A rider whose CD went up the spout during her prix st georges (PSG) freestyle, screeching, changing speeds and finally stopping, sang part of the music herself as she finished the test without breaking stride.

Zara Griffiss told H&H that having hung about all day waiting to ride her test, on Patrick Leg’s 17.3hh Irish draught Allegro on 23 June, she had no intention of stopping when the music did.

“He was going so well; he warmed up amazingly and I thought ‘I could get a personal best today’,” she said. “Then he did all his fours and threes; it was going so well, then disaster! The music wasn’t just stopping, it was fast-forwarding, rewinding; the noise it was making was scaring the horses in the warm-up. Then it just switched off.”

Zara said she had already qualified “Leggy” for the Area Festivals but wanted to “get some more test sheets under our belt”, so she had arrived at the show nice and early.

“I’d waited so long to ride this blimming test, I thought I’m not leaving this arena without a sheet!” she said. “So I carried on; no way was I not going to do the bloody test!”

Zara even sang some of her missing music herself, and the combination won their section.

“I thought ‘The judges have got to know what it sounds like, so I’ll sing it’,” she said. “But then I was out of breath so I stopped. It’s really hard singing while doing sitting trot; I think I’d have fallen off if I’d kept it up for the extended trot!

“We lost some marks for the music but he still got 67%, in a PSG, so I was really happy with that. It must have been hard for the judges as they wouldn’t have known if we were in time or not!”

Zara added that she hopes to take Leggy, who was “meant to be a hunter but was no good at hunting, so I took him for eventing but he was no good at that either”, to grand prix level.

“He’s enormous; a 17.3hh Irish draught who shouldn’t even be doing dressage, and I’m only 5’ and nine stone,” she said. “But he’s the best. He’s so beautiful, and he owns my heart.”

You might also be interested in:

9 of the most memorable grand prix dressage freestyles of all time

‘This makes everything worthwhile’: 18.2hh Clydesdale wins freestyle at Area Festival

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We have rounded up some of the greatest, most memorable dressage freestyle performances of all time. Turn the volume up, and enjoy...

Andreas Helgstrand on Blue Hors Matiné (DEN) at WEG 2006

This pair shot to fame after winning individual silver in 2006 with this electrifying performance to a pop medley that scored 81.5%. The enormous Aachen crowd were unable to resist joining in for the final section, as this enchanting mare passaged up the centre line perfectly on the beat to their Lady Marmalade music.

Isabell Werth on Gigolo (GER) at Atlanta Olympics 1996

At the inauguration of dressage freestyle into the Olympic Games programme, it was this routine that won Isabell Werth her first – and, to date, only – Olympic individual gold medal, as she edged out arch rival Anky van Grunsven to take gold on 76.6% with the legendary Gigolo. It set the standard for grand prix kürs, with a soundtrack really designed to enhance the horse and tell a story, rather than just acting as background music.

Edward Gal on Totilas (NED) at Olympia 2009

Who could forget this world record-breaking freestyle by Edward Gal and the one-and-only Totilas? The legendary black stallion produced a performance unlike anything anybody in the dressage world had seen before and blew the judges away with 92.3%, finishing at the top of the leaderboard with a 10% margin.

Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Højris (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

Possibly one of the most well choreographed and befitting freestyles of all time, this performance from Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) and Mistral Højris earned them 84.339% and individual Olympic bronze. The catchy Lion King medley suits “Alf” down to the ground, and Laura’s emotion and pride in her horse at her final halt is a delight to see.

Anky van Grunsven on Salinero (NED) at WEG 2006

She’s long been known as the “Queen of the Kür”, and has a plethora of standout freestyle performances, including with her Olympic champion Bonfire. But this one of Salinero’s, entitled L’Espirit Chanson and created by Dutch composers Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof, may well be the best of all. It also features Anky’s own vocals accompanying her canter half-pass sequence. This particular performance earned her 86.1% and the world championship title.

Carl Hester on Nip Tuck (GBR) at Olympia 2016

This intricate freestyle was set to music by Tom Hunt, and based on Mr Selfridge. A masterclass in how to use a floorplan to really show off a horse’s strengths, it suited the quirky “Barney” down the ground, with the eye-watering level of difficulty really highlighting the tall gelding’s straightness and talent for the collected work. He may not be as flamboyant a mover as many top horses, but with the first centre line alone featuring a full piaffe pirouette, passage and a double canter pirouette, this routine certainly has plenty of wow factor, scoring 84.669% for the win here.

