The international dressage rider (pictured) gives her advice on promoting bend and flexion in a stiff horse

Maria was selected as travelling reserve for the 2008 Olympic Games and in the same year she became national champion. In 2009, she was selected for the silver medal-winning European team. In 2010, she added a team silver medal at the World Equestrian Games to her haul.

Training the stars

This is one of the most common things I work on with clients. Quite a few people are afraid to move their horse’s neck in case they lose the straightness of the body. Once these basics are in place, the neck needs to be mobilised so lateral work can have more control and quality.

Riding on different lines and using circles is beneficial during training for improving flexion. For a horse to bend, he needs to have length of neck so he can properly bend around the inside leg.

When asking for flexion, the inside rein needs to be shorter and the outside longer. The rider should hold their hands together.

Tackling the issue

1. While holding the outside rein in the outside hand as usual, take hold of the inside rein with your outside hand and slide your inside hand towards the bit an inch. Then release the inside rein from your outside hand and bring your hands back on either side of the horse’s neck. This ensures the inside rein is made shorter without losing the connection to the bit.

2. When flexing him to the inside, you ideally want to see the horse’s inside eye — if the horse is stiff this can be exaggerated to ensure he is more supple but it only needs to be held for short intervals. Inside neck flexion is required to establish better gymnasticity, balance and connection between the inside leg and outside rein.

3. A useful exercise is to leg yield away to the outside from the centre line to the outside far corner of the arena. Think of riding on to the diagonal with neck bend and then applying the inside leg to move the horse across to the outside.

Turn on to the centre line and ride to the outside far corner of the arena (see diagram), so you are moving the horse away to the outside using your inside leg.

The line is long and shallow, which should help with fluency and will enable you to repeat the exercise straight away again, helping with continuity and consistency.

4. Ask for an inside neck bend and make sure you can ride the whole of the arena on the track with the neck bend being independent of the body. If the horse wants to fall in, use your inside leg and open up your outside rein; a whip on the inside shoulder can be helpful to stop him falling to the inside.

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Consider this…

• If the horse is stiff, the most common response to inside flexion is that he will fall in off the line. This is where the rider’s inside leg needs to support the horse into the outside rein.
• Make sure the horse is going freely forwards and straight, and has enough length of neck, before taking the neck flexion to the inside.
• Build up the demand gradually, for example the amount of flexion and the length of time that you hold it.
• Make sure you look in the direction you want to ride.

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Charlotte Dujardin and her national small tour champion Mount St John Freestyle spearhead an exciting line-up for Thursday’s (5 October) Future Elite class at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Eight pairs will contest the class, which is aimed at grand prix prospects aged between eight and 10 who are currently working at small tour level. Each will perform an inter I freestyle.

Charlotte will defend the 2016 title she won with Hawtins Delicato, this time riding Emma Blundell’s eight-year-old Fidermark daughter Freestyle, the youngest horse in the class, with whom she posted a record score of 81.5% in the inter I kur at the British Dressage national championships last month.

Giving Charlotte a run for her money at HOYS will be Maria Eilberg with the talented 10-year-old Sarotti 57. Maria and the Sir Donnerhall son have had a fantastic season, following up strong placings at the nationals with inter I victory at the Saumur CDI3* in September.

Sophie Wells will ride her European para dressage gold medallist C Fatal Attraction. Sophie and the 10-year-old Fidertanz son finished 10^th in the inter I freestyle at the nationals, with a routine very much adapted from their grade V para freestyle. Sophie will be debuting an exciting new inter I floorplan, set to her existing Tom Hunt music, at HOYS.

Vicki Thompson Winfield will partner her striking nine-year-old Artist, who finished sixth in the inter I freestyle at Stoneleigh, while Sadie Smith will compete with her own Keystone Dynamite, winners of the inter I at this year’s Midway Championships.

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Dan Greenwood will be in action on Juliet Leighton’s 10-year-old Lord Leatherdale gelding Chevalier O, while Owen Cooper will ride the 10-year-old Dancier stallion Don Dante. Rebecca Cowderoy completes the line-up riding another 10-year-old, her own Florencio mare Celicia.

Don’t miss the full report in the 12 October issue of H&H.

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“Unusual in an attractive and interesting way,” is the Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of “quirky”. So far, so good.

But anyone who has spent their time browsing horses for sale adverts, and travelling to far-flung corners of the country to try promising mounts, knows that this six-letter word can be used to gloss over some distinctly unattractive qualities.

