Latest from Horse & Hound in Anne-dunham

A trailblazer, a warrior, a true inspiration: farewell to multiple medal-winning rider aged 76

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 12 May 2025 17:22:34 +0000

The equestrian world has paid tribute to Anne Dunham OBE, a rider who “represented the heart and soul of ParalympicsGB with passion and professionalism”, who has died aged 76.

The multiple medal-winning rider, described as a “trailblazer, tireless campaigner for her sport, fierce competitor and inspirational mentor” – and someone who was always kind to and supportive of others – died on 11 May.

Anne represented Britain at five Paralympics and won 32 championship medals, 19 of them gold. She was appointed MBE in 2009, then OBE in 2017 for her remarkable service to para dressage.

Her trainer and friend Pammy Hutton said Anne was inspirational.

“She was the driving force behind me, pushing and succeeding to get para riders a pathway through British Horse Society qualifications,” she said. “I was also never sure who was coaching who!

“She helped me, Charlie and Pippa [Pammy’s children] and fellow rider Suzanna Hext to name a few; whilst not a qualified coach, behind the scenes she was amazing and gave so much help, especially mentally. I am in our indoor as we speak and her words are with me still, and her words will stay with them too for their lifetime.

“She was a perfectionist and every step on a horse had to be perfect. I cannot repeat what she said when one half circle was one step short! A week later she won gold again for Great Britain and her footfalls were exact! She was unbelievable and if she had a gold medal to go get, if she humanly could, she would and did.

“She even asked permission to retire, who does that?! She lit up Talland and I will miss her so very much.”

Anne Dunham and Teddy Edwards (Image credit: David Miller)

Anne was born in Tyne and Wear and started riding aged eight. She worked at a local stables and was running a yard of 80 horses at weekends, with dreams of competing, by the age of 16.

After the birth of her daughter Amber, and at the age of 27, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and became a wheelchair user. Years later, she was correctly diagnosed with dystonia, a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract.

When her husband sold his business, she was able to buy her first competition horse and they bought a farm in Wales, which became a holiday home and riding school.

She made her team debut for Britain at the 1994 World Championships, in grade II. Two years later, she was on the team for the Atlanta 1996 Paralympics, the first at which para dressage had featured, and all the riders competed on borrowed horses. She and Doodlebug won individual bronze in the freestyle and helped Britain secure its first of so many team golds.

British Equestrian (BEF) head of performance pathways David Hamer met Anne in 2004, when he started working with the para riders on the new Start and Potential World Class Programme.

“Initially, I was somewhat intimidated by her; she was a force of nature who spoke her mind,” he said. “Throughout the years, I had the privilege of supporting her at numerous international competitions as chef équipe for the GB team. One memorable incident involved pushing her around Mannheim showground in a wheelchair, only to be confronted by a security guard who attempted to restrict our access. Anne’s sharp retort swiftly resolved the situation. Watching her compete, I saw a fearless warrior whose desire to win was truly inspiring and I realised how her fierce determination shaped her as a person.

“Anne’s kindness and support for other riders was equally remarkable, especially the up-and-coming riders starting out in the sport. Anne’s spirit as a rider will for ever soar in heaven, just as it did in the saddle. The para dressage family will undoubtedly send their warmest wishes and deepest condolences to her loved ones during this time.”

Anne went to four more Paralympics and won 10 medals, six of which were gold. By the time of the Rio Games, she was 67, the oldest athlete there, but came home with team gold and two individual grade I silvers, with the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham’s LJT Lucas Normark.

Horse of a lifetime

Anne said Teddy Edwards was her horse of a lifetime; Sally-Ann Brown’s Welsh cob is one of only a few horses who have won Paralympic, World and European titles.

Anne retired in 2017 after a stellar 23-year career, during which she was also named the 2011 Sunday Times disabled sportswoman of the year, and won a British Dressage outstanding contribution award in 2003 and a British Equestrian Medal of Honour in 2000. She lived in Broad Hinton, Wiltshire where she enjoyed gardening and painting.

Anne always said her two main inspirations were her sister Gillian Hartley and daughter Amber Dunham; Anne said, “I wouldn’t have had the success I have achieved if we hadn’t been on this journey together.”

Paralympics GB chef de mission Penny Briscoe MBE said she had had the pleasure of knowing Anne since 2002.

“Anne was a wonderful, dedicated and devoted member of the ParalympicsGB team,” she said. “While her remarkable achievements over 20 years in para dressage speak for themselves, what always stood out for me was her commitment to being her absolute best and encouraging the best from those around her. Anne really was a team player and represented the heart and soul of ParalympicsGB with passion and professionalism. The world of para sport will miss her greatly and my deepest sympathy goes out to her family and friends.”

BEF para dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples added: “While I didn’t have the privilege of working directly with Anne in my current role, I was lucky enough to watch and follow her many competitions with the eye-catching Lucas Normark in my time at ParalympicsGB. Her remarkable achievements in equestrian sport speak volumes, few riders have achieved the success to the level she did, and she leaves a huge legacy. A fierce competitor, a true horsewoman, a role model and an inspiration to those that followed her. Thank you, Anne, for all you accomplished and the path you paved for others to follow. You will be truly missed, and I send deepest condolences to your friends and family.”

A BEF spokesperson said: “Thank you, Anne, for all you gave to para dressage and the legacy you leave, may you rest in eternal peace.”

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‘Few horses have won so much for their country’: farewell to multiple medal-winner

Polly Bryan — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:18:27 +0000

The multi-medalled British para dressage horse LJT Lucas Normark has been put to sleep aged 18.

