Dixon denies retirement rumours

Karen Dixon has denied that she is retiring from eventing after an advert for her remaining top horse, Uptotrix, appeared in H&H on 16 December.

Last month, the Yorks-based mother of two sold her four-star ride Smart Enough, saying an offer had come “out of the blue”. With the sale of Uptotrix, it was rumoured that Karen, 40, planned to retire.

“I made the decision to sell Uptotrix at Burghley. His dressage is never going to be good enough to get us in the top 10 at four-stars,” she explains. “I’m too old to come 25th with a double clear. It’s a massive commitment with the kids. If there was hope, I’d persevere. I’ve ridden him for seven years. I’ve a heap of youngsters and will be starting again.”

Uptotrix, now 13, has been with John Whitaker for six weeks’ show jumping, and will return to him in the spring if unsold.

“I’ve not had many calls for ‘Henry’,” continues Karen, “ so maybe a change of career is what he needs.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (30 December, ’04)

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