“It doesn’t need to be a bad thing,” says dressage European team silver medallist Maria Eilberg. “If you can get quirkiness under control, it can give you an edge. If you’re looking for a competition horse, they often do need a little something about them. I would be quite intrigued if I saw a horse described as quirky in an advert — I see it as a good thing.”

However we choose to interpret this ambiguous adjective, how can you get the most out 
of such a horse?

How to cope with a quirky horse

1. Rule out any physical problems. Eventer Bettina Hoy advises making a list and ticking it off — “You need to go through the list and first make sure everything is physically OK with the horse.”

2. “Treat the horse as an individual,” says eventer Caroline Powell. “That’s where you either excel in working out a quirk or you fail.”

3. “Keep their minds occupied and learn to expect the quirks,” says dressage rider Maria Eilberg.

4. Showing producer Jayne Ross has proved that getting the most out of a quirky horse is about channelling the energy into something positive. “The Philanderer was bizarre both on and off the ground,” says Jayne of the 2009 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme champion (pictured above). “He would always catch you out when you least expected it, but at the same time he looked magical when he was up and going and got it right. I absolutely adored him.

“You have to learn not to react,” says Jayne. “If a horse spooks because it’s sharp, there is no point in giving it a kick and saying, ‘don’t do that’. Sometimes you have to sit and suffer.”

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5. There is a range of professional riders out there who can help and support you. Don’t ever suffer alone and always take precautions when working with a difficult horse to make the environment as safe as possible for you and your horse.

Read the full feature about what we mean by ‘quirky’ horses — and how to get the most out of them — in the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine (4 May 2017)

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The Eilbergs’ Pink Green Farm is something of a dressage oasis, beautifully designed with excellent facilities. It’s hard to imagine that when Ferdi first arrived 30 years ago, there was nothing here.

“It was all just fields on a steep slope,” remembers Ferdi. “I had Maria with me in her carry cot, so I set her down in the shade and started planning my arena.”

Three decades on, the yard has produced two of Britain’s most successful dressage riders. We take a look around.

1. The godsend horse walker

The recently installed Claydon covered horse walker proves invaluable for the Eilbergs and their team of five core staff. “It’s a much better version than what we had before. It takes six horses and is very spacious with rubber rather than wood so they can have a kick and squeal safely,” says Michael.

2. Facilities galore

The main barn is enviably light, spacious and airy, featuring vaulted ceilings, beams and archways, and leading straight out onto the viewing area in the indoor arena. And there’s no shortage of facilities — the yard also boasts a wash bay, a clipping/tacking up area and a solarium.

Continued below…

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Father and son dressage supremos Ferdi and Michael Eilberg share some of their performance enhancing secrets — from playing with

3. The canter track

In addition to a 30x60m outdoor arena and 20x60m indoor, the Eilbergs also have the luxury of a canter track, just in front of the family house. “It’s lovely to be able to work the horses out there in the summer and it’s fantastic for giving them an airing and a bit of a play,” says Michael. “I find it especially good for practising changes — you’ve got more length than on the diagonal in the school. It helps with straightness, channelling the horses between the sleepers and creating a 2m track.”

4. Far-reaching views

With its proximity to Redditch and Birmingham you might not expect the gorgeous rural views that Pink Green Farm boasts. The Eilbergs recently acquired more land to bring their total acreage up to around 11 acres, and they’re certainly in a beautiful spot.

5. Equine residents

Pink Green Farm has plenty of equine superstars in residence that we wouldn’t mind sneaking home, including Woodlander Farouche and her mother Woodlander Dornroeschen, Michael’s 2015 team ride Marakov and his other small tour horses Der Designer, Fuerst Sinclair and Half Moon Dynasty, plus Maria’s talented Royal Concert.

6. The future talent

Michael has high hopes for Farouche’s daughter, the now five-year-old Woodlander Walk On The Side (Wesuvio x Furst Heinrich). “She’s fantastic. She just needs some time to strengthen up — she’s long and leggy like her mum,” says Michael. She also has offspring of her own in the form of the eye-catching, cheeky Zorro, by Blue Hors Zack, pictured with Michael. We think he’ll be another to look out for in years to come.

7. Garlanded ancestry

With one of Britain’s top grand prix riders and trainers, not to mention European silver medallist Ferdi for a father, there’s no doubt that Michael and Maria come from exceptional dressage pedigree. Display cabinets showcasing the family’s rosettes and awards from over the years adorn the yard, and it’s enough to make any dressage enthusiast starry-eyed.

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

Using a pole exercise will help to improve the clarity of the rhythm and the reach of the stride within the trot.

