Event Programme | NAF Five Star Winter Championships
16 – 20 April 2025
Recovery
Digestive
Breathing
Joints
Hooves
Skin
Feed alongside your current supplement regime
Welcome to Addington Equestrian, home of the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships 2025!
We have proudly supported British Dressage for many years and have been title sponsor of these wonderful Championships for over fifteen years. We appreciate just how hard each and every one of you has worked to qualify for these five days of exciting competition. Whether this is your very first visit to the Championships or you are a seasoned professional, from all of us at NAF, we wish you the very best of luck!
You can find us on site for the duration of the Championships, so please do drop by and see us for nutritional advice to support your horse, or those last minute competition essentials. You can find us on either our Five Star Metazone stand indoors, or on the Wychanger Stand outside. We have a competition running and some fantastic offers too!
Whether you are a competitor, trainer, groom, owner or spectator, we hope that you have a truly magical NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships and we look forward to meeting you.
We’d like to begin by wishing you a huge congratulations on qualifying for the Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships 2025 at Addington Equestrian Centre. The championships promise to be a fantastic celebration of all of your hard work and dedication through the Winter Area Festival season and your achievement is something to be really proud of.
We are honoured to be celebrating over 25 years of sponsorship of the Area Festivals and continue to be in awe of the commitment and involvement everyone has had over the years. The series has grown incredibly and is now the largest British Dressage affiliated series in the UK!
While you are attending the Winter Championships, either competing or supporting, make sure to tag the Area Festival accounts in your social posts. We love hearing and sharing your stories!
There is both a dedicated Facebook and Instagram account hosted by British Dressage, where you will get all the Area Festival updates, hear other riders’ stories and receive all the latest news throughout the year! Make sure to use #PetplanFestivals and tag @petplanareafestivals in your posts to be a part of the story.
Finally, we would like to wish you the very best of luck at the Championships later this week and hope you enjoy the pinnacle of your Area Festival journey!
With best wishes,
Welcome to the biggest dressage show in Britain, the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, which is hosted at Addington Equestrian for the second year in succession.
The NAF Five Star Winter Championships provide the climax to our winter season, rewarding members for their commitment to training, competing and qualifying through the long, dark winter months. We’re all set and ready for five days of top-class competition as we celebrate the achievements of our riders at all levels.
With 1,100 competitors going down the centre line this week, the NAF Five Star Winter Championships capture the real essence of dressage. We’ll be running from dawn to dusk in both the indoor and outdoor competition arenas and by the end of the week we’ll have crowned 44 new champions, from Preliminary to Intermediate I.
We couldn’t stage a show of this magnitude without the outstanding support of our loyal title sponsors NAF and Petplan, alongside our valued class sponsors. Their generous contribution to our sport makes this five-day fixture possible, so a huge thank you from all of us at British Dressage.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the team at Show Direct, and all our officials, for their hard work, dedication and commitment. It is thanks to their preparations and efforts around the clock that we are able to deliver such a fantastic experience for all dressage enthusiasts to enjoy.
Please do come and visit us on the BD stand, where you can meet the team, ask any questions, and view samples of the new clothing collection we are launching this week. We will have a fresh range of contemporary BD branded fanwear and merchandise on display and available to order for home delivery.
Whether you’re a competitor, owner, sponsor, official or supporter, we wish you a successful and enjoyable show. We hope that your aspirations and ambitions both inside and outside the arena are duly rewarded to make this an Easter to remember.
Best wishes,
Jason Brautigam
Show Timetable
Wednesday 16 April
Thursday 17 April
Friday 18 April
Saturday 19 April
Show Timetable
Please note all times are subject to amendment.
The top three competitors from each competition are required to attend the official prize givings.
