simon's year didn't end in April though, as he continued to jump well through the summer and fall. At Spruce Meadows Simon collected third place finishes in both the PwC Cup and the ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. At the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, Simon and Madden anchored the team and helped it earn the Consolation Round win.

"This is my favorite awards night of the year because it honors the horse," said Madden while accepting the award for Simon,. "I think what makes Simon so special is his athletic ability and his desire. I have to thank his owner Abigail Wexner for all of her support."

See Simon in action and hear more about the year that earned him International Horse of the Year in this video that was shown at the Year End Awards Gala on Saturday.

National Horse of the Year

Brunello (Breeding Unknown)
1998 Hanoverian gelding
Owner: Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd

For years Brunello has been a star of the hunter ring. His signature style, consistent top finishes, and partnership with rider/co-owner  Liza Boyd has made him a distinguished winner and fan favorite. They've been a fixture on the International Hunter Derby scene since the program's inception, and they earned their biggest win to date in August.

Having won International Hunter Derby classes in each the previous four months, the Camden Spring International Hunter Derby in March, Atlanta Spring International Hunter Derby in May, the Summer International Hunter Derby in June, and the BRCHS International Hunter Derby in July, the pair went into Lexington at the top of their game. After the Classic Hunter round Brunello and Boyd found themselves in second place, but one good Handy Hunter round away from a shot at winning. Their round was excellent, and with it they earned the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship.

Brunello's began in the winter with second place finishes at the Jacksonville Finale International Hunter Derby and the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.

"He such a special horse," said Boyd when hearing about Brunello's win, "I've had him since 2007 and every, every day he comes out and tries his heart out for me...he's the horse of a lifetime and he really, really deserves this award."

The video honoring Brunello at the USEF Year End Awards Gala is below.

The following four horses were honored in 2013 as USEF Horses of Honor.

A Ruf Gal (Lil Ruf Peppy x My Top Sail Gal)
2006 Quarter Horse mare
Owner: Pete Kyle

Pete Kyle's A Ruf Gal entered 2013 as one of the top reining mares in the country and continued to earn top results in her best season to date. Her phenomenal 2013 campaign began in April with a fifth-place finish in the CRI3* and a Reserve World Championship Freestyle title at the Kentucky Reining Cup. Next she won the CRI3* and the USA Reining Open class at the NRHA Derby in June, before earning co-champion honors in the CRI3* and a top-10 finish in the Senior Reining division at the AQHA World Show.

Watch A Ruf Gal's Horse of Honor video here.

WGC CHCallaway's Annabel Allison
(CHCaramac x Callaway's Love Lucy)
2004 American Saddlebred mare
Owner: Silver Brook Stables

WGC CHCallaway's Annabel Allison entered the record books in 2013 as the first mare to win the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship title at the Kentucky State Fair in 14 years. In the lead-up to her historic win in Louisville, Silver Brook Stables' impressive mare and rider Debbie Foley earned the Five-Gaited Championship at the Midwest Charity Horse Show. The talented duo completed its 2013 campaign with another Five-Gaited victory at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Show.

Watch WGC CGCallaway's Annabel Allison's Horse of Honor video here.

Sam (Manno x Kimberly)
2002 KWPN gelding
Owner: Misdee Wrigley-Miller

Sam stepped up his game when he was needed most in 2013. Always dependable in the coaching discipline, Sam was called upon to perform on the world stage in championship level combined driving over the summer. He met the challenge gamely was undeterred as he drove alongside an inexperienced youngster to help the U.S. earn its best finish ever, fourth, at CAI Riesenbeck then delivered the performance of a lifetime at the World Championships in Slovakia, helping the United States to finish again in fourth place, just five points away from the podium.

Watch Sam's Horse of Honor video here.

Bizkit (Bonte Bart x Holde Van Emden)
2001 Part-Bred Friesian stallion
Owner: Gwendolyn Schmidt

Bizkit has been a horse-of-a-lifetime for owner Gwendolyn Schmidt, and his phenomenal talent and temperament were rewarded in 2013. He claimed three World Grand Championships, one World Reserve Championship, and a World Championship Top Five, in addition to two National Grand Championships, five National Reserve Championships, 16 Regional Grand Championships, three Regional Reserve Championships and one Regional Top Five. At the Buckeye Baroque Summer Jubilee, Bizkit was named the High Point Part-Bred Friesian, and earned the High Point Award at the IFSHA World & National Championship Show.

Watch Bizkit's Horse of Honor video here.

More from the 2014 USEF Annual Meeting is available at
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014USEFAnnualMeeting/