Platinum - The Aimé Tschiffely

The US$50,000 donation is named after Aimé Tschiffely, the most significant equestrian explorer in history.
In 1925 this young Swiss Long Rider set out on an epic ride with two Criollo horses, Mancha and Gato. The amateur explorer's goal was to travel ten thousand miles from Buenos Aires to Washington, DC, over some of the world's most inhospitable country. Their odyssey lasted two and a half years, forced horses and rider to survive through near-impossible conditions, and ended with a hero's welcome at the White House. Aimé went on to author the most influential equestrian travel book ever written, a tale which inspired generations to climb into the saddle and set off in search of adventure.

Gold - The Charles Darwin

The US$25,000 donation is named after Charles Darwin, the renowned Long Rider scientist.
In contemplating the brilliant intellectual achievements of the past, Charles Darwin's name is often mentioned. It goes against the grain of common perception to think of this scientific titan galloping over the pampas of Argentina, exploring volcanic islands on horseback, and lying down to rest on the bosom of the earth with his horse nearby. Yet Darwin's diaries tell the story of not just a naturalist exploring the world searching for answers, they also reveal the inner man, the Long Rider who revelled in the freedom of riding on three continents. During the five years in which he made his famous scientific journey around the world, the young scientist took every opportunity to explore the continents of South America, Australia and Africa on horseback. Thanks to his equine interests, Darwin was among the first to pursue an investigation into the origin of the modern horse.

Silver - The Otto Schwarz

The US$10,000 donation is named after Otto Schwarz, who made equestrian journeys across five continents.
The story of Otto Schwarz reads like a mounted Odyssey. As the clouds of the Second World War gathered over his native Switzerland, young Otto Schwarz was competing at Olympic level dressage. Forced by circumstances to don the uniform of a Swiss cavalry officer, Otto patrolled the French-Swiss border on horseback for nearly five years. Those mounted adventures gave the dashing Captain Schwarz a taste for horse travel which redirected his equestrian life.
Otto Schwarz went on to journey 48,000 kilometres (30,000 miles) on horseback, making him the most well-travelled Long Rider of the 20th century. He rode in a host of places, including expeditions through Japan, Iceland, Latin America, along the length of Hadrian's Wall in Scotland and across the old Oregon Trail in the USA.

Bronze - Baron Yasumasa Fukushima

The US$5,000 donation is named after the noted Japanese Long Rider, Baron Yasumasa Fukushima.
This descendant of a noble Samurai family was sent to Berlin, Germany on military duty in 1892. When the time came to return home, the dashing Japanese horseman elected to ride his horse Gaisen, (Triumphant Return) 14,000 kilometres from Berlin to Tokyo, Japan. A fellow soldier, General Rafael de Nogales, described the equestrian explorer thus, "Fukushima’s courage, drive and exuberant cheerfulness were amazing. For a man like this nothing was impossible." Upon reaching his homeland, the Samurai Long Rider presented his mount to the Japanese Emperor. The memory of Fukushima and Gaisen is still revered in Japan today, where the museum of Matsumoto maintains a display which includes the Long Rider’s uniform and journals kept during his long journey from Berlin to Japan.