Officials and show team
Show Organiser
Kelvin Bywater
Management Team
Lottie Rees
Wendy Fulton
Luke Hunt
Ben Phillips
Chris Binns
Trade Stand Manager
Chris Binns
Show Secretary
Sara Green
Assistant Secretary
Charlene Bryant
Arena Maintenance
Louise Bedding
Issy Fuller
Lisa Pittman
Live Scoring
Thom Kerssis
Live Scoring
Luke Hunt
Dressage Scorer
Diane Miller
Dressage Scorer
Gloria Harrison
Chief Steward
Dan Chapman
Stewards
Sian Goodwin
Sandy Laflin
Nicola Sleight
Lynne Campbell
Rita Young-Jones
Margaret Parker
Technical Delegate
Sara Green
Indoor Commentator
Andrew Pollard
Outdoor Commentator
Dino Maddern
Sound Engineer
ACE Communications
Sponsor Liaison
Maggie Jackman
Judges Liaison
Brenda Pamplin
Hospitality
Ann Layland
Anne Dingley
Katie Plumpton
Operations Team
Ben Phillips
John Bedford
Declan Perry
Mark Neudeck
Stable Management
Sarah Gibbs
Abi Bettleshaffer
Stable Services
Alfie Newton
Jago Twyman
Parking Control
Mark Neudeck
Horsebox Parking
Chris Miskimmin
Ben Phillips
Toby Foulds
Arena Decoration
Luke Hunt
British Dressage
Event staff
Press & media
Camille Peters
Lydia Wesley
Ellie Mayner
Anna Chadfield
Sport team
Lou Jones
Charlene Bryant
Tradestand
Rachel Smith
Kerry Sutherland
Nikki Birt
Cat Griffiths
Issy McCarthy
Shelby Cherrington
Molly Bishton
Emily Willard
Judges Charlotte Osborne
Jess LaRosa
A year on Sadie Smith
A year on from a double title win at the 2024 NAF Five Star Winter Championships, we caught up with Sadie Smith to reflect on her 2024 season.
Riding the talented Swanmore Dantina, Sadie dominated the 2024 Championships, taking home the Superflex Intermediate I Gold title on 75% as well as the Intermediate I Freestyle Gold after producing
a stunning performance that earned an incredible 81.75%. Since then, the pair have continued their rise, securing the Stübben Intermediate II at the LeMieux National Championships in September 2024, followed by a breakthrough Grand Prix victory at the Myerscough Premier League just last month.
A former rider for Carl Hester, with whom she still trains, Sadie has long been
a familiar name in British dressage producing countless horses through the levels. Now based in Hampshire, Sadie works alongside top owners and breeders, developing her string of horses
After a successful winter campaign with an exciting team of young horses, Sadie shared her thoughts on last year’s success, her future stars, and what the Winter Championships mean to her.
How does it feel to have won two titles last year?
It was incredible to win two titles with Dia at the Winter Championships last year, especially at Inter I. I had previously won the same titles in 2018 on another horse I trained, Keystone Dynamite, so to do it again was extra special.
I felt quite emotional after the freestyle because Dia could not have tried any harder for me - it was the best freestyle we had ever produced. Scoring 81% was amazing, and it really felt like all our hard work had paid off.
Swanmore Dantina recently won her first Grand Prix Premier League class. How rewarding is it to produce a horse from the very start to this level?
Dia is the second horse I have trained from a young horse to Grand Prix, and it is so rewarding. She has a completely different character to my other Grand Prix horse, Mambo, who was a bit wild and not always a fan of dressage, whereas Dia loves her job and always gives her best. I’m so lucky to have a horse like her - it makes my job so much easier. She’s incredibly special because nothing really fazes her. We have a great partnership, having started from the beginning together, and it’s amazing to see her now competing at Grand Prix level and enjoying it.
Have there been any personal highlights for you over the last year?
A real highlight for me was winning the Stübben Intermediate II at the LeMieux Nationals with Dia last September. It’s the highest level I’ve won a national title at, and it was such a special moment, especially at a big show like that.
What other stars do you have in the stables that you’re excited about?
I’m lucky to have some gorgeous horses to ride and great owners supporting me. Two mares that I’m particularly excited about are Times Nemesis and River Rise Onassis.