The poles are generally set at 120cm apart from one another, but of course each horse’s stride length differs, so you need to bear that in mind when building the exercise.

Upon your approach to the exercise, ensure you are on a straight line, aiming for the centre of the poles. Repeat the exercise until your horse is confident with it.

When your horse is happy with this stage of the exercise, add a few more poles. Be flexible in your mind throughout this exercise — if the poles seem too close or too far apart from one another for your horse to feel confident with them, change the spacing to help your horse out.

About Maria Eilberg:

Maria was a member of youth European dressage teams from 1998‐2005, winning four medals, two pony European silver team medals and two young rider European bronze team medals. She was British under‐21 champion in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. In 2006, she was selected as travelling reserve for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen. In 2008, Maria was the travelling reserve for the Olympics with Two Sox. She retained her British grand prix freestyle title and became national champion.

Strong results in 2009 led to her selection for the silver medal-winning British team at the Alltech FEI Windsor European Dressage Championships. The Autumn of 2010 marked Maria’s first World Equestrian Games where she impressed by taking her place on the silver medal-winning team with 68.213% in the grand prix and later improving her performance to post 68.50% in the grand prix special.

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Using the pole exercise shown in the video, make sure you are nice and straight in your approach to the exercise and in the centre of the poles.

The exercise is boxed in by other poles so that the horse feels secure within where he is being asked to go.

You want your horse to get as close as possible to the first pole which will help encourage reach and balance within the rhythm you have established.

As your horse becomes more confident with the exercise you can add more poles at a slightly wider distance from one another to encourage more reach within the stride.

Practice this exercise both in medium walk and free walk so that your horse gets used to the variance within the pace and the balance required within the variance of pace.

About Maria Eilberg:

Maria was a member of youth European dressage teams from 1998‐2005, winning four medals, two pony European silver team medals and two young rider European bronze team medals. She was British under‐21 champion in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. In 2006, she was selected as travelling reserve for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen. In 2008, Maria was the travelling reserve for the Olympics with Two Sox. She retained her British grand prix freestyle title and became national champion.

Strong results in 2009 led to her selection for the silver medal-winning British team at the Alltech FEI Windsor European Dressage Championships. The Autumn of 2010 marked Maria’s first World Equestrian Games where she impressed by taking her place on the silver medal-winning team with 68.213% in the grand prix and later improving her performance to post 68.50% in the grand prix special.

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Competitors at this year’s Pony Club Championships will be helped to perform at their best by a crack team of world-class mentors.

Leading riders, including Jeanette Brakewell and Maria Eilberg, will be on hand to provide a sounding board, advice and sports psychology.

The scheme was developed by Olympic pentathlete Kate Allenby, who won bronze at the Sydney Games in 2000. She has run a pilot mentoring programme in tetrathlon since 2010 and is rolling it out across eventing, dressage and showjumping this year.

“I’m a PE teacher and see children being asked to perform younger and younger,” Kate told H&H.

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but this is about giving them the skills to deal with the pressures of delivering at this age; how to manage yourself when you arrive at the start line, or when things go wrong,” she added.

The mentors will be present at the Pony Club Championships at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire (16-19 August), and the tetrathlon championships at Bishop Burton, East Yorks (9-11 August), to support athletes with any worries and to talk about performance psychology.

Hattie Algar, 18, a member of the Cambridgeshire Hunt branch of the Pony Club, has been mentored by Kate for the past two years. She came 10th in the open girls’ class at last year’s tetrathlon championships.

“Because Kate has done it herself, she totally appreciates the pressures you are under,” said Hattie.

“She’s good at talking you through it and giving you little tactics and techniques to calm your nerves, like breathing techniques before the shoot,” she added.

Maria Eilberg, a former winner of the Pony Club dressage championships, told H&H she was looking forward to “giving something back”.

“We’ve seen how it’s [sports psychology] helped the top squads.

“Sometimes, just by talking things through, you can get your mindset in the right place for competing,” she added.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (11 July, 2013 issue)

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Maria Eilberg has lost her long-term partner, Two Sox – barely two weeks into his retirement.

The 17-year-old Ehrentusch gelding, who was retired by an emotional Maria at the National Championships last month, shattered a pastern while grazing and was put down on Saturday (1 October).

“Ed”, who came to the Eilbergs as an extra horse in a buy-one-get-one-free deal, had been Maria’s partner for nine years. Highlights of his career include team silver at the Europeans in Windsor in 2009 and team silver at World Equestrian Games last year.

The pair were also reserve for the Beijing Olympics.

Maria’s mother, Geri, said the family were “devastated”.

