Jill MedingerBoth Laura Kraut and Hunt Tosh rode to the top of the 2021 year, earning the International and National Horsemen of the Year Awards at the 2022 Pegasus Awards Dinner Celebration at the USEF Annual Meeting in Naples, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 13.
Crowned International Horseman of 2021, Laura Kraut’s year was full of success, the highlight of her year being awarded with a team silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Kraut became the oldest U.S. female athlete to bring home a medal since 1904, after being selected to compete on her third olympic team. Leading up to this monumental moment, Kraut captured her first win with her olympic mount, Baloutinue, earlier in 2021. After taking over the ride on Baloutinue, the two rode to the top of the pack together in the $137,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix CSI3*. It was later that the pair also helped the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team place fifth at the Nations Cup of Rome CSIO5*. This was then followed by second place in the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome CSIO5*.
The 2020 year continued to hold great successes for the pair with yet another win at the with the U.S. team in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup CSIO5*. This was the first U.S. win since 2005. Accompanying this achievement was a fifth place in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen. Due to Kraut’s achievements, her name will be engraved on the Equestrian of the Year Perpetual Trophy.
Accompanying Kraut’s International Horseman of 2021 at the Pegasus Awards was Hunt Tosh, who took home National Horseman of the Year. Tosh’s successes in the ring at many of the most prestigious hunter competitions across the country was accompanied by his mount, Cannon Creek. Cannon Creek, owned by the Wheeler family, was a relatively new horse to Tosh when coming on the 2020 scene. The pair’s first major victory came at the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. It was there that the pair dominated the other 103 entries from the first round. Following this, the pair also won the 2021 Pennsylvania National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship. Cannon Creek and Tosh’s successes in the ring later led Tosh to win the title as the 2021 Leading Hunter Rider.
Aside from his many accomplishments aboard Cannon Creek, Tosh also had standout showings in the 2021 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships. Tosh and his mount Chorus won the 3’ to 3’3” championship as well as the first round of the 3’6”-3’9” championship. With this multiple other mounts within the division, Tosh was able to earn in the money-winning positions on three other mounts. Later, Tosh was also awarded the 2021 Kenneth Wheeler Style award of Riding for his impeccable classic style of riding. Along with Laura Kraut, Tosh will also have his name engraved on the Equestrian of the Year Perpetual Trophy.
To view other big winners of the 2022 Pegasus Awards Dinner Celebration at the USEF Annual Meeting, visit USEF.org