Times Nemesis, owned by Peter Belshaw, is a seven-year-old mare by Totilas out of a Negro mare. She has a big personality, and I’ve taken my time to nurture that. I’m hoping to aim her at the sevenyear-old classes this year —
she shows a lot of talent for the higher levels.
River Rise Onassis, owned by Sue Garrard, is a six-year-old mare by Glamourdale. Being grey, she looks like a real-life unicorn. She has a lovely temperament and shows a lot of potential for the future.
What horses are you bringing to this year’s Winter Championships?
I’m bringing a great group of young horses to this year’s Winter Championships, all of whom I’m really excited about:
Times Oddjob (Vitalis x Damon Hill) – Owned and bred by Peter Belshaw, he’s a six-year-old, 16.1hh gelding. He has the coolest personality and a great trainable attitude. He loves his job and will be competing in the Elementary Gold and Elementary Freestyle Gold.
A year on Times Nika (Desperados x Negro)
– Also owned and bred by Peter Belshaw, she’s a seven-year-old, 16.3hh mare. She’s needed time to mature, and this will be her first championship. It’ll be a great experience for her, as she’s quite sensitive. She’s competing in the Elementary Gold and Elementary Freestyle Gold.
River Rise Onassis (Glamourdale x Amsterdam) – owned by Sue Garrard and bred by Sarah Tyler Evans, she’s a six-year-old, 16.3hh mare. She’s a big mover and a tall horse, so she’s needed time to develop. She has an amazing canter and a lovely temperament. She’ll be competing in the Novice Gold Freestyle.
River Rise Pizazz (Valverde x Lord Leatherdale) – bred by Sarah Tyler Evans, this five-year-old gelding is extra special to me because I co-own him with Sarah. He’s the son of River Rise Escarla, who I won numerous national titles on. He’ll be competing in the Prelim Gold.
What do the Winter Championships mean to you?
The Winters is a fantastic show, especially for my developing young horses. It has a great atmosphere, and I’ve always loved competing there. The music classes offer a bit of variety, and it’s a show that includes everybody from across the levels, all together. It’s always a great experience, and I’m looking forward to another exciting year there.
Dancing Dia
Swanmore Dantina looks a mare set for greatness. Sadie has produced her sympathetically through the levels and last year achieved outstanding results as well as a Grand Prix debut.
“It’s funny, I bought her when she was three but I was originally going to sell her. She’s ended up staying and it’s the best thing I ever did. She was quite ordinary as a four-year-old, three nice paces but nothing special, but her temperament and her heart is amazing. She always gives 100% and she always tries. I’m very lucky.”
Last year the duo produed a memorable Inter I Freestyle performance for 81.750%, where Sadie brought back an old freestyle for success:
“We used music from an old Novice Freestyle that I used back in 2015!
I’ve actually won on a few horses with this music, it was done by Equidance, the trot is Curse of the Ice Queen and the walk was from the film Snow White and The Huntsman.”
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How to Follow
Times and results
Times and live results are available throughout the Championships via Equipe. There will be live results across all three arenas, so you can view the scores in real time for the Petplan and NAF action as it happens.
Live results
BD news
British Dressage will publish daily reports of the action at the Championships. Read what each winner had to say about their performance and find links to view the full results at the end of each day.
BD news feed
Listen to the podcast
The BD podcast is back throughout the week, providing audio interviews with every winner and more. We’ll be hearing from great stories, so tune in via Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and others.
Listen here
BD social media
Enjoy live coverage of the Championships across the BD social media accounts. Visit the links below to find your favourite!
Feet up
If you’re unable to join us at Addington Equestrian, you can enjoy following plenty of coverage from home with Horse & Country.
Tune in all day, every day for action from all three arenas. We’re sharing every class from dawn to dusk so there’s no need to worry about missing your friends and family enjoying their moment in the spotlight.
There’s also guest commentary from Judy Harvey for select classes!