Juan Manuel Muñoz Diaz on Fuego De Cardenas (ESP) at WEG 2010

A freestyle full to the brim with energy and Spanish flair, this thrilling performance earned the pair a resounding standing ovation in the giant Kentucky stadium, as well as fifth place with 81.45%. The Spanish flamenco-style music, composed by Michael Erdmann, was superbly suited to this PRE stallion, and the excited and very vocal American crowd went wild for Juan’s one-handed centre lines.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB (GER) at Rotterdam Europeans 2019

This exquisite, more recent performance, which earned Jessica her first ever individual medal – bronze, with 89.107% – is sure to go down in history. The beautiful music from La La Land really suits the tall elegant mare, and her equally elegant rider, perfectly and the sheer harmony between the combination is a delight to witness.

Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

And finally, arguably the greatest of them all! Charlotte and Valegro produced so many dazzling freestyles, setting new world records at Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 along the way, but it is their gloriously British performance from London 2012 that will always stick the most firmly in so many minds. Having already lead Britain to a historic team gold, they stunned the Greenwich Park crowds with their memorable routine featuring Land of Hope and Glory and the chimes of Big Ben to score 90.089% and become Olympic champions.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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There was hot competition in the music classes at the inaugural Horse & Hound Festival of Dressage.

Freestyle classes from prelim to medium were held in the evening sunshine at Sheepgate, after the conclusion of the championship sections on Saturday (21 July).

Alice Elliott and the flashy Chatsworth Chieftain scored 72.67% for victory in the medium section.

The pair entered to Queen and carried out a polished performance to hits, including Crazy Little Thing Called Love and The Show Must Go On.

Elementary freestyle winner Rachael Liddle and Orions Wish danced their way to first place to a soundtrack, featuring the Yellow Submarine, Walking on Sunshine and Here Comes The Sun, put together by Tony Hobden of Equidance.

They pulled off a fluent and accurate test to score 68.27%.

Rachael, a data analyst from Sunderland bought the KWPN x Welsh gelding two years ago from her trainer Ian Brown’s wife Vicky.

“He’s really cheeky and likes attention,” said Rachael who travelled four hours to this event. “He was tired as he’s already competed twice today, but he tried really hard to do what I asked. His serpentine came off really well, which is something we’ve been working on. I’ve found the Festival really fun and everyone is so friendly and cheerful. It’s more relaxed than a normal show and more flexibile.”

Article continues below…

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The four-year-old mare broke the 70% barrier twice on her competition debut at the Horse & Hound Festival of Dressage

Novice winners Amy Wray and Sara had everyone’s feet tapping to their fun score, put together by Equivision.

The pair’s score featured the techno-disco beats of DJ Scott’s Sweet Dreams and included American Authors’ Best Day Of My Life as well as Kongos’ Come With Me Now.

Leeds University student Amy admitted her entrance and first centre line is her favourite part of the test.

“I wanted something upbeat and recognisable that people would know,” said Amy, who has enjoyed success in affiliated music classes with the mare.

“She’s quite lively and sharp, so I wanted something that would suit her.”

The combination received the highest mark out of all the freestyle classes, 75.28%.

As well as dressage, Amy also competes the mare at endurance and the pair enjoy hunting with the Readyfield Bloodhounds in the winter.

Prelim winners Kirstie Clarke and CDS Calzini (pictured, top) produced a fluid, active test to a John Williams compilation, with music from the Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean films.

The eye-catching chestnut gelding (CHB x Crack C), bred and owned by Janice Vallance, was rewarded with a mark of 74.44%.

This was the five-year-old gelding’s second ever show and both his owner and rider were delighted with how he coped.

“He was a bit tired but he’s so good and trainable,” said Kirstie, who trains with Hannah Doggett and Stephen Clarke.

“I had music written for another horse but Hannah designed floorplan — I had never ridden through it fully until today! It’s such good music to ride to and it’s easy to get into a good rhythm.

“The judge stopped me at the end and said how good he was.”

The championship tests are run over two days at Sheepgate Equestrian Centre in Lincolnshire.

Competitors rode their first test on Saturday (21 July) and their second on Sunday (22 July). The winners are decided on a combination of percentages from both tests, with a host of prizes, including a Catago FIR-tech healing rug worth £200 for winners and rosettes to tenth place.

Don’t miss the latest news and updates on the H&H Festival of Dressage on the Horse & Hound website and social media channels, plus a full report in the 26 July issue of the magazine.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British Dressage (BD) has revealed details of two new championships that will run from next year.

The organisation has responded to calls for more freestyle challenges to aim for and has created a new summer dressage to music festival for 2018.

This also addresses the grassroots gap that was formed when the new competition structure came into play.

“The introduction of three sections under the new competition structure lead to music classes spread over just silver and gold sections to fit the model, thus leaving a gap for a bronze level music championships,” said a BD spokesman.

