Polly Bryan
Former dressage, sport horse and products editor
Polly joined Horse & Hound in August 2014, having previously been deputy editor at Polo Times. She moved up from the role of deputy chief sub editor to take over as dressage, sport horse breeding and products editor in September 2017. Her time on Horse & Hound staff finished in October 2023 when she moved to a new job outside the business, although she continues to contribute to Horse & Hound on a freelance basis.
During her time with Horse & Hound, Polly has reported from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – fulfilling a lifelong dream in doing so – as well as the 2022 World Championships, the 2018 World Equestrian Games, the 2019 and 2017 European Championships, and the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Her reporting has also taken her to various other major international shows including the World Cup Finals in 2019 and 2022, as well as Aachen and Rotterdam CHIOs. She still has a love for polo, occasionally swapping dressage for a stint of polo reporting, and has also covered international eventing and showjumping, including at the Tokyo Olympics.
While not from a horsey family, Polly has ridden from the age of seven. She competed a huge variety of horses and ponies across all disciplines as she grew up, and worked on several yards. Originally from Devon, Polly was a keen member of the South Devon (West) branch of the Pony Club, going on to instruct for the branch. She has always had a particular love for dressage, following the sport avidly, and aged 14 she announced to her parents and teachers that she wanted to be the dressage editor at Horse & Hound one day.
Polly was captain of the very successful equestrian team at the University of Birmingham — admitting that her degree in English Literature played second fiddle to her riding! After graduating with a 2:1, she moved to London to pursue her career in equestrian journalism, gaining a postgraduate diploma in magazine journalism.
Polly lives in Surrey and while not in a position to own a horse currently, enjoys catch rides whenever possible.
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‘She always had it in her to be good’: William Fox-Pitt completes a British top five as Badminton action pauses for the coronation
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‘He loved slopping around and splashing about in there’: Kitty King takes over the Badminton lead early on damp day two
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H&H’s Badminton rider of the day: ‘I just thought I’d whacked it, but I had broken my ring finger’
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Tales from Badminton: the Pony Club horse and NHS dentist making their debut together
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Tales from Badminton: the surprising first-timer making a ‘fairytale’ debut
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Tales from Badminton: the Lithuanian rider finally making his Badminton debut after two failed attempts
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Tales from Badminton: ‘She looks like a pony and she rides likes a pony – but she’s a strong character’
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Spot the Coronation crown! Check out the best, brightest and most patriotic outfits from the Badminton Horse Trials trot-up
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‘A lot of questions’: see all the fully dressed fences on Badminton’s grassroots championships BE100 cross-country course
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‘A proper test’: see all the fully dressed fences on Badminton’s grassroots championships BE90 cross-country course
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Charlotte Dujardin set to make imminent return to competition after baby break
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From fabulous Friesians and gypsy cobs to the hottest ones to watch, here’s what you missed from the Winter Dressage Championships
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Exciting dressage line-up announced for Royal Windsor – with notable absentees
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Why top riders feed their horses steamed hay – and how it could help your horse too *Promotion*
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Lottie Fry and Glamourdale claim five-star win with ‘best ever performance together’
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Rider credits positive mindset for dream Winter Dressage Championships win with horse she bought as a foal
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‘He’d definitely have an ASBO’: quirky Welsh cob scoops surprise Winter Dressage Championships win
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‘Last year was a write off – but his titles will come’: how this ‘dream’ horse went from zero to hero and why he’s one to watch
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‘He feels like he’s going to be a grand prix horse’: James Bond finds his power to win big at the Winter Dressage Championships