“It is like losing a member of the family – he was such a special horse,” she said.

For more reaction, see this week’s Horse & Hound, out on 6 October.

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One of Britain’s top dressage horses of the last decade was retired in an emotional ceremony at last week’s Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships (15-18 September).

Two Sox, 2008 British national champion and dual team silver medalist, was retired by his partner of nine-years Maria Eilberg following his grand prix test at Stoneleigh. The pair’s 73.45% earned them third place overall.

“Ed”, who hasn’t missed a national championships in the last decade and competed at grand prix level for seven years, was reserve for the World Equestrian Games in 2006 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

However the 17-year-old Ehrentush gelding finally got his moment of glory when he was part of the silver-medal winning team at both the 2009 Windsor Europeans and the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington.

Maria Eilberg said: “Ed is quietly opinionated, especially since he’s been at elite level — I think it will be quite difficult to take him slowly into retirement as he loves the five-star pampering which comes with top level competition.

“He’s dad’s favourite and will certainly be king of the yard!”

British Dressage Chief Executive Amanda Bond said: “Two Sox and Maria have been a pleasure to watch and an integral part of Britain’s rise in the world standings.

“It’s lovely to see a horse and rider come up through the ranks and grow together to the very highest level — plus have the success they’ve enjoyed.”

“He’ll be much missed but Maria has some exciting prospects, although I’m sure no horse will ever take his place.”

Ed will continue hack out at the Eilbergs home near Redditch, Worcestershire, as well as enjoying time in the field.

For a full report from the Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships, including more reaction from Maria, don’t forget to pick up your copy of Horse & Hound this Thursday, 22 September.

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British breeders can view top stallions in a new showcase at Hartpury later this month.

In what is billed as the UK’s biggest stallion event, over 60 graded stallions are scheduled to appear at the one-day breeding spectacular on Saturday 29 January.

British Olympic rider Emma Hindle will present several stallions including Chequille Z pictured above right (Caretano Z x Lavall II) and Wie Weltmeyer (Weltmeyer x Dynamo).

And international riders Maria Eilberg with British-bred Woodlander Rockstar and Spencer Wilton with Zambucca are also set to make an appearance.

British Equestrian Federation head of equine development Jan Rogers said: “We aim to provide visitors with an audio visual experience presenting these stallions at their best. We hope they will go away inspired to look carefully at the mares they are using and breed even better British horses.”

Chair of the lead body for the British Bred Sport Horse and owner of the Woodlander Stud Lynne Crowden added: “Breeders are becoming much more critical of the quality of their mares and have learned what good looks like from the output of the Futurity programmes, where they get the opportunity to see the better young horses and foals.

“This stallion event presents stallions for three disciplines, all in one place. British breeders are starting to believe that we can make our mark with British-bred dressage horses once we can get them under the seats of good riders.”

For more information visit: www.bef.co.uk

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The British dressage team selection policy for this September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) has come under fire after selectors made a sudden about-turn.

Early last week, H&H learnt that three riders — Laura Bechtolsheimer, Carl Hester and Maria Eilberg — had been told they were on the WEG team, while another three — Fiona Bigwood, Emile Faurie and Henriette Andersen — were asked to compete again in Germany this month.

But in a sudden change of heart, Fiona Bigwood was named as the fourth member of the team — amid rumours that she had challenged the process.

Another bone of contention has been that Carl Hester, a relative newcomer to 2010 WEG selection following the surprise return of his ride Liebling II, was allowed to bid for selection at Hickstead — while the other riders have had to prove themselves with several international scores away from home (at events deemed tougher than Hickstead).

After the full team was announced, Emile Faurie spoke of his “incredible disappointment” to H&H.

“I’m on a younger horse with less experience, but I was looking forward to proving ourselves in Germany,” he said.

So why the change of heart?

BEF World Class performance director Will Connell said Fiona was picked two days after the first three riders because selectors deemed it to be “in the best interests of the team to make their final decision on all four”.

Fiona Bigwood did not return H&H’s calls, but British Dressage (BD) chief executive Amanda Bond denied the selection policy had been challenged, echoing Will’s comments.

She said: “The selectors initially felt that they wanted to select three riders and see other horses perform again before making a decision.

“However, in follow-up discussions, it was agreed that it was in the best interests of preparation to select all four riders at this stage.”

According to sources, selectors originally said they would make their decision post-Aachen (15-18 July). But the announcement was then delayed until after CDI Hickstead — two weeks later — to allow Carl Hester and Liebling to prove themselves first.

Had they not done so, Fiona Bigwood was looking good for a place.