“In addition, while the winter music championships works well, we’re regularly asked by the membership to introduce a second offering for music competitors in the summer.

“As a sport, we need to encourage more participation in music competitions to build on the London 2012 legacy of the ‘dancing horses’ and therefore a standalone summer music championships was felt to be the most appropriate solution.”

The provisional date is 16-19 August and the show will will have capacity for 430 combinations.

The series will fit into the current summer qualifying period, which runs from 1 December 2017 to 18 June 2018. Qualification will work in a ranking/league table format.

• Classes will run at the following levels:
• Prelim: bronze and silver
• Novice: bronze, silver and gold
• Elementary: bronze, silver and gold
• Medium: bronze, silver and gold
• Advanced medium: bronze, silver and gold
• PSG: bronze, silver and gold
• Inter I: bronze, silver and gold
• Grand prix: silver and gold (grand prix silver is to be defined in the 2018 rule book).

Article continues below…

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A new championship for bronze and FEI-level silver combinations is also scheduled for next year.

“As the competition structure stands, those competing in the silver sections have more competition opportunities with both area festivals and regionals to aim for,” said the BD spokesman.

“There aren’t the same options for bronze riders who only have area festivals to aim towards.

“Member feedback has highlighted that there’s also a gap for the ‘middle ground’ rider competing in the silver sections at PSG and above.

“This new championship aims to provide new opportunities for these riders and provide a more complete member experience.”

Qualification for this will also run in a ranking/league table format and the proposed dates for the finals are 25-28 May 2018.

For more information on the summer championships, click here, and for details on the bronze and FEI-level silver series championships, click here.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

H&H dressage editor Alice Collins — who is reporting from the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships for next week's magazine (out 17 April) — picks a few of her stand-out rides from the second day of competition

Rob Waine [pictured above] rode Linda Bennett’s Rhodesia — a 7-year-old, 17.2hh British-bred gelding by Keystone Rhondeo — to victory in the Equitop Myoplast elementary open with a flowing and harmonious test.

Sadie Smith and Sarah Tyler Evans’ seven-year-old Sandro Hit/Weltmeyer stallion Spiridon are proving ones to watch. The pair scored 71.57% in the hotly contested Baileys Horse Feeds novice music.

And we couldn’t not include the most popular cob in dressage, Tiger Tim, who Alys Matravers rode to an upbeat medley including the apt Eye Of The Tiger — have a listen…

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The last two weeks have remained quiet on the riding front. Kaja (pictured) has been going well and apart from the music display in December, we have no other plans before Christmas.

This has been deliberate as I’ve been working hard at school towards my GCSEs next year. This time of year is so much about development, preparation and management. It takes care and patience to plan for competitions several months away.

We’ve improved Kaja’s musculature to provide more strength, softened her back with frequent massages and altered her hind shoes to give more support for the increased amount of work she is doing in piaffe and canter pirouettes. She seems really happy at the moment and her self-carriage is improving all the time.

I have good news that after my lorry fell apart we have managed to find another lorry which is much younger and less rusty! I will feel a lot safer on my journeys abroad next year.

Magazine out now!

If

you read earlier blogs you will remember a modelling shoot I did for Company Magazine (left).

The photoshoot is featured in the Company High Street Edit Version available now; there are 3 great pages. I also received some shots from my last editorial shoot (below).

Young Sports Achiever of the Year

In November, I was delighted to be nominated for an award from Cheshire East Council. My family and I were invited to a lovely presentation dinner where the winners would be announced.

We arrived to find a huge number of people

and it was really interesting to meet competitors from other sports. Mike Shaft, a local radio presenter was announcing the awards. It was great for my Dad, who played Basketball for Manchester Giants and nationally, as Mike used to commentate on his games.

On winning the young sports achiever award I was promptly interviewed live on stage, which was a bit daunting, but I’ve done a few interviews now, so it’s getting easier. It was nice to hear from a journalist that he was really impressed with my Horse & Hound blog!

Olympia

I am so disappointed that Olympia dressage is not in school holidays. It’s a shame to put dressage before the main show as it doesn’t allow for more spectators to view the sport and get involved.

Come on Olympia can we timetable dressage into a prime slot! However, it will be fantastic that our top riders will be there and it be a fitting farewell for Laura Tomlinson’s Mistral Hojris.

Chloe

Twitter: @Chloe_Vell

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

With dressage to music on the up, H&H brings you a selection of companies specialising in producing the music and movements for dressage to music riders from unaffiliated level through to grand prix.

