Professional Rider of the Year 2026

Professional Rider of the Year 2026

Honouring the greatest rider of the year, who is a hero and an inspiration to others, and whose ability is a blessing for both their horses and our sport.

Which of the following riders from across the disciplines most deserves the crown?

The shortlist

After a turbulent year spent rebuilding his string of horses, the Hampshire showjumper made a whirlwind comeback in 2026 with new ride, LT Holst Freda. The mare was bought for his wife Eve, but it was love at first sight for Harry.

Within three months he and Freda had helped Great Britain win the Longines League of Nations team competition in Rotterdam – jumping-off to secure top honours – and claimed both team and individual bronze at the World Championships in Aachen, after a remarkable climb up the leaderboard from 59th after day two.

“Winning my first individual medal was always top of any list of goals I’ve made,” says Harry.

This brace of bronzes takes the Olympic champion’s tally of senior championship medals to four, all by the age of just 27.

Lottie, 30, made an incredible comeback in 2026 with the great stallion Glamourdale, completing a historic “double-double” by defending both of her individual titles at the World Dressage Championships, as well as helping the team to silver.

After the grand prix special, Lottie told H&H: “I knew it was the best test we’d ever done. There have been amazing tests before, but for the whole thing to come together like
that was incredible.”

The atmosphere in the freestyle was intense, but Glammy loves a crowd and Lottie said: “I’ve never been so relaxed. We were just chilling in there, enjoying it, going with the music, taking our time. When I got off, I said to everyone, ‘We couldn’t have done any more.’ That’s such a good feeling to have.”

The 46-year-old’s greatest achievement of 2026 was winning the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, with her home-bred partner of a lifetime, Jagerbomb, in April. After winning the grand prix in the opening round, they scored a personal best of 88.33% in the freestyle, riding to their crowd-pleasing Beatles-themed medley.

The pair went on to have a rollercoaster experience at the World Dressage Championships in Aachen in August, ultimately delivering an inspired performance to finish fifth in the freestyle, where the crowd were on their feet in appreciation.

After the freestyle, Becky said: "That is a serious ask for any horse to go into an environment like that. The crowd is phenomenal; you could feel it building through the test. You can feel the atmosphere building as you’re riding.”

Ros, 40, began 2026 by giving birth to Seneh, a sister to Ziggy. Three months later, she was not only competing at, but winning a historic third Badminton aboard Lordships Graffalo.

“Physically, I’m not up to where I was, but I was confident with ‘Walter’, because he makes my life quite easy – it wasn’t going to be a massive physical battle,” said Ros after their win in May, paying tribute to her team who did all Walter’s fitness work over the winter. “It’s more mental, and about time – the time isn’t there, I’m feeding a baby – so the question was how could I do it without having those moments to myself that I usually get.

“But I’m thoroughly enjoying having Seneh in our lives. Badminton is one week of the year and hopefully we have children to be part of our lives forever.”

Later in the summer, Ros franked this triumph, winning world team gold and individual silver in Aachen.

This year’s St Leger provided a pivotal moment in racing history when 24-year-old Saffie Osborne became the first female jockey to win a British Classic.

The former junior gold medal-winning eventer rode the relatively unfancied Joseph O’Brien-trained Highwayman to victory in the 250th running of the Doncaster showpiece, Britain’s oldest Classic race.

“This won’t change Joseph’s life, but it’s changed mine,” said a tearful Saffie as she was led into the winner’s enclosure. “Any jockey wants to win a Classic, whether you’re male or female.”

Saffie embarked on a racing career in 2020, landing her first Group success two years later. She rode in her first Classic in 2024 but 2026 has been a real breakthrough season, in which she also rode three winners at Ascot’s King George meeting in July.

The 42-year-old has had another consistently super year. In May, she rode former Horse of the Year Show champion Tremarl Timpani to go one better than in 2025 at Royal Windsor, and stand champion riding horse. The pair were later reserve champion for the second time on the bounce at the Royal International.

Not to be outdone, Tremarl Timber came of age and secured a clutch of good hunter championships, including at Lincolnshire and the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) championships. There have been multiple other championships, too, including with coloured contenders Ashleas Perfect Spirit and A Warrior, cob Foxtrot and novice riding horse Baker Street.

Not just a top-drawer competitor, Vicky is also a staunch supporter of grassroots and amateur showing, running frequent clinics and being one of the BSHA’s behind-the-scenes stewards, helping amateur competitors at London International.

Previous Professional Rider of the Year award winners

Previous winners of this award include:

• 2025: Ros Canter, winner of Badminton and Burghley in the same year
• 2024: Ros Canter, Olympic team gold medallist and Burghley winner
• 2023: Ros Canter, Badminton winner, European champion and world number two
• 2022: Laura Collett, Badminton winner, adding a second five-star title to her win at Pau in 2020, plus Tokyo Olympic eventing team gold
• 2021: Tom McEwen, winner of Tokyo Olympic eventing team gold and individual silver medallist
• 2020: Charlotte Dujardin, who was selected as professional rider of the decade (2011-2020)
• 2019: Piggy French, who won Badminton for the first time among a record 14 internationals, including Blenheim CCI4*-L, was second at Burghley on Vanir Kamira and took European team silver with Quarrycrest Echo
• 2018: Ros Canter, who became eventing individual world champion at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon
• 2017: Nicola Wilson, who took team gold and individual bronze at the European Eventing Championships
• 2016: Charlotte Dujardin, who added a second individual Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and helped the Brits to team silver

About the Horse & Hound Awards 2026

The Horse & Hound Awards are celebrating their 11th year, being held in partnership with NAF and Agria.

As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which is decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We intend to recognise both the big names who have made 2026 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at every level.

The winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire on 25 November, where some 300 people, including heroes of the summer’s World Championships, will gather to enjoy a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, BAFTA-style speeches and dancing.