BD’s selection policy states that shows are “weighted” so that some results carry more significance than others. Some riders feel it unjust that Carl was able to prove himself at a less atmospheric home international.

Richard Davison, who is not a selector but team manager, admitted there are “harder and easier CDIs [top-level shows]”, but argued: “Carl and Liebling scored 75% at the Europeans last August and plus-70% on his only grand prix this year. Would you not take that horse and rider?”

He added: “It’s not about being fair, it’s about winning medals.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 August, ’10)

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British Dressage (BD) has now announced all four riders who will contest the World Equestrian Games this September in Kentucky — Laura Bechtolsheimer will ride her own and Dr and Mrs Bechtolsheimer’s Mistral Hojris, Fiona Bigwood her own Wie Atlantico, Maria Eilberg her father Ferdi’s Two Sox and Carl Hester Cheryl Meisner’s Liebling II.

BD have named Henriette Andersen (Louis D’Or III) and Emile Faurie (Elmegardens Marquis) as non-travelling reserves.

H&H learnt on Monday that three riders — Laura, Carl and Maria — had been informed that they were on the team. The fourth team member was as yet undecided and riders in contention were told that they would need to compete again before the fourth team rider was selected.

World Class Performance Director Will Connell told H&H today that selectors had continued their discussions and changed their minds.

“Initially, selectors felt they wanted to select three riders, but then their discussions continued and they decided it was in the best interests of the team to select all four riders now.

“No formal announcement was made on Monday, they came to their final decision and today announced the four riders that would go to WEG. We now have to support those four riders.”

Dressage team captain Richard Davison said of the selection: “This is yet another strong quartet, mostly composed of last year’s silver medal winning team. Whilst Laura is ranked third in the world, the other riders have had to fight hard for their place and I am confident they will deliver the goods in Kentucky.”

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

Laura Bechtolsheimer, Carl Hester and Maria Eilberg have all been asked to represent Britain at the dressage World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this September.

The final team place is yet to be decided, but Emile Faurie, Fiona Bigwood and Henriette Andersen have all been asked to compete on the continent in August to get another international score under their belts to help selectors make their final decision.

Carl Hester knew that a good result at Hickstead was imperative if he was to get on the team, which he achieved, scoring plus-70%.

He told H&H: “I rode at my first World Games 20 years ago so it’s bizarre to be going again now. I wonder if I’ll go with the same fun and abandonment this time — we were never in with much chance of a medal in those days, whereas now there’s pressure as we know we can get one.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have [world number three] Laura Bechtolsheimer on the team, she can pull off a massive score and then it’s up to the rest of us to back her up with the best that we can do.”

The three riders selected so far were all part of the Windsor European silver medal winning team last August.

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British Dressage rider Maria Eilberg will be out of action for a couple of weeks following a fall… from a bicycle.

The European dressage medallist fractured her elbow in Lingen, Germany on 3 June where she was to have competed in the CDI on her Grand Prix ride Two Sox.

“We had just ridden the horses,” Maria explained to H&H, “And I was cycling back to the hotel with my father [Ferdi].

“I decided to try and overtake him going downhill. Unfortunately I went too fast and when I braked at the end the wheel turned on the gravel and I went flying.”

At first Maria thought she had just suffered cuts and grazes, but the following day it was obvious there was more serious damage.

“It had swollen up, so I went to hospital and had an X-ray and it turned out I had a small fracture,” she added.

Maria is already out of plaster and hopes to be back riding in time for Aachen CDI (9-18 July).

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

Read the latest Maria Eilberg news

Maria Eilberg, daughter of successful dressage rider and trainer Ferdi, began her riding career at her local riding school, before she progressing on to her pony Midnight Cowboy aged six. She was a keen member of the West Warwickshire Pony Club with ponies Dancing Eyes and Willoway Seasong.

She went on to win the Under-13s dressage championship with former event pony Brother Thomas at the age of 11, and was the reserve overall champion by the age of 13.

By 14, she had been selected for the European dressage championships and in both 1999 and 2001 won two team silver medals. She was a member of the junior team in 2001 and 2002, and a member of the young rider team in 2004 and 2005 with the horse Topscore.

In 2006, Maria was selected for the World Equestrian Games as travelling reserve and in 2007 she won the national grand prix freestyle title — both riding her horse Two Sox. Once again she was selected as a travelling reserve in 2008 for the Olympics and later that year was crowned British national dressage champion.

Finally, after years of hard work, Maria was selected for the British senior team, with a late call up for the 2009 European championships, where she was part of the silver-medal winning team. Later on in the year, Two Sox and Maria swooped the runners-up spot at the national championships.

