First Apple Ridden by Sarah Lockman Nominated for USA Horse of Year

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Sarah Lockman of the USA and First Apple who won Pan American Games individual gold and team silver. Photo: Courtesy USA Dressage

Dec. 19, 2019

First Apple, ridden by Sarah Lockman to Pan American Games individual gold medal, has been nominated for United States international Horse of the Year honors to be decided by online voting of U.S. Equestrian Federation members.

First Apple, 2010 Dutch Warmblood stallion (Vivaldi x T.C.N. Partout) was one of three international and four national horses nominated for Horse of the Year to be named during the USEF annual meeting in Florida Jan. 11. Voting is open until Thursday, Jan. 2. Click here to vote.

The other international horses nominated are Darry Lou, 2008 Dutch Warmblood stallion (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Nabab de Reve) ridden by Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, New York and Tsetserleg, 2007 Trakehner gelding (Windfall x Buddenbrock) competed by Boyd Martin of Cochraneville, Pennsylvania and on whom he won his first individual championship medal.

Sarah of 30, of Murietta, California and First Apple, owned by Summit Farm, made their international debut in March this year, at Small Tour in California.

The pair were unbeaten in eight starts, including three at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in July where the U.S. took team silver behind Canada and Sarah and First Apple won individual gold.

The pair have not competed since then but moved to Wellington, Florida ealier this month to develop Grand Prix ahead of the U.S. Olympic selection process that begins with the Adequan Global Dressage Festival over the winter.

Nominated for Equestrian of the Year were:

Beezie Madden, jumping; Boyd Martin, eventing; Cade McCutcheon, Aubrey, Texas, reining and Cheryl Van Deusen, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, endurance.