Freestyle Dressage Productions

Tel: 01908 583002

info@freestyledressage.co.uk

www.freestyledressage.co.uk

Music 4 Dressage 2 Music

dressage2music@aol.com

www.music4dressage2music.com

GG Jingles

Tel: 01932 786160

ggjingles@yahoo.co.uk

www.ggjingles.co.uk

Bespoke Composition & Production of Music for Dressage by Adrien Cook

Tel: 01572 811379

info@ehorseshopping.com

Don’t miss H&H’s exclusive dressage for music feature in the first shows special, on sale 19 February, ’09

MARIA Eilberg was triumphant at the Blue Waters National Dressage Championships (13-16 September) in the grand prix kür on Two Sox. But how easy is it to produce your own freestyle?

WHETHER you are aiming for the national championships or just want to add another dimension to your training, dressage freestyles — or kürs — can be lots of fun. Freestyles are judged both on technical and artistic marks. The rider must include all the compulsory movements at his level of competition, and may also incorporate other non-compulsory movements of a lower level. Check with British Dressage (BD) on the amount of time you will have for your test, as it varies for each level.

Riders’ top tips

ANDREW Gould, intermediaire I freestyle winter champion 2006, uses music from films that he likes, such as Gladiator and Rocky.

“I listen to music in the car while on the road teaching and get lots of ideas,” he says.

“A friend does my music for me — she assesses the horse’s paces with a metronome, videos me doing the test pattern I’ve worked out and then fits my music to it. You can make a test as technical or easy as you like, depending on the horse’s ability and how established he is at that level.”

Simone Ward, who was eighth in the national intermediaire I freestyle, uses the floor pattern as a start point.

“By recognising your horse’s strengths and weaknesses, you can give the judges the best possible impression of the required elements,” she says.

“With some clever choreography, you can also disguise some less impressive movements. I like uptempo music that builds and falls — this accentuates specific movements and gives the rider a checkpoint to ensure they’re not ahead of or behind their music.”

Becky Moody starts off by videoing her horse in each pace.

“I then watch the video and play loads of music at the same time to get a rough idea of what suits the horse. I look for music that might help emphasise the horse’s good points and express his character,” she says.

“When I’ve narrowed it down to a few choices for each pace, I ride the horse to the music and my family watches, to help choose the right pieces.

“I have a computer programme that enables me to speed up and slow down the music. I then design my floor plan, video myself riding it, and finally put the music together.”

Keeping it legal

A digital metronome, available online and from music stores, can be slipped into your pocket as you rehearse riding to your music for a rough guide. The average beats per minute in trot are around 150, 96 in canter and 108 in walk.

Play it safe when obtaining your music, so you don’t violate copyright laws — “normal” music CDs are licensed for domestic purposes only. BD has acquired a licence agreement with Phonographic Performance Limited and can supply details of the agreement. BD also offers a “music membership”, whereby competitors register their music on a music licence record form.

Visit www.britishdressage.co.uk for further info.

If you want professional assistance for your musical production, search online or in the phone book for dressage to music producers. There are also CDs available with music written specifically for horses, such as Rasmusic’s range of original tunes.

Check out Dancing With Your Horse by Libby Anderson and Leigh Ann Hazel-Groux (Half Halt Press) or ask BD for Jane Kidd’s Dressage to Music booklet.

This Q&A was first published in Horse & Hound (27 September, ’07)

Every point counted towards the top honours in some highly competitive dressage to music finals and the quadrille selection trial, staged by British Riding Clubs at Addington (6-7 October).

The senior novice class for competitors with British Dressage (BD) points was won by 20-year-old Charlotte Baillie and Mr Deep (South Western Dressage Group). Finishing just one point in arrears were Alison Moorhouse and Ben (South Devon).

The senior elementary section was also closely fought with Pamela Walker and Thompson (ISIS Dressage) taking the title by two points from Horsham’s Marilyn Turner on Copperfield Graffiti.

The Sid and Otter Valley Riding Club emerged victorious in the senior pairs, with Heidi Rose (Foxtrot) and Joanna Lee (Adamant) scoring four points more than Amanda Pidgley and Dawn Vear with their black ponies (New Forest Pony Enthusiasts).

Melanie Richards head the 26-strong senior novice class (no BD points) on the 14.2hh Mandalara Valentine. Beatrice Robinson rode Wattlemead Norman into second place for the Antrobus club.

Seventeen teams contested the quadrille selection trial, with the qualifying spots going to Worlington, Southerndown, Moat View and New Forest Pony Enthusiasts.

Smaller but quality fields contested the junior classes. In the section for those with BD points, Helen Turner from Woking and Bearwood Riding Club claimed victory aboard Marbon Musk, while in the no BD points section, the winner was Hykeham’s Annabelle Jepson, riding Berberry’s Blaze.

Read this report in full, including great photographs, in the current Horse & Hound (18 October, ’07)

Visit the British Riding Club’s website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now