Richard Davison, British dressage rider

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Date of birth: 20 September 1955

Lives: Combridge, Staffordshire

Nationality: British

Richard Davison is one of Britain’s most successful dressage riders and has contributed much to the sport over the years.

Having ridden from an early age, Richard was bought his first pony aged nine and became a keen member of the Pony Club. Richard worked for a brief stint at his father’s PR company, however he was more likely to be found hunting with the Meynell than at his desk. As a result, Richard left his job to pursue his equestrian ambition.

Event rider Sandra Pearson-Adams helped Richard at this early stage and sent him on a dressage course run by Barbara Slane-Fleming. It was at this point that he discovered his love for the discipline, despite his lack of experience.

Lady Bamford then purchased the ride Master JCB for Richard. He enjoyed great success with this horse, including winning team silver at the European Championships in 1993. A decade later, he rode Ballaseyr Royal as part of the bronze medal team at the European Championships at Hickstead.

Richard has competed in four Olympic games including London 2012, where he scored 72.812% in the grand prix on Hiscox Artemis. He has been British team captain at recent championships and was instrumental in helping the British squad to achieve team silver at the Windsor Europeans 2009.

Richard narrowly missed out on a place in the gold medal-winning team for the 2011 European Championships, despite unsuccessfully appealing against the team selection.

Richard is also a Fellow of the British Horse Society, an accomplished trainer and a former Horse & Hound columnist.

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Major achievements

• Triple Olympian
• Competed in two World Equestrian Games
• Competed in four World Championships
• Won team bronze at the 2003 Hickstead European Championships
• Won team silver at the 1993 European Championships.
• British National Dressage Champion 2003
• Britain’s number one in the international dressage rider rankings six times
• Awarded the FEI Gold Badge of Honour and the BEF Medal of Honour in 2003

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