With rider Anne Dunham, the Knabstrupper stallion won nine championship medals for Britain, including team gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2013 and 2015 Europeans, as well as a total of six individual silver medals.

“There are very few horses out there who have won so many medals for their country,” said Anne who, as a grade I rider, was a stalwart of the British para team until her retirement from competition in 2016.

“Lucas had a long-term problem with one of his back legs, which was getting worse. He was much loved and fussed over; it was a very hard decision to take, and terribly sad.”

A Danish-bred son of Ravaldi, Lucas, who featured on the cover of H&H magazine in December 2016, was owned by the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham, without whom Anne said none of their success together would have been possible.

“The Lady Joseph Trust has done more for para dressage than almost anybody,” she said.

“Lucas was a star, though not an angel — he could occasionally nip and although he was very good to ride, being a stallion he did sometimes makes trot-ups interesting!

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“He could be hard work sometimes, but I’ll never forget my first test on him at the Rio Paralympics — it was so hot and we were both streaming with sweat but Lucas just set off in his rhythm and never wavered from it. He was a lovely boy.

“He had his own fan club, and because of his colour we could never go anywhere incognito. But that was one of the things I loved about him — that he always stood out in a crowd,” Anne told H&H.

Lucas’ final competitive outings were in 2018 with the triple European gold medallist Suzanna Hext. The pair were unbeaten in their three shows together, scoring up to 79% in grade II.

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‘Heart-wrenching’ final goodbye to Welsh cob who beat the world

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 14:14:08 +0000

Prolific para dressage medallist Anne Dunham has paid tribute to the Welsh cob who won championship medals all over the world.

Welsh section D Teddy Edwards was put down aged 23 on Thursday (28 June) as a result of the ongoing effects of PPID (Cushing’s).

“It was a heart-wrenching goodbye,” Anne told H&H. “He’s been a very big part of my life.”

Teddy, who was owned by Sally Brown, was bought just as a riding horse as Anne did not have one at the time.

“He was a horse no one expected anything from, but he gave everything,” Anne said. “He went from strength to strength. The first time he went down the centre line in international competition, he won – and he just kept on winning.”

Anne and Teddy won team gold and individual gold and silver at the 2008 Olympics, team gold and individual silver and bronze at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and team and double individual gold at the 2011 European Championships.

He was reserve for the 2012 Olympics, after which he had “a happy hacking retirement” with Anne in Wiltshire.

“He was a very naughty boy a lot of the time,” Anne said. “He’d buck and spin, and was strong out hacking; if we had a canter it tended to get a lot faster!

“He was a very cheeky, and a very special horse.”

Anne said Teddy “loved being the centre of attention” and could be pushy on the ground – he always had to be led in a bridle – but he was “never nasty”.

“He was just full of life,” she added.

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“But he’d had Cushing’s for about four years and unfortunately, he was always very difficult to medicate; he wouldn’t eat it in food and you couldn’t syringe it. He’d had a bad start before he came to the Browns so he worried about people feeding him things.

“He’d become very prone to laminitis because of the Cushing’s and he wasn’t enjoying life so we had to let him go.”

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‘I’ve loved it all’: Rio gold medallist calls time on career

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 12:20:31 +0000

Britain’s Anne Dunham rides Lucas Normark to individual grade Ia silver at the Rio Paralympics (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The 19-times gold medallist Anne Dunham, 68, said it was a “hard decision” to retire from the sport but that she knows it is the right one.

Anne announced today (10 March) that her 23-year career, in which she won 32 championship medals, had come to an end.

Anne first represented Britain at the 1994 para-dressage World Championships, and won her last medals – team gold and two individual silvers – at the Rio Games last September.

“This has been a hard decision, but I know it is right because I don’t want to start with a new horse and then have to part with him,” she said.

“Tokyo is three years away; I’ll be in my 70s then and it’s time to give others a chance. I’ve loved it all, it’s been exciting, I’ve met some wonderful people and have travelled the world.

“I’ve done things I would never imagined I would have done. Horses and dressage has given me a varied and happy life.”

Anne, who has been a member of the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class programme since its creation, thanked Pammy Hutton for her support and friendship on “this rollercoaster of a ride”.

She added: “My daughter Amber, who has groomed for me since 2000, travelled the world with me and given up her time to support me – I wouldn’t have had the success I have achieved if we hadn’t been on this journey together.

“And for the last few years, my sister Gill, who has travelled with us and has helped generally keeping me in order.

“World Class and the lottery have made it all possible for me, as they have for so many other athletes, and have helped to take us to the height we are at now. Thank you to all the lottery players who have made this all possible.”

Para-dressage performance manager Sarah Armstrong said she is “privileged” to have worked with Anne, and “truly delighted” to be able to support her success.

“For Anne to close her career on such a high note must be an immensely proud moment for her, her family and her home coach,” Sarah added. “A dry sense of humour and immense wit coupled with her depth of knowledge in all things equestrian will be sorely missed by the whole World Class programme podium squad. We wish her well in her next adventure.”

British Dressage chief executive Jason Brautigam described Anne’s contribution to the sport as “immense”.

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“From Atlanta to Rio, Anne has played an enormous part in ensuring that Great Britain has remained undefeated in the team competition, as well as her fantastic individual medal success,” he added.

“She will be sorely missed by everyone involved in Team GBR and, along with her legions of fans and supporters, we wish her the very best for a long and happy retirement.”

Dressage editor’s blog: ‘Where is Carl Hester’s knighthood?’

Alice Collins — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 16:09:34 +0000

How wonderful it is to see so many Olympic and Paralympic riders recognized in the New Year’s honours list. Each and every one absolutely deserves this accolade, and we salute Sir Lee Pearson, who has finally been knighted after winning so many medals — including 11 Paralympic golds — that his treasure chest must be overflowing.