Maria Eilberg videos

Maria Eilberg pictures

After a nail biting finish when both European team silver medallists Carl Hester and Maria Eilberg made crucial mistakes in their freestyles, Carl managed to squeak ahead on Donald McTaggart’s Liebling ll, beating Maria on Two Sox by less than 1%.

Having headed the freestyle championship in addition to Saturday’s grand prix, Carl added the overall title to his list of accolades. Carl Hester scored 74.65% to Maria’s 73.9%, while Nicola Jourdain finished third on St Swithens.

Judge at C Stephen Clarke said: “They were very close, but both lost marks for different reasons — Liebling was just that bit more elastic even though he made mistakes. Maria had very good changes and did some good technical work, but she also had some problems.”

Alex Hardwick and Rotspon’s Rockin, a seven-year-old German-bred gelding won the medium restricted championship. Trained by her mother Sally, Alex credits Rotspon’s Rockin for giving her more confidence with her riding.

“He used to have me on the floor all the time,” she laughed. “But these days he doesn’t put a foot wrong.”

The novice equivalent went to Anita Gibson and her six-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Wiseguy.

“I used to show jump, but bought Wiseguy with dressage in mind as the sport fitted in better with having my family,” said Anita. “He’s been so trainable, he has a very good brain.

The pair train with Damian Hallam.

In the young horse classes Vicki Thompson and Toni and John Terry’s Beltoni, a five-year-old stallion by Belissimo and bred by Sarah and Tony Pidgley, won his class plus the supreme championship.

Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester and Ann Cory’s Dimaggio gelding Don Archie was reserve five-year-old champion.

Tim Sillevis managed the impressive feat of coming first and second in the four-year-old championship winning on Julie Down’s Romanno Ruinart — who was also reserve supreme — and finishing second on Sandy Seniors GF Deville.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action at the Dressage Delux National Dressage Championships in this Thursday’s magazine

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Amy Stovold clinched her first national title since 2003 at Stoneleigh (17 September), heading the NFU Mutual intermediaire II riding her mother Maggi and Julia Jacob’s Macbrian.

Last year, the pair came second three times in the small tour to Carl Hester.

“I can’t believe it,” said Amy. “He was a little bit tense in the arena, but he also felt much stronger in the work than ever before. I’ve been training a lot with Richard White and that’s really made the difference.”

Amy has been riding the 12-year-old 17.2hh son of Jan Brink’s (SWE) Olympian Briar for four years.

“I love Macbrian’s energy,” she said. “He always wants to go forward and he’s so generous in his nature.”

Their nemesis Carl Hester finished out in front again in the Jeffries Saddlery prix st georges, this year riding Sasha Stewert’s eight-year-old Metall stallion Uthopia. So that’s national title number 47 for Carl Hester, who is on a mission to make it 50 this weekend. The eight-year-old with little competition experience looked completely at home in the arena and clearly finds the work a walk in the park. The pair intend to contest the Spanish sunshine tour next spring — after they’ve cleaned up in the small tour here that is.

Maria Eilberg, Carl’s team silver medal winning team mate at Windsor Europeans last month, topped the Biotal medium open riding Lynne Crowden and Mrs C John’s Woodlander Rockstar. The seven-year-old stallion by Rotspon is successfully combining studwork with his competition career.

“He actually feels better for having been off to stud,” said Maria. “He’s working well at prix st georges at home and is beginning to find this level of work too easy — I have to keep his mind occupied so he doesn’t try and entertain himself, but he has a fantastic temperament, traveled here with a mare and never notices them at a competition.”

Rachel Finnan took the first class of the day, the Stretch and Flex elementary restricted on Jodie Lister’s Coco Channel. Rachel, a former student of Jennie Loriston Clarke’s Catherston Stud in Hampshire, now works for former young rider Jodie, competing her young horses. Coco Channel is a seven-year-old German bred Sandro Hit mare.

For the full report, analysis and pictures from the BD national championships, don’t miss Horse & Hound 24 September issue.

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Maria Eilberg has been named as the fourth rider to join the dressage squad to represent Team GBR at the Alltech FEI European Dressage and Jumping Championships at Windsor this summer.

Maria (25), from Redditch, and her horse Two Sox, will join Laura Bechtolsheimer, Emma Hindle and Carl Hester in the team for the competition at Windsor (25–30 August).

Fiona Bigwood (33), riding Wie Atlantico, has been selected as non-travelling reserve.