BD members enjoy a discount with H&C. Find out more online.
Horses First
Happy, healthy horses are vitally important to everyone at British Dressage. At the heart of every successful championship is a shared commitment to giving horses the best possible experience.
We spoke with international rider Alice Oppenheimer, List 1 judge Richard Baldwin and top steward Dan Chapman to explore how each of them play their part at major events like the BD NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships. Whether rider, steward, judge or supporter, read on to find out more about how we each have our role to play in making sure our horses are comfortable and confident to compete on the big stage.
The Rider’s Perspective
For international Grand Prix dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer, success starts with making sure her horses feel happy, settled and ready for the environment, and this begins long before arriving at the venue. “We prepare so we can stick to my horse’s normal routine as much as possible,” she says. “Horses thrive on consistency, so keeping feeding times and routines the same helps them settle in quickly once we arrive.”
Once on site, Alice gives her horses time to acclimatise. “I like to let them relax after the journey before they do anything - maybe a hand walk or light stretch to help them settle,” she says.
Planning the competition week carefully helps to keep the right balance for horses. “It’s really important to know the schedule and when you’ll be competing so you can allow easier rest days if possible and map
out your horse’s workload,” she advises. “If classes run on consecutive days, the warm-up should be tailored to avoid fatigue, and recovery after each test matters just as much.”
Again, aiming to mirror the home environment as much as possible whilst helping her horses stay relaxed and recover between competition days, Alice is mindful that with no turnout at stay-away shows, thoughtful movement becomes even more important. “We always ensure they get out of the stable enough, as they miss their turnout when they’re away. Where possible, we like to keep them moving with riding, hand-walking or grazing.” However, once more emphasising balance, she adds, “The goal is to keep them comfortable and happy, whilst making sure they don’t get too tired across the competition.”
Alice sums up her approach simply, explaining, “My
horse’s happiness always comes first. I want each show to be a good experience, even if that means we’re not chasing a personal best every time. It’s all about building the blocks and improving confidence show by show.”
The Judge’s Perspective
Judges play a unique role in shaping the direction of the sport by rewarding thoughtful riding and true partnership. List 1 and international judge Richard Baldwin describes the judge as “the voice for the horse” and explains how their decisions help guide riders. “It’s about supporting good horsemanship. The vast majority of riders already do that really well, but our role is to encourage and
educate when needed –always with the horse at the heart of it.”
When asked what he looks for, Richard describes a clear picture: “A happy horse is both mentally and physically comfortable. They respond willingly to the rider, showing softness, balance and freedom. That’s the image of harmony we aim to reward.”
When that picture is not quite there – for instance, if there are signs of tightness or inconsistent contact –Richard explains that this is reflected in the marks, giving riders a chance to reflect and keep developing over time. However, in rare cases where more serious concerns arise, such as visible blood or signs
of lameness, Richard emphasizes that the response is immediate and always in the horse’s best interest. “The combination would be eliminated as soon as we see the issue and a welfare report form is sent to the head office for monitoring,” he explains.
Ultimately, Richard believes the best way judges can look out for the wellbeing of horses is through their ability to set the tone for the sport: “The pictures that are rewarded in the arena are the ones riders will strive to recreate. As judges, we’re in a unique position to encourage practices that keep the horse at the centre, and in doing so, showcase how special and beautiful our sport really is.”
The Steward’s Perspective
Often working quietly in the background, stewards are the steady hands that help events run smoothly, offering support to riders and helping create the best possible experience for horses. Dan Chapman, who served as Chief Steward at the Paris Olympics, knows just how valuable that calm presence can be. “By helping riders know where they need to be and what’s happening, we create a calmer, more organised space; that has to benefit the horses too,” he says.
A big part of the job, Dan explains, is anticipation and awareness. “We’re constantly watching what’s going on around the arenas. If something looks like it might become an issue – like
an umbrella near the arena entrance on a windy day for example – we step in early to avoid any problems.”