His team-mates Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen are also recognized for their outstanding services to equestrianism, with Anne Dunham now an OBE and Sophie Christiansen also stepped up a rung on the ladder to CBE.

Charlotte Dujardin and Nick Skelton are now Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) after their outstanding efforts in Rio to secure individual golds, with both of them being upgraded from their London 2012 OBEs.

One name missing

But scanning this list — all 124 pages of the stuff — there seems to be a name missing. Where is Carl Hester’s knighthood? Yes he has an MBE from London 2012, but I think the horse world was hoping (and expecting?) that he’d be recognized for his incomparable input into the Rio 2016 results.

Who else has done more to put equestrianism on the map? He trained the gold medal-winning rider, he owns the gold medal winning horse, he trains all of his team members and — as if that wasn’t already enough — he rode on the team, too. And the team won silver. Has anyone ever done that before? And with such good grace, perpetual positivity and unrelenting understanding of the needs of the media and public? I don’t think so.

I suspect that if the researchers and decision-makers had looked a bit more closely at Carl’s 2016 achievements, we would now be addressing him as Sir Carl.

His omission from the list is a bit of a slap in the face given how much he’s done to raise the profile of dressage into the national consciousness and his tireless work to spread the word of kind training and thoughtful horsemanship.

How about we give him a title of our own? King Carl? Or perhaps Hero Hester? Any better suggestions, answers on a postcard…

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What do the letters mean?

1. Knighthood: The recipients of this title become a Sir or a Dame. This is the highest honour possible.

2. Order of the British Empire. This is split into three ranks, with CBE being the highest civilian accolade of the three.

A. Commander (CBE)

B. Officer (OBE)

C. Member (MBE)

Knighthood and honours for Rio equestrian stars in New Year list

Lucy Elder — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:33:53 +0000

Five Paralympic and Olympic riders have been included in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list.

The dressage world has dominated the equestrian contingent, boasting four riders who will be recognised for services to equestrianism.

Topping the list with a knighthood is Lee Pearson, the most decorated para-equestrian of all time.

He has won 11 Paralympic gold medals, ridden at five Paralympic Games and also has 14 World and five European championship titles.

In 2011, he fell and broke his back during training and recovered to continue winning at the top of the sport, including individual gold and silver in Rio.

Reigning Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin, eight-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen and individual Olympic showjumping gold medallist Nick Skelton will all be awarded CBEs.

Multiple Paralympic, World and European medal-winning para-dressage rider Anne Dunham has been made an OBE and sports broadcaster Jonathan Agnew, who swapped cricked for commentating at the equestrian Olympic events in Rio, will receive an MBE.

All the riders have received honours before and this is also the second prestigious recognition in as many weeks for Nick and Sophie, who came third and fifth respectively in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards on 18 December.

Inspirational former event rider Claire Lomas has also been made an MBE for charitable and voluntary services to spinal injury research. Claire, who was paralysed from the chest down in a cross-country fall in 2007, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity by taking on challenges.

These have included hand-cycling around England and using a robotic suit to walk the London Marathon, Great North Run and Vitality London 10000 routes.

Members of the racing world who will receive honours include former jockey and retired general manager of Perth racecourse Sam Morshead, trainer and founder of the Borders MS [multiple sclerosis] Racing Club Rhona Elliot, Dr Robert Welby Henry, trainer John Gosden and Timothy Adams.

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Awards for sport make up 14% of the 1,197 honours being given out, while women make up just over half of the total and 8.5% of the people on the honours list consider themselves to have a disability.

Other members of Team GB who are receiving honours include Andy Murray and Mo Farah, both of whom will receive knighthoods, as well as Katherine Grainger and Jessica Ennis-Hill, who will receive damehoods.

Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny, Max Whitlock, Ellie Robinson, Helen Richardson Walsh and Kate Richardson Walsh are also among the British Rio Olympic and Paralympic sporting stars on the list.

Golden hat-trick for Britain on final day of Paralympic dressage

Polly Bryan — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 01:04:41 +0000

It was another golden afternoon in Rio for Great Britain with Lee Pearson, Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker all topping the podium in the freestyle.

Lee Pearson went one better than his individual silver on Wednesday to claim gold with Zion, the 11th gold medal of his career.

“I do think I have the most amazing horse — I love him to bits,” he said. “I wanted to go in there powerful and go down that centre line like we owned it. I wanted to say to the judges, ‘we are here’.

“I’m in love with my team. I’m in love with the lottery. I’m in love with my family, my parents, my brothers, my groom, my partner — everybody that has kept me in the game, kept me here.”

Austria’s Pepo Puch took silver with Fontainenoir, with Denmark’s Stinna Kaastrup claiming her secind bronze of the Games with Smarties.

Lee Pearson riding Zion at the Rio Paralympics (Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘I knew we could do it’

It was a British one-two once again in the grade Ia freestyle. Sophie Christiansen scored 79.7% — the highest mark of the competition — to take gold with Athene Lindebjerg. In doing so, Sophie has defended both her individual titles from London.

“This year has been so up and down so to even get here was a feat in itself. Athene is such a young horse. I didn’t know how she would react, but she felt so relaxed with me today so I knew we could do it,” said Sophie.

Anne Dunham had to settle for silver behind her teammate once again, posting 76.05% aboard Lucas Normark, and Brazil’s Sergio Oliva completed the podium line-up in bronze.

