Åby, Sweden — Joviality S, previously named Sweden’s top 4-year-old trotting mare of 2023, has also been named the country’s Horse of the Year.

While there was no doubt about the titles such as 4-year-old of the Year and Mare of the Year, there was an undeniably tough battle for the title Horse of the Year, because this title is decided by votes from both the audience and Swedish equestrian journalists.

The public voted for San Moteur with 40.4 percent against Joviality S’s 32.7 percent, but when the journalists’ votes were added, the result ended up in Joviality S’s favor with 40.9 percent against San Moteur’s 40.4 percent. Then there was a jump down to Barack Face with 15 percent and Fame and Glory with 3.8 percent.

Joviality S (Chapter Seven) is owned by Courant, trained by Sabine Kagebrant and bred by AM Bloodstock.

The presentation of Horse of the Year in Sweden took place on national TV, via TV4’s broadcast from the V75 races at Åby Trav.