Although she just turned 22 years old, dressage rider Caroline Roffman has already had many memorable moments in her career. Roffman can now add winning the 2010 FEI Rising Star Award to that list
, along with flying to Taipei for a dazzling awards ceremony and accepting her award from Her Royal Highness Princess Haya, FEI President.
Roffman was named the 2010 Rising Star by the International Equestrian Federation and received her award at the 2010 FEI Awards ceremony in Taipei.
“I was both honored and astounded to win the Rising Star Award,” Roffman said.
Roffman said that being able to see Taipei and experience the culture in a different part of the world was an unforgettable experience. “The most amazing part of winning the award was getting to meet Princess Haya. I also enjoyed meeting the other winners and hearing their experiences,” Roffman said, adding that she also was honored to meet USEF President David O’Connor and Frank Kemperman, the Managing Director of the Aachen Horse Show.
Roffman’s award places her in a unique position in the equestrian community, as the winners were selected from riders from around the world by an international panel. Roffman and four other equestrians were honored at the ceremony, including Dutch Dressage rider Edward Gal who won three gold medals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games aboard Moorlands Totilas. Gal won the Reem Acra Best Athlete Award. The other winners included Ros Spearing, founder of the Ebony Horse Club, who won the Alltech Development Award; British freelance groom Michelle Tipper who won the Best Groom Award; and German Para-Dressage rider Angelika Trabert who won the Against All Odds Award.
“Winning this award really was a great moment in my career,” Roffman said, adding that she is back at her home base in Wellington, Florida preparing her horses for the show ring. “I am hoping to compete Pie in the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges, Bulgari in the small tour, Lux in the Brentina Cup, Bon Chance in the Six-Year-Olds and Hannah in the lower levels.”
The FEI noted that all five winners were considered heroes in the equestrian community, adding that Roffman is considered one of the brightest hopes of the U.S. Dressage community. They quoted Roffman’s accomplishments as: “The 21-year-old, who trains with Olympian Lars Petersen, won the Five-Year-Old Championships at the USEF National Dressage Championships this year on a horse she trained herself and was the youngest competitor in the Intermediaire I National Championship at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions at Gladstone.”
While Roffman has successfully made the transition into the professional arena, her Young Rider career was equally impressive. She exploded onto the scene her first year as a Young Rider and qualified and competed at NAJYRC, winning three bronze medals and the Fiona Baan Memorial Trophy for the highest placed rider throughout the competition. She competed at the Dressage Festival of Champions on Rigaudon and Accent Agiu FRH, placing third nationally in 2009 and fourth nationally in 2008. Roffman also rode Bon Chance to the Reserve Championship at the 2009 Young Horse Championships in the Four-Year-Old class.
“Now my goal is keep my horses in top form as we prepare for 2011 and also to live as a role model for the award the FEI has bestowed upon me,” said Roffman said, in closing.
Related Links
Dressage Riders Gal and Roffman Honoured at 2010 FEI Awards
Edward Gal, FEI Athlete of the Year 2010