Natasha Baker provided Britain with their third gold medal of the day when she defended her freestyle title with Cabral, at what is the 15-year-old Bujak gelding’s last championship. Dutch rider Rixt van der Horst held the lead until Natasha, the final rider of the Games into the arena, added 1.5% to finish on top with 77.25%. Steffen Zeibig and Feel Good 4 took bronze — the sole individual medal here for Germany.

“I’ve run out of tears,” said Natasha. That was our last championship test together and it was magical. He has never been beaten at a Paralympics. He deserves to go out with a bang.”

This brings Britain’s medal total from the Paralympic Games to 11, with six individual golds, four individual silvers and team gold.

Britain remain on top of the Paralympic world

Polly Bryan — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:51:42 +0000

It was a euphoric day in Rio for British para dressage, with Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker each winning individual gold, Anne Dunham taking silver and Britain claiming overall team honours.

This is the sixth consecutive Paralympic team title the Britain has won, having won gold at every Paralympic Games to have featured dressage, beginning in Atlanta in 1996.

No one could topple the British riders all day, with Sophie Christiansen scoring a massive 78.21% on Athene Lindebjerg to retain her individual grade Ia title from London. Anne Dunham secured the silver medal behind her teammate, posting 74.34% aboard the Knabstrupper stallion Lucas Normark.

“I honestly couldn’t have done any more. Athene was so relaxed and with me,” said Sophie.

Despite a totally focused test, Athene had a big spook coming out of the arena, although Sophie wasn’t fazed: “It was fine to do it after the test! Athene is such a sweetie — she was scared but she knows she still has to look after mummy.”

Britain’s Anne Dunham rides Lucas Normark to individual grade Ia silver at the Rio Paralympics (Image credit: creditUnknown)

With Sophie Wells collecting grade IV gold yesterday and Natasha Baker winning the grade II individual championship earlier today, Britain finished the team competition on a final score of 453.3 — a full 20 marks out in front. The tightest battle was for silver, with Germany edging out the Netherlands by just three points.

“One horror all of us had was the idea of being on the first team that doesn’t actually win the gold medal,” said Anne, for whom this is a fifth Paralympic gold. “But we won it, and we won it in style. We’ve shown that we are the best prepared, best trained squad in the world. We’ve shown it again and hopefully we’ll go on to show it in future.”

British chef d’equipe Sarah Armstrong added: “We couldn’t have wished for a better result. Since London everybody has upped their game and we are very aware that there are other nations delivering sterling performances who are on our heels. We’ve got to keep looking for the tiny things that can make the difference and that has really been our focus over the past nine or ten months.”

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Brazil’s Sergio Oliva gave the home crowd something to cheer about, winning the bronze medal with Coco Chanel on 73.82%.

”I’ve worked hard for more than 12 years to get this bronze medal so for me it means gold,” said Sergio. “To get a medal in my home country is amazing. I don’t have any words. I love this. I love this moment. This is a dream.”

All five of Britain’s riders have qualified for the freestyle tomorrow, which will begin at 1pm BST. The team medal ceremony will also take place tomorrow.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

Britain in gold medal position at halfway stage of the Paralympic dressage in Rio

Polly Bryan — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 16:39:15 +0000

Britain hold the gold medal position after the first round of the team competition at the Paralympic dressage in Rio. With all four riders — Sophie Christiansen, Anne Dunham, Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells — having completed the team test in their respective grades, Britain top the leaderboard on a current score of 225.884.

The German team of Elke Philipp, Carolin Schnarre, Stefan Zeibig and Alina Rosenberg, are currently in silver on 218.602, while the Netherlands (Frank Hosmar, Nicole den Dulk, Rixt van der Horst and Demi Vermeulen) are just a whisker behind them with 215.558.

Natasha Baker was the final rider to contribute a British team score, posting 71.88% with Cabral to top this morning’s grade II competition. It proved to be the closest class so far, with just 0.5% covering the top four combinations, two of which were Dutch and one German.

The 15-year-old Bujak son didn’t make things easy for Natasha, spooking badly just before entering the arena and causing Natasha to have to drop her whip.

“He was really nervous,” explained Natasha. “The atmosphere got hold of him and I had to work really, really hard. But after the first handful of movements he relaxed and started working with me and the fact he settles so quickly has given me confidence for the next few days.”

This is Natasha’s debut on a Paralympic team, having ridden as an individual when she claimed her double gold in London.

Continued below…

Britain off to strong start at Rio Paralympics

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The second half of the team competition gets underway this afternoon with the grade III individual championship, but the next Brit in action will be Sophie Wells and Valerius in the grade IV individual test tomorrow at 3.09pm BST. Natasha, Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen will be in action on Thursday. The individual championship scores are added to the team test scores to decide the final team standings, as well as generating the first set of individual medals.

Britain’s Lee Pearson will have his first shot at a medal tomorrow, in the grade Ib individual championship aboard Zion. Lee, who has 10 Paralympic gold medals to his name, will be hoping to go one better than in London, where he took individual silver.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

Britain off to strong start at Rio Paralympics

Polly Bryan — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 21:23:00 +0000

The British team have made a great start in the team competition at the Rio Paralympics, with Sophie Wells, Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham all posting excellent scores in today’s team tests.

Sophie Christiansen and Athene Lindebjerg posted a whopping 77.52% — just short of her own personal best score — to top the grade Ia leaderboard by 3.5%.

“I’m over the moon with her — she’s so young and for her to go into that loud, atmospheric arena and do that is so nice,” said Sophie of Diane Redfern’s Gribaldi mare, who is only nine. “The test felt a bit tentative — we took her round the arena slowly for her to take it all in. There’s so much more to come.”

Sophie’s preparation for the Games has been less than ideal: Athene has suffered from an infection in recent weeks and it wasn’t until the day the mare flew that Sophie knew whether she would be riding her, or her London partner, the multi-medalled 19-year-old Janeiro (Rio).

