Following an illustrious junior career, Adrienne Sternlicht is not a new face in the winner's circle, but she is quickly stamping her place at the top levels of the show jumping world. At only 25 years old, it would be an understatement to say that 2018 was her breakout year. Not only did Adrienne crack the top 50 in the Longines World Rankings, she also added a team gold medal from the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C., to her trophy case.
Aside from a dream-come-true result, Adrienne said the journey to WEG was one of the most rewarding expeditions of her life, not just because she fine-tuned her skills and relationship with her top horse, Cristalline, but because she developed self-belief and learned how to confidently trust her instincts.
After a banner 2018, Adrienne has her eyes on riding for the U.S. team at the Pan American Games and the Tokyo Olympics. Closer to home, she's aiming to step out on her own and start getting her own business off the ground. Whatever the future holds for Adrienne, this isn't the last we'll see of her. She might have just had her breakout year, but the best is undoubtedly yet to come.
“I’m honored to have been chosen the breakout rider of the year!" Adrienne said. "It’s been an incredible year that has only fueled and cemented my passion for the sport and given me a new feeling of confidence heading into 2019. I’m pretty sure it’s more Stella’s [Cristalline] award than mine though. I’m just happy to have gotten out of her way and let her shine!”
Get to know Adrienne. Continue reading:
"This Is Our Sport at Its Best": Team USA Rises to the Occasion to Clinch Show Jumping Gold
Feelings of Fall: An Autumn Day at American Gold Cup with Adrienne Sternlicht
A Gilded Year: Adrienne Sternlicht’s Path to the World Stage
Golden Girl Adrienne Sternlicht is Having The Best Week of Her Life
The annual Noëlle Floyd Best Of Awards celebrate the horses and riders who soar to great heights, the community leaders who move the needle in the sport, and the extra special moments that define our shared love of horses. For the 2018 NF Awards, we created short lists of extraordinary individuals who stood out to us this year, and then we handed it over to you to determine who is the best of the best. Turning out a record number of votes in NF Awards history, we heard you loud and clear. Now we’re rolling out the red carpet. One by one, we’ll announce the winners of all ten categories between now and the New Year.
Feature photo by Shannon Brinkman.