The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced that the voting is now open for both the 2010 Equestrian of the Year and the 2010 Horse of the Year categories. 2010 and 2011 USEF members are eligible to vote for one entry in each category.

The nominees for 2010 Equestrian of the Year:

1. McLain Ward, Brewster, N.Y., who won the William C. Steinkraus Trophy for his show jumping victories with Sapphire.
2. Tom McCutcheon, Aubrey, Texas, who won the Becky Grand Hart Trophy after he took home individual and team gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
3. Nadine Tilley, Los Angeles, Calif., who won the Bill Robinson Trophy for her driving performance in non-international competition.
4. Hunt Tosh, Alpharetta, Ga., who won the Emerson Burr Trophy for his 2010 performance in the hunter ring.
5. Merrill Murray, Versailles, Ky., who won the C.J. “June” Cronan Trophy, for his accomplishments as a Saddlebred rider and trainer including claiming the American Saddlebred’s Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship two years in a row with Courageous Lord.
6. Daryl Hopson, Walla Walla, Wash., who won the Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy for his dominance in the western pleasure divisions this year.
7. Michael Byatt, New Ulm, Texas, who won the Norman K. Dunn Trophy for his worldwide success competing Arabian horses in-hand.
8. Lauren La Vine, Burbank, Calif., who won the Vaughan Smith Trophy for her performances at the 2010 International Friesian Show Horse Association World and Grand Nationals Horse Show.

The nominees for the 2010 Horse of the Year:

1. Afires Heir, an 8-year-old Arabian stallion owned by Shirley and William Reilich, who won four consecutive unanimous U.S National Championships in four years.
2. Gunners Special Nite, a 6-year-old Quarter Horse stallion owned by Sarah B. Willeman, who won two gold medals in reining at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
3. Heza JackRabbit, a 6-year-old Shetland/Roadster stallion owned by Michelle LeGrotte Barcus, who finished first 17 times in 29 competitions.
4. Lone Star, a 10-year-old warmblood gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, who won the $100,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA Hunter Derby Finals with Hunt Tosh as well as claiming the grand working hunter championship at the Pennsylvania National for the second year in a row.
5. CH Sprinkles, a 14-year-old American Saddlebred mare owned by Dr. Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes, who won seven of eight classes in 2010, including the Juvenile Five-Gaited Championship at the American Royal Horse Show.