Long-time class leader Anne Dunham finished second behind Sophie with 73.95%. The striking Knabstrupper stallion can become sluggish in hot weather, but Anne was pleased with his performance in today’s 29 degree heat.

“He was fine today, although the arena did feel enormous — I felt like a tiny dot,” said Anne, who is contesting her fifth Paralympics. “I like big atmospheres — they pick me up and get the adrenaline going. Rio has been everything I expected and hoped for.”

Continued below…

Victory for Lee Pearson on day one of the Paralympic dressage in Rio

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Sophie Wells was the first rider into the arena for Britain, and her 14-year-old liver chestnut gelding Valerius was on his toes to score 74.4%. They finished second in the grade IV class, with Belgium’s Michele George and Rainman just creeping ahead.

“Reece really concentrated and listened to what he had to do in there. We had no mistakes, which is important for day one,” said Sophie. “I was aiming for a clean, safe test, which we got, and I’ll be able to ask a little more in the individual test on Wednesday.”

Natasha Baker is the final British team rider to begin her Rio campaign. She and Cabral will contest the grade II team test tomorrow (13 September).

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

Tales from Rio: ‘We used to draw our Paralympic horses out of a hat’

Polly Bryan — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 17:49:32 +0000

This year’s Rio Games marks 20 years since the inaugural Paralympic dressage, held at Atlanta in 1996. And the anniversary is of particular significance to Britain’s Anne Dunham, who remembers vividly the birth of the sport in 1996, when riders competed on borrowed horses donated by the host country.

“We arrived in Atlanta with a big question mark hanging over us,” recalls Anne, who was joined on the 1996 team by Jo Jackson, Elizabeth Stone and Dianne Tubbs. “We were chosen for our riding and our ability to ride different horses, but until we had drawn our horse out of a hat and ridden it on that first day we had no idea how the competition was going to go.”

Riders had just one hour per day over five days to get to know their Paralympic partner ahead of the competition. For Anne, that partner was a little horse called Doodlebug, “who behaved like a doodlebug too”.

“Doodlebug would go down the centre line and explode when he saw the markers. But on the final day, in the freestyle, we won the bronze medal, and came home with team gold too. It was absolutely great, albeit totally different to nowadays.

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“We set off on the plane like any other athlete, without the huge amount of luggage that comes with taking your own horse,” remembers Anne.

“But the days were far too long — from quarter to five in the morning to quarter past one at night. We had to travel a long way and the transport wasn’t nearly as slick as it is here. It was very tiring.”

At 67, Anne is the oldest athlete at the Rio Paralympics, and has seen the sport of para dressage grow exponentially, with five Paralympic Games under her belt. It was in Athens in 2004 that riders competed on their own horses for the first time.

“I set out to see disabled riding grow up, which it has done with a vengeance. Now I think it is recognised on a par with able-bodied dressage. We’ve got the skills, the horses, the trainers and, thanks to the lottery funding, the money. It’s a different world now, and it’s very exciting.”

In Rio, Anne is competing the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham’s Lucas Normark, a 15-year-old Knabstrupper stallion by Ravaldi. They scored 73.95% in the grade Ia team test today (12 September).

Rio Paralympics trot-up: five horses to be reinspected tomorrow

Polly Bryan — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 21:37:53 +0000

Paralympic dressage medal contenders are among the five horses to be reinspected tomorrow

Several medal hopes are among the five horses that will be reinspected tomorrow at 7.30am (Sunday 11 September), following the trot-up at the Rio Paralympics today,

Austrian rider Pepo Puch will re-present his ride Fontainenoir tomorrow. The London 2012 gold medallist will be bidding to add more golds to his collection in the grade Ib events this week with the Florencio I gelding.

Royal Delight, the ride of Italian grade Ia medal hopeful Sara Morganti, who took gold at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, will also be reinspected tomorrow, and Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla will also have a nervous wait to find out if his mount, Warenne, will be cleared to compete.

Two Danish horses make up the five who were not passed today: Stinna Kaastrup’s 15-year-old gelding Smarties and Caroline Nielsen’s 12-year-old gelding Leon will also be reinspected.

All five of Great Britain’s horses — Lee Pearson’s Zion, Natasha Baker’s Cabral, Sophie Christiansen’s Athene Lindebjerg, Anne Dunham’s Lucas Normark and Sophie Wells’ Valerius — were declared fit and sound to compete.

Michele George’s Rainman was sent to the holding box, but later passed. The pair, who claimed gold in London, compete for Belgium in grade IV.

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The action gets underway tomorrow with the grade III team test, beginning at 2pm (UK time), and the grade Ib team test at 6pm (UK time). Britain does not have any grade III competitors, but Lee Pearson will be the first out of the blocks for the squad, performing at 6.18pm with the 12-year-old Flemmingh gelding Zion.

Sophie Wells will be in action for Great Britain on Monday, in the grade IV team test. Grade Ia riders Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham, and grade II rider Natasha Baker, will begin their Paralympic campaigns on Tuesday.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

British para dressage riders gunning for European gold

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:18:04 +0000

British riders have arrived in France and all horses have all passed the trot up in advance of this week’s FEI European Para Equestrian Dressage Championships in Deauville, France (18-20 September).

The team is made up of:

Grade Ia, Sophie Christiansen with Athene Lindebjerg
Grade Ia, Anne Dunham with LJT Lucas Normark
Grade Ib, Lee Pearson and Zion
Grade IV, Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction
Grade II’s Natasha Baker will compete as an individual with Sookie St James.