Maria, a member of the BEF’s lottery-funded World Class Performance Programme, was travelling reserve for last year’s Olympic Dressage team in Hong Kong.

On her return, she produced her best ever result to win the grand prix freestyle at the National Dressage Championships to take the national title.

Maria said: “I’m thrilled to be chosen for the team, it’s been an ambition for a long time so it was an amazing feeling to get the call.

“Two Sox is such a consistent performer and absolutely at his peak, we’ve had him since he was a three year old so he’s really one of the family.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to perform in front of a home crowd at a European Championship and I’m so pleased he’s finally got his chance.”

Richard Davison, British team captain said: “With the competition only 25 days away it’s good to have the final member of the team decided so we can focus on the job in hand.

“In her role as reserve rider for last year’s Olympic Games Maria was an excellent team member and it’s great that she has made the cut this year.

“Maria’s selection now completes a very strong team and, although we cannot be complacent, I believe we are fully justified in having a medal clearly in our sights.”

For more information visit www.alltechwindsoreuropeans.com

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See pictures of the 2008 dressage champions

Maria Eilberg and Two Sox went one better than last year to take the national dressage championship title at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 21 September.

Third in yesterday’s grand prix, Maria won the freestyle with 73.90%, which was enough to see her ahead of second-place Nicola McGivern (Active Walero).

“It hasn’t quite sunk in,” said the new national champion. “Two Sox tried his heart out today and yesterday, too, his grand prix felt wonderful. He’s so much more confident in the arena this year and, although it’s a difficult floorplan for the freestyle he coped really well.”

Maria produced a clear round with her father Ferdi’s 14-year-old gelding, with whom she was reserve for the British Olympic team in Hong Kong.

Yesterday’s grand prix winner, Laura Bechtolsheimer’s Andretti, did not make it to the competition as her horsebox was stuck behind an accident on the M5 on the way to the showground.

Hermione Black and Penny Pollard’s Royal Concert became NuuMed potential international dressage horse supreme champion under Peter Storr. The five-year-old won his own section before going on to beat Gemma Green’s four-year-old Zolansky into reserve slot.

Peter said: “He was second to Valegro in the Shearwater championship and I’ve always loved that horse, so I thought we must be on the right track for the NuuMed if we weren’t far behind him in the week.”

Alice Oppenheimer took the advance medium restricted on Wurlizer.

“He produced a good clear round today and scored nines for his extended canter,” said Alice, who has finished her A levels and is now concentrating on riding for her mother’s stud, Headmore.

Corinna Wyse added to last month’s Scottish championship title by winning the medium restricted here on Riva. The mare spent six months on box rest after chipping a fetlock one week after last year’s nationals.

“It’s wonderful to have her back,” said Corinna. “I thought if she was on form today we might be placed but I never expected the win.”

Emma McCombe won the prelim riding Rohan, her six-year-old 16hh chestnut gelding. Emma, 19, is an apprentice with Di Breeze, and hopes to be back next year at elementary level.

For full report, pictures and in-depth analysis from the national dressage championships don’t miss Horse&Hound’s 25 September issue

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Maria Eilberg and Two Sox have been chosen as the travelling reserves for the British dressage team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

They will travel to Hong Kong as a reserve rider and horse combination. Maria will also be there to offer support and assistance to the team of Laura Bechtolsheimer, Emma Hindle and Jane Gregory.

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Spencer Wilton (pictured) was crowned national dressage champion at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, (16 September), riding his trainer Carl Hester and Ann Corey’s Dolendo.

Spencer finished second in the freestyle where Dolendo was a little tense, but his previous day’s grand prix win was enough for him to take the overall title.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’re national champions,” said Spencer. “People kept saying ‘you’re going to win this weekend’, but I wasn’t going to take it for granted with Dolendo.”

Maria Eilberg won the Blue Waters Grand Prix Freestyle with a mistake-free and complicated floorplan on Two Sox.

“I can’t quite believe it,” said Maria. “I was pleased with Two Sox yesterday in the grand prix, but we did have a couple of expensive mistakes. I wanted to ride a personal best in the freestyle but I’d put any thoughts of beating Spencer out of my head because I knew he was the favourite.”

Jo Barry and Lady Hope’s five-year-old Vivaldi became the overall NuuMed Potential International Dressage Horse champion, beating last year’s reserve, Carl Hester’s five-year-old Valegro. Jo Swain’s Fantango won the four-year-old category under Roland Tong.

