BioStar’s Happy Horse Award: Horse Welfare in Competition

BioStar’s Happy Horse Award celebrates the bond between horse and rider while honoring the trainers, riders, and owners who prioritize their horse’s welfare — putting happiness above ribbons and prize money.

Showing is often stressful for both rider and horse, whether competing at Training level or jumping the Grand Prix. Elite athletes in other sports, like track and field, swimming, and gymnastics, experience stress too, but these other sports don’t include an animal.

Riders get tense, and horses get tense as well. None of us are robots. Of course, there can be miscommunications and misunderstandings between horse and rider. Horses get frustrated sometimes, as do riders. But most of us seek harmony with our horses, alongside a level of understanding and respect.

Harmony of horse and rider is the foundation for every equestrian activity. Whether it be jumping, endurance, trail riding, barrel racing, eventing, or dressage.

Klimke’s memorable words

Many years ago, legendary German equestrian Reiner Klimke was judging a dressage show at Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. When asked about American dressage, his response was, “I don’t think your horses look like very happy dance partners.”

So, what does makes a happy equine [dance] partner?

Harmony is the key

A happy competition horse is in harmony with the rider, and the rider is in harmony with the horse:

  The back is soft, and the horse is willing — maybe even eager.

  The horse looks like he/she is enjoying itself.

  The horse may give the impression of “I’ve got this.”

  The spectators watching the horse may get the feeling of “I’d love to sit on that horse.”

BioStar’s Happy Horse Awards

In recognition and honor of horse-and-rider harmony, BioStar presents the Happy Horse Awards. The award winners are chosen by the judges based on the horse. Through these awards, we aim to help the support a more positive framework of acknowledging and honoring the horses and riders who are able to maintain harmony, even at the highest level of the sport.

An award recipient could be the winning horse with the highest score, OR it may be a horse that places below the winning ride. It may have made a few mistakes in the ring or not been quite as brilliant as the winning horse, but it still best promoted horse welfare and exemplified those happy, harmonious qualities we’re looking for.

Good luck, and may the happiest horse win!

2025 Winners:

Congratulations to the 2025 Pennsylvania National Horse Show & National Horse Show Happy Horse Award recipients!

2024 Winners:

MADFest CDI3* Grand Prix, May 2024:
         Hilltop Farm Inc’s “Qredit Hilltop” & Michael Bragdell

Dressage at Devon CDI-W Grand Prix, September 2024:
         Diamante Farm’s “Dünensee” & Kevin Kohmann 

Pennsylvania National Horse Show 3’6″ Junior Hunters, October 2024:
         Deer Creek Farm, LLC’s “Remedy” & Ella Tarumianz

Pennsylvania National Horse Show 3’6″ Amateur/Owner Hunters, October 2024:
         Stephanie Bulger’s “Chief” & Stephanie Bulger

Pennsylvania National Horse Show 3’6″ – 4′ Professional Hunters, October 2024:
         Ashley Worthington, LLC’s “Last Call” & Ashley Worthington

National Horse Show 3’6″ – 4′ Hunter Classic, November 2024:
         Kelly Sims’ “True Cassini” and Michael Britt-Leon

“Winning the BioStar Happy Horse Award two years in a row is an incredible honor and a reflection of what matters most to us: the well-being and happiness of our horses. In such a competitive environment, it’s deeply rewarding to see that commitment recognized.”

– Kelly Sims, owner of 2025 recipient Cannon Beach and 2024 recipient True Cassini

Photos courtesy of Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group, Andrew Ryback Photography,
and Megan Giese Media for the Pennsylvania National Horse Show

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