“It’s a great atmosphere here in Deauville,” Natasha told H&H today (Thursday, 17 September). “The horses are very relaxed and have been going very well.

“We have a very young squad of horses with three new horses at championship level so it’s exciting to do see how they get on tomorrow.

“I have the youngest horse so I’m just hoping to have a nice confidence-giving clean test tomorrow and fingers crossed the judges love her.”

Seventy-two riders from 20 nations will compete in the championships

Team GBR has dominated championships in the past, and the riders will be hoping for similar results this year.

At the last Europeans, in Herning, Denmark in 2013, Great Britain topped the medal table with seven golds.

However, in this year’s competition there is likely to be strong competition from Germany and the Netherlands.

Sophie Christiansen will be representing Britain in Grade Ia. She took three gold medals at both London 2012 and at the Europeans in 2013, as well as picking up two at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

However, she’ll be up against team mate Anne Dunham, who won consecutive gold medals at four Paralympic Games starting in Atlanta in 1996.

In the grade Ib 10-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson will face tough competition from Austria’s Pepo Puch, the Netherlands’ Nicole Den Dulk and Stinna Tange Kaastrup of Denmark.

In grade II Natasha Baker goes against Holland’s Rixt Van Der Horst, who took both individual titles at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

In Grade IV Belgium’s Michèle George is the rider to beat, with the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar and Britain’s Sophie Wells aiming on doing just that.

H&H blogger Sophie Wells is now riding her direct reserve horse, Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction, an eight-year-old gelding.

The change comes after Sophie’s original ride Valerius “did not feel quite right” and it was decided in the best interests of the horse to withdraw him from the upcoming competition.

The competition gets underway tomorrow (Friday, 18 September) with the team test.

The individual tests take place on Saturday (after which the team and the first individual medals will be decided) before the weekend’s competition concludes with the individual freestyle test on Sunday.

Keep in touch with all the action with daily reports here on HorseandHound.co.uk

For more information and times visit: www.handiequicompet.fr

British para dressage team for European Championships revealed

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 16:00:46 +0000

Three of last summer’s Paralympic gold medallists are on the British para dressage team for the European Championships this week (21-25 August).

Sophie Christiansen (grade Ia) with Janeiro 6, Natasha Baker (grade II) with Cabral and Sophie Wells (grade IV) with Valerius join Anne Dunham (grade Ia) LJT Lucas Normark on the team at the event in Herning, Denmark.

Ricky Balshaw (grade Ib) and LJT Engaards Solitaire will ride as an individual.

“We’ve had a very good start to the competition. I’m very grateful to all involved in getting the team out here; the logistics went like clockwork,” said team manager David Hunter.

“The venue in Herning is great, with excellent facilities and it promises to be an exciting competition. We are all looking forward to competing over the coming week, alongside the dressage and showjumping riders.”

British paradressage team selected for European Championships

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:00:13 +0000

Three Paralympic gold medal winners will be in the strong British team lining up at this summer’s para equestrian dressage European championships.

Sophie Christiansen (grade Ia, Janeiro 6), Anne Dunham (grade Ia, LJT Lucas Normark), Ricky Balshaw (grade Ib, LJT Engaards Solitaire) Natasha Baker (grade II, Cabral, pictured) and Sophie Wells (grade IV, Valerius) will all be competing. A notable absentee is long-standing rider Lee Pearson.

“The riders selected for this year’s European Championships are once again a very strong combination, covering experience and newcomers,” said David Hunter, world class performance director for paradressage.

The Europeans will be held in Denmark next month (21-25 August).

For more see this week’s issue of H&H out on Thursday (11 July).

Anne Dunham, British paradressage rider

Horse & Hound — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:46:45 +0000

Anne Dunham, a grade IA paradressage rider, was born in 1948 and grew up working as a local stable hand while at school.

By the age of 16 Anne was running a yard of 80 horses at the weekends and knew that she one day wanted to compete.

Aged 27, Anne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and began using a wheelchair aged 30.

When Anne’s husband sold his business, Anne bought a competition horse at 40 and began her competitive career.

By 1996 Anne was competing in paradressage and took home gold and bronze from the Paralympics in Atlanta.

Anne’s success did not stop here, as she went on to take home gold from Sydney in 2000 and was later awarded the British Dressage Outstanding Contribution award in 2003.

Her career continued to excel as she took home gold from Athens in 2004.

Anne was then selected for Beijing in 2008 and won an impressive two gold medals and a silver, aged 59. In total Anne has won 12 gold medals.

In 2011 Anne was named The Sunday Times disabled sportswoman of the year.

Anne hopes to be selected for London 2012 with her two horses Teddy and LJT Lucas Normark.

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Anne Dunham named disabled sportswoman of the year

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:07:28 +0000

Paralympic gold medal-winning rider Anne Dunham has been named The Sunday Times disabled sportswoman of the year.

In September, Anne was a member of the winning team at the European Para Equestrian Dressage Championships in Belgium, where she also won two individual golds.

She received her award in London on Wednesday last week (7 December).

“I was amazed and thrilled,” Anne told H&H.

“It was a big shock and a great honour. But it’s not just great for me, it’s brilliant for para dressage and equestrianism as whole, especially when [equestrian] sport wasn’t recognised in the recent BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominations.”

Para-Equestrian Dressage European team announced

Horse & Hound — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:34:50 +0000

The British team for the Para-Equestrian Dressage European Championships CPEDI**** in Moorsele, Belgium (2-4 September) has been announced.

The team riders are:

Anne Dunham and Teddy (Grade 1a)
Emma Sheardown and Purdy’s Dream (Grade 1a)
Deb Criddle and LJT Akilles (Grade III)
Sophie Wells and Valerius (Grade IV)

Grade II rider Natasha Baker with Cabral will ride as an individual.

