Glamourdale, Dylan Ward and Lucy Scudamore recognised at Horse & Hound Awards

Glamourdale, Dylan Ward and Lucy Scudamore were amongst the winners announced at the eighth annual Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF, held last night in a star-studded ceremony at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire (22 November 2023).

Stretch & Flex by Equilibrium Dressage Horse of the Year: Glamourdale
All four of the British team horses that won the team gold medal in Riesenbeck this summer were shortlisted for this award, but it was Lottie Fry’s superstar ride, Glamourdale, who received the most votes from Horse & Hound readers to take the 2023 title. The 12-year-old stallion, by Lord Leatherdale and out of a Negro mare, is owned by Van Olst Horses and bred by Joop Rodenburg.

Double World Champions in 2022, “Glammy” and Lottie, pictured above, added another gold medal to their collection this year as they helped Britain win team gold at the European Dressage Championships. Later that week, they delighted dressage fans both near and far with their mesmerising “Best of British” freestyle performance. It didn’t quite clinch another gold, but a personal best score of 92.38% earned them individual silver.

“When the music starts, Glammy knows what to do and I feel as though I can just sit there and enjoy it,” said Lottie to Horse & Hound. “I had the ride of my life. Glammy loves the crowd clapping him – it reminds him that there are lots of people watching him and he finds it so cool.”

Absorbine Groom of the Year: Lucy Scudamore
Four super-grooms who give their all behind the scenes to ensure their horses are smart, fit and happy – ready to shine on competition day – were nominated, with 2023 Absorbine Groom of the Year Award going to Lucy Scudamore.

Lucy, pictured above, has been working for Carl Hester for nearly seven years. She was working with young horses on a nearby yard while looking after two horses belonging to Charlotte Dujardin (one of which was En Vogue). Charlotte told her about the job opening and after a quick phone call with Carl, Lucy was hired.

A career highlight: “Definitely the Tokyo Olympics. Every groom dreams that one day everything will come together and you will get to do an Olympics, and it really was amazing to be able to experience that.”

A special horse: “En Vogue. I’ve been looking after him since he was a five-year-old. To watch him go from being a rather wild young horse, to watching him canter down the centre line at his first Olympics, was very emotional for me.”

Top tip: “Being ahead of time. Having a horse ready at a competition five minutes early gives you time for some finishing touches and a chance to catch your breath.”

The Horse & Hound Podcast Inspiration of the Year: Dylan Ward
Dylan Ward received the Horse & Hound Inspiration of the Year Award, which recognises those who have inspired Horse & Hound readers with their determination, spirited achievement or fight against the odds.

Eight-year-old Dylan, pictured above, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer with less than 50% chance of survival, in June 2022. Since then, he has received 14 courses of high-strength chemotherapy, six weeks of proton beam therapy, two weeks of radiotherapy and he is currently taking oral chemotherapy.

Dylan has gained lifelong disabilities from the damage the cancer has caused but he has not let it get in the way of pursuing his dream of being a “champion dressage rider”. He took home three wins at the RDA National Championships this year and since joining British Dressage has qualified for the Quest regional finals and the Associated Championships and already has all three scores needed to qualify for the Winter Area Festivals at Prelim Bronze level.

“Dylan is a positive person and has never been down in the dumps despite everything,” his mum Jessica Flack told Horse & Hound. “He’s always looked forward to riding. Even if he’s only been discharged from hospital that morning, Dylan will always want to be on the yard by the afternoon.”

Terry Pendry, stud groom to The late Queen, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr Pendry, pictured above, served The Queen for almost half a century, 20 years in the Household Cavalry then another 28 directly. He rose to public prominence when he and Her Majesty’s Fell pony mare Emma stood by The Long Walk to say their last goodbyes on the day of the monarch’s funeral. Mr Pendry, who recently retired at the age of 72, was instilled as a military knight at Windsor this year in honour of his many years of loyal service.

The 2023 Horse and Hound Awards winners are:

• Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement: Terry Pendry
• HorseDialog Professional Rider of the Year: Ros Canter
• Absorbine Groom of the Year: Lucy Scudamore
• Whickr Showjumping Horse of the Year: Flying Tinker II
• Stretch & Flex by Equilibrium Dressage Horse of the Year: Glamourdale
• Black Nova Designs Event Horse of the Year: Lordships Graffalo
• EQUO Show Horse of the Year: Forgelands Hyde Park
• Tommy Hilfiger Young Rider of the Year: Alice Casburn
• Spillers Horse Feeds Amateur Rider of the Year: Amy Dixon
• NAF Five Star PROFEET Farrier of the Year: Matt Strawson
• Baileys Horse Feeds Vet of the Year: Sophie Fulton
• The Horse & Hound Podcast Inspiration of the Year: Dylan Ward
• NAF Natural VetCare Unsung Hero of the Year: Sarah Hills
• Agria Horse of a Lifetime: Cashelbay JJ