Although serious incidents are rare, stewards are fully prepared should something go wrong. “Everyone is briefed on the procedures before the event starts. If anything does happen, we know exactly what to do. The priority is always the safety and wellbeing of both horse and rider,” says Dan. “We also have a brilliant vet team on call and a fantastic set of medics ready to respond –though, of course, the aim is always to avoid needing them.”
Behind the scenes, communication and teamwork are key. “There’s great communication
between the teams –stabling, stewards, judges and organisers. We’re all working together with the same goal: to give horses the best possible experience and care.”
Dan also emphasises how much of the steward’s role is about being approachable and offering support to riders. “Every steward I know simply wants to help. Occasionally, we need to step in, but it’s always done in a supportive and understanding way, with the aim of making the experience better for everyone - horses and riders alike.”
From stables to final salute and getting home safely, making sure horses feel their best is a shared effort.
Music Marvels!
Freestyle to music continues to go from strength to strength, we revisted some of last year’s top tunes, that produced winning performances in the NAF arena.
Sadie Smith
Swanmore Dantina
Sadie and ‘Dia’ were extraordinary winners of the Superflex Intermediate I Freestyle Gold Championship in 2024.
Receiving an impressive 10 for her music from one of the judges, Sadie told us that the walk and the trot was originally from her Novice Freestyle back in 2015, “I’ve actually won on a few horses with this music, it was done by Equidance, the trot is Curse of the Ice Queen and the walk was from the film Snow White and The Huntsman.”
Sarah Edmonson Kyaro
Sarah Edmonson and her own KWPN Kyaro topped
the results sheet with a sublime 71.945% rewarded for their freestyle programme which featured a musical combination of Midnight City, Made in Chelsea, Tom Odell and Harry Styles.
Amy Hose
Enrique
Winning two titles in 2024, Amy Hose claimed the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Championship scoring 75.513% with her own 8-year-old Enrique, judged by Janet Surr (H), Susie Cumine (C) and Andrea Hessay (B) in the NAF Five Star Arena. Amy talked to us about the reasoning behind her Freestyle music and the highlights of her test, “I just absolutely love riding to it, it means so much to me in a whole anyway. My freestyle is to Elvis which means quite a lot to me, I listened to it a lot growing up through my mum and grandma, my grandma is no longer with us, but it just means so much to me. It was my first
freestyle that I’ve done for myself and my first season doing it, there was never a doubt that I didn’t want to do it to Elvis, so I was just hoping the judges liked it, thankfully it’s always been quite a hit with the judges so forever grateful for that.”
Joanna Thurman-Baker Sol Invinctus
“The music is music that I made myself, I run an equestrian podcast called That’s Lame alongside Evelina [Shrieve], who also won her class earlier on this week as well. Using the podcast software I thought I could probably make my own music, so I found some songs that I like and put it all together. But every time I do it, it is on a bit of a wing and a prayer because I think if this goes wrong it is all my fault, but it has played so happy days!”
Joanna chose tunes from the video game Skylanders, “it is just really fun and upbeat music that I think really does suit him, I just really like it.”
The Petplan Area Festivals present year-round opportunities for riders, including the chance to ride and qualify for a Summer Freestyle Championships.
To find out more about the Petplan experience, visit www.britishdressage.co.uk/competitions
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Let’s dance!
With 13 freestyle to music titles in the spotlight at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, we asked you what it is that makes freestyle competition so appealing!
“The freedom and creativity it allows”
Hannah B Facebook
“Musical creativity and fun with my pony.”
Sarah G Facebook
“As a spectator I like to get a sense of the horse through watching the partnership work to the music. As a rider the magic of feeling that connection with a horse we find in the arena is amplified by feeling the rhythm of the music. Big fan of freestyle and the chance to enjoy the competition.”
Alison K Facebook
“That tingling feeling you get when you’ve put your hand up and you hear your music start!