A minor injury to Sophie Christiansen’s mount, Rivaldo of Berkeley, has ruled her out of contention and team stalwarts Ricky Balshaw and Lee Pearson are both recovering from serious injuries.

World-class performance director Will Connell said: “It is great to see Deb Criddle back on the team and Sophie Wells is also bringing a new horse to championship level.

“With Natasha Baker making her squad debut we have some exciting but as yet unproven talent at this level.

“The Europeans this year is very much about developing our squad and building strength and depth ahead of London 2012.”

All five riders will compete for individual and freestyle medals.

Pearson completes gold hat-trick at World Equestrian Games

Horse & Hound — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:08:25 +0000

By scoring victory in the paradressage grade Ib freestyle today, Lee Pearson has become one of the two most decorated athletes at the games alongside the Netherlands’ dressage sensation Edward Gal.

Starting the week by helping Great Britain to team gold, Lee picked up the individual honours on Thursday and completed the hat-trick this afternoon.

Lee told H&H: “I’m pleased with my score but I have done better. He warmed up well but in the arena he could have been more helpful. Maybe I’m more critical than the judges.”

Lee needs to watch out though as Denmark’s 16-year-old superstar Stinna Tange Kaastrup was not far behind on her New Forest pony Labbenhus Snoevs. Stinna added freestyle silver to the individual bronze that helped her team onto the podium on Thursday.

Britain’s Ricky Balshaw didn’t have a chance to defend his position after winning silver in the individual. His ride Academy Award went lame during his freestyle and Ricky had to retire.

However Jo Pitt bettered her scores during the week riding Estralita to take bronze in the grade II freestyle.

Jo said: “He’s just got better and better all week and was easy to ride today. I’ve been working so hard for this and to get a mid-70% score at this level, well I’m very satisfied.”

For full report and results don’t mis H&H October 14 issue

Emma Sheardown ups her game for WEG paradressage gold

Horse & Hound — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:05:01 +0000

Emma Sheardown, one of Britain’s three grade Ia paradressage riders in Kentucky, improved on bronze in the individual for gold in the freestyle today.

Emma told H&H: “I’m just so happy. My horse was a little bit more free and forward today and the test felt amazing.”

Just behind Emma in silver was yesterday’s individual gold medallist Sophie Christiansen. Sophie, who like Emma has cerebreal palsy, said she felt “exhausted” today after three days of competition.

“[Rivaldo Of Berkeley has been amazing at this competition, we were both just a bit tired today,” said Sophie. “I’m so so happy for Emma, she did a better job today.”

Anne Dunham, a silver medallist yesterday, finished in bronze today to complete a British podium.

“I enjoy the music most of all and so does my horse,” said Anne. “This whole championship has been fantastic, I’m just so sad it’s coming to an end.”

Britain’s grade II and Ib riders compete tomorrow for freestyle medals.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound 14 October issue for full report and pictures from the World Equestrian Games

British paradressage team lead after day one

Horse & Hound — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:20:40 +0000

Britain’s paradressage team riders all put in strong performances in today’s team tests to give them a solid chance of yet another gold medal. They lead with 214.641 overnight with the Netherlands second on 211.923 and Germany third with 209.889. Team GB is as yet unbeaten in championship para competition.

Lee Pearson, Anne Dunham, Sophie Christiansen and Jo Pitt were selected for the team yesterday. Their scores in today’s team tests will be added to their performances in the individual tests, which take place over the next two days, and then the team medals and first set of individual medals will be decided.

Lee, a nine-times Paralympic medallist and grade Ib rider, was best of the Brits riding Gentleman, scoring 73.818%. There are five grades of paradressage with Ia being for those riders with greatest disability and grade IV the least disabled.

Lee said: “Some of our team were disappointed with their marks today so I knew I needed a good score to keep us in with a chance of gold. I rode a safe test to get a safe, decent mark. Now as the competition goes on I’ll put a little more power in a hopefully be able to increase my scores.”

Jo Pitt was first to go for Britain riding Estralita in grade II. She said: “I was really pleased with my test apart from the one blip. The cameras started clicking and distracted my horse [causing Estralita to spook].”

Seasoned campaigner Anne Dunham, who started in international competition in 1996, had a fault-free round on Teddy Edwards in the grade Ia for 71.296%.

“He was really listening to me and very supple, and he seemed to enjoy it in there,” said Anne, who is back in competition following a heart operation last year.

Teammate Sophie contested the same grade and finished just behind Anne riding Rivaldo Of Berkeley. Sophie said: “I didn’t know how he’d cope in the arena with all the cameras and lots of people, but he was very good. I just had a little mistake [the horse jogged from walk] and think I will not ride in these spurs for the rest of the competition.”

Three additional British riders – Sophie Wells, Ricky Balshaw and Emma Sheardown – will join their teammates in competing over the next two days for individual medals.

For full report, pictures and results, don’t miss H&H 14 October issue

Equestrians named in New Year Honours List 2009

Horse & Hound — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:11:06 +0000

A host of equestrians have been named in the New Year Honours List for 2009.

Paralympic triple gold medallist Lee Pearson, OBE, has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to equestrianism and disabled sport.

Lee (pictured right) told H&H: “It’s a great honour, and a lovely surprise.

“2008 was a fantastic year but a tough one — I’m actually glad it’s over — 2009 will be busy too.”

Lee’s Paralympic teammates and double gold medallists Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen are made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) for services to disabled sport.

Former chairman of British Dressage and current president of the British Horse Society, Leslie Barbara “Desi” Dillingham is given an MBE for her voluntary service to equestrian sport.

In horseracing, Rhydian James Morgan Jones is made an MBE for his services to the horseracing industry, and Dr John Fitzroy Gillespie JP DL is given an MBE for voluntary service to horseracing in Northern Ireland.

Annabel Serena Oxley is also made an MBE for voluntary service to injured jockeys.

In Scotland, Ruth Skinner for services to Riding for the Disabled and to the community in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

Susan Tron, manager of Newcastle’s Stepney Bank Stables is made an MBE for services to riding for disadvantaged people in Tyne and Wear.

Further south, Deborah Anne Hall, manager of the Chigwell Riding Trust for Special Needs is awarded an MBE for services to disabled people in Essex.

If we have missed equestrian names in the New Year Honours list, please email abi_butcher@ipcmedia.com

Medals galore for British Paralympic dressage squad in Hong Kong

Horse & Hound — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:18:58 +0000

Team GB finished the final day of equestrian competition at the Paralympic Games with a flourish, picking up two golds and three silvers in the final three freestyle events.

Sophie Christiansen started the ball rolling winning the grade 1a with Lambrusco to add to her team gold and individual silver earned earlier in the week. Team mate Anne Dunham picked up silver with Teddy.

Sophie was thrilled with her win. “This is a dream come true,” she said.

There was perhaps no real surprise when ‘Mr Paralympics’ himself Lee Pearson kept up his 100% Paralympic record, winning the grade 1b freestyle and adding gold number 9 to his haul.

It had been a nerve wracking few hours in the run-up to the freestyle after Gentlemen pulled off a shoe and had to be rested for 24 hours. But the horse was in fine form for the test and produced the highest of the week, 77.444%.

Ricky Balshaw pulled off the performance of his life to finish second to Lee with Deacons Giorgi. Ricky had to endure a tense wait until the final score went up for eventual bronze Marcos Alves of Brazil.

This was a fraction of what Simon Laurens, who won silver in the grade III, had to go through however. With each class split into two sections, Simon was in action at 8am and it wasn’t until over 12 hours later at the end of the evening session that his silver was confirmed. Debbie Criddle, the 2004 Paralympic champion was also in action in this grade with Pavaroti, but sadly just missed out of the medals by a fraction of a percent in fourth.

Hannelore Brenner of Germany added to her individual gold, winning the grade III freestye with her elegant chestnut mare Women of the World.

With a capacity crowd watching, 30,000 spectators have been through the gates during the week. The Equestrian part of the games were brought to a close with the team medal ceremony where team GB were presented with their well deserved golds to cheers that would have done credit to a football stadium.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report from the Paralympic Games in next week’s magazine

Triple gold for British paralympic dressage team

Horse & Hound — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:34:42 +0000

It was triple gold for Great Britain at the Paralympic Games in Hong Kong as the team won gold by a handsome margin. Lee Pearson (pictured right) and Anne Dunham won their individual grades and Sophie Christiansen finished in the silver medal position behind Anne.

The team, made up of Lee, Anne, and Sophie as well as grade III rider Simon Laurens, finished over 20 points ahead of the Germans. The German team included today’s individual grade III gold medallist Hannelore Brenner riding Women of the World. Norway claimed the bronze. The medal ceremony will be held on Thursday night to close the equestrian events.

Lee Pearson’s win in the individual grade 1b riding the inexperienced seven-year-old Gentleman brought his paralympic gold tally up to a remarkable total of 10 and he has a chance to add in Thursday’s freestyle. “I am over the moon,” said Lee who has achieved the feat riding three different horses.

Anne Dunham’s ride Teddy has proved a real find. The welsh cob arrived through a colleague of Anne’s daughter. “He has come on so much,” she said, “and he loves to show off in front of an audience.” For Anne, a veteran of four Paralympic Games, and a past team gold medallist, this was a first and well deserved individual title

Sophie had to sit and suffer after going into the lead with Lambrusco III as Anne was one of the last to go. “I thought we had a chance of winning but I am thrilled to get silver,” she said.

Just Felicity Coulthard competes for the British squad tomorrow when the action centres on the grade II and IV freestyle championships, with the rest riding on Thursday when the remaining freestyle medals in the grade 1a, 1b and III’s are decided.

Stay in touch with the latest news from the Paralympic Games in Hong Kong on Horseandhound.co.uk

Britain in gold position after first day at Paralympic Games

Horse & Hound — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:44:03 +0000

After the first day of competition at the Paralympic Games the British team are in the Gold medal position. They have a commanding 16 points in hand over the second placed German team with the Norwegians a further 2 points adrift.

Simon Laurens riding at grade III and making his Paralympic Games debut, started the ball rolling for the British contingent with Ocean Diamond scoring 69%. Lee Pearson, riding new horse Gentleman scored even better with 73.294% to head the grade 1a team test. Sophie Christianson and Lambrusco posted 72% before last team member to go Anne Dunham managed an impressive 75.176% to huge cheers from the vocal British contingent.

Anne, at 59 the eldest competitor at the Games and a veteran of 5 Paralympics, was thrilled with her welsh cob Teddy Edward, who easily scored the highest percentage of the day. “He listened to everything I told him and did everything I wanted,” she said.

Of the Germans Hannelore Brenner and Women of the World scored their highest percentage with a 71.615 riding at grade III level and beating Simon in the process. The remaining two, Angelika Trabert and Steffan Zeibig, both grade II riders, scored 69.4 and 63 respectively.

With the individual medals decided on Monday and Tuesday, and those scores being added to those from the team tests, the team medals themselves will not be decided until Tuesday night. With all the British team members not due to ride until then, it promises to be a nail biting finale.