Deborah Childs won the Biotal Equine Gold Medium Restricted on Berrifield Spetter, a son of Anky van Grunsven’s grand prix stallion, Krack C, while the NFU Mutual Prelim went to Sondra Darnborough on Jane McGarel-Groves and Mette and Michel Assouline’s five-year-old Demi-Jour. Sondra moved to Britain five years ago from Canada and was the Assouline’s head girl for two years.

For the full report plus pictures from the national dressage championships, don’t miss next week’s Horse&Hound (20 September)

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The Netherlands’ Alex van Silfhout completed his hat-trick at Hickstead CDIO 26-29 July by taking the grand prix kür with plus-75% riding Luxform’s Nimbly.

“He behaved superbly, even though he was a little more tense than the past two days,” said Alex.

The pair’s expressive passage and extensions put them ahead of Laurens van Lieren (NED) — second on Hexagon’s Ollright — and Jessica Werndl (GER) — third on Duke — despite Laurens and Jessica’s more complicated floorplans.

Maria Eilberg was once again best of the British in seventh place aboard the Westphalian Two Sox. Maria tried out her new more complicated freestyle for the first time.

“I was having to concentrate a little more on the music than on Two Sox,” she admitted. “But he is in top form at the moment and has felt fantastic all weekend.”

Nicola Cooper took the Berkeley Homes International Six-Year-Old Final riding Falcao, while young rider Joanna James triumphed in her freestyle with Cavallino.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound 2 August for a full report and pictures from dressage at Hickstead

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Maria Eilberg and Two Sox finished double winners at Addington Manor Premier League, scoring 69.02% at grand prix and 70.2% in the special.

Carol Parsons was twice runner-up on her Shire/Thoroughbred Giddy, whose expressive trot work and piaffe-passage tour earned her two plus-68% scores.

Henriette Andersen and Paula Potter’s Louis D’Or headed the intermediaire II. Gareth Hughes won at prix st georges (PSG) on Sandman, ahead of Spencer Wilton and Peta Claridge’s Balzer, who became small tour champions.

Richard Barrett and Blakes Dollar, took Friday’s intermediaire I on 68.75%, while Jacky Stolper and Der Schufro scored two wins in the five-year-old classes.

Anne-Marie Perry and Forrest Fire proved their consistency by taking all three classes they entered — a PSG, plus the young rider team and individual tests — on their way to becoming young rider tour champion.

Melissa Beer and Celestial King took the junior tour honours, while Alex won the pony tour on Devito.

Read this report in full, with pictures and further analysis, in this Thursday’s H&H (24 May, ’06)

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Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire is holding its first international competition following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Laura Bechtolsheimer (pictured right), Maria Eilberg and Richard Davison have all entered the Addington Manor CDI***YRJP (6-8 April 2007), which includes a big tour for senior dressage riders as well as young rider, junior and pony sections.

Britain’s Jennie Loriston-Clarke, Isobel Wessels, David Trott and Sandy Phillips will be judging along with top German judge Dietrich Plewa.

Show secretary Jeanette Watson said: “We are only holding a big tour for the seniors this year, but may go full scale next year and run both small and big tours.”

Admission for spectators is free on all three days and the freestyle to music classes will be held on the Sunday.

For more infomation visit: www.addingtonmanor.co.uk

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British Olympic team member Richard Davison is making great strides with his up-and-coming ride Hiscox Karachi on the Spanish Sunshine Tour.

The partnership produced its best result to date when finishing second in the grand prix freestyle in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain with a score of 72%. The German-bred gelding, by Warkant, moved up three places in the freestyle from fifth place in the grand prix.

Former pony and young rider medal winner Maria Eilberg also enjoyed success in the grand prix freestyle, moving up from 18th in the grand prix to finish third in the kür, just behind Richard, on 69.33% with Two Sox.

Bronze team medallists at the 2003 European Dressage Championships, Nicola McGivern and Active Walero, continued their consistent form by finishing third in the grand prix and second in the grand prix special.

Denmark’s Lone Jorgensen and Ludewig G won the grand prix and the freestyle classes with scores of 71.833% and 74.78% respectively. Alexandra Simons de Ridder from Germany took the grand prix special.

In the small tour classes, Carl Hester continued to fly the British flag with Pro-Set. They continued their good form from the first week to take second in the prix st georges with nearly 71%, behind Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer Salat and Cassandro, and win the intermediaire I with nearly 73%.

In the six-year-old section of the FEI young horse classes, Sarah Millis has been unbeatable with Timberland III. The pair won both the FEI six-year-old preliminary test with 78.8% and the FEI six-year-old final with a staggering 83.6%.

For the full results, visit: www.sunshinetour.net

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