Trudy J Facebook
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“Good music, good rider, good horse, nothing more exhilarating! It can evoke many emotions in under 10 minutes, what is there not to like.”
Tania M Facebook
“I love choosing music that I enjoy riding too. Spending time building my floor plan to yes include the requirements but also having the freedom to play with the configuration to suit both myself and my horse.”
Jen B Facebook
“Having so much fun with my horse doing what we both love! The feeling you get from your horse with the right music that both of you love is amazing.”
Tracie L Facebook
“Freestyle should enhance a harmonious partnership and be a thing of beauty where horse and rider look as though they they are performing a choreographed programme with music that is carefully chosen to draw everyone in to the moment. A good freestyle should evoke the “feel good factor”
Lorraine G Facebook
Fear of Failure
With BD Be Kind month launching at the Winters, we wanted to address an important topic - failure.
This week, people will be experiencing their first ever championship, reaching for great goals and setting their hopes high. Remember that horses aren’t perfectly programmed dressage machines and on the day... anything can happen. Fear of failure is something we all experience and in this piece Andrea Oakes looks at how to enjoy the ‘journey’ as well as the end goal.
Don’t let anything hold you back, go for gold.
When Sophie Palmer was producing her young horse, she found herself suff ering from an unexpected form of anxiety.
“Not only was he the youngest horse I’d ever owned, but I’d never before had a blank canvas,” explains Sophie, who bought Moylaw Alawhatsit, known as Goose, as a four-year-old. “Previous horses had been ‘ready-made’ and I just had to learn to ride them. I was so worried about ruining Goose or doing too much, too young, with him. I was afraid of letting him down.”
Fear of failure can take many forms, from
the sense that you’re squandering a horse’s potential to the feeling of disappointing owners, coaches or parents. You may even be afraid to compete in case you fail to meet your own exacting standards.
According to chartered sport psychologist Jo Davies (jdpsychology. co.uk), this mindset can arise under the pressure of expectations that we consider greater than our capabilities or out of our control.
“We often use the word ‘should’: we own a smart young horse that should do well, for
example, or we’re riding a schoolmaster that should be winning at a certain level,” she says. “But there’s danger in measuring success through things we can’t control, such as placings or percentage scores. It’s a slippery slope to set these expectations for ourselves, or others.”
Signs that indicate a fear of failure include a lack of selfconfi dence, a reluctance to try new things or a tendency to switch to autopilot under pressure and ride ineffectively. ou might procrastinate or start to self-sabotage, where you worry so much about something that you decide not to do it at all.
What’s the solution?
“Start by asking yourself why you ride and compete, and what you want to get from the sport, says Jo. “This could be enoyment, learning or achieving harmony with the horse. The downside of expectation is that it can undermine what’s really important, such as the sense of personal progress.
“Reflect on what you consider as success or failure. she continues, pointing out that there’s more to life than win or lose. “Many people view it as black and white, but there may be more personal measures of success that you can take care of.
“Try focusing on
outcomebased goals, are you setting yourself up to fail instead, identify some process goals’ that you can look after to ride a good test such as maintaining a good rhythm in the trot work, for example, or keeping the horse more through’. These goals are best set in conunction with your coach and should be shared with your support team, so everyone is aware of your aims and you don’t have to worry about impressing people.
“You’re not sacrificing your end goal, because you may still be able to achieve that good percentage,” adds Jo. “You’re ust looking after what you can control. The nature of dressage means that you’re ultimately working towards certain
scores for qualification. Ironically, you may need to take the pressure off the score to focus on the ingredients that make a great test.”
Many of us are affected by our own inner critic’, a characteristic of perfectionism.
“We all have some traits of perfectionism but certain people have a more ‘all or nothing’ rigidity to the idea of success,” explains Jo.
“They tend to be results driven, setting themselves high targets and feeling a greater sense of failure if things don’t go to plan.
“It can help to review training and competing in a more constructive way that recognises the positives,”
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she adds. “Try keeping a diary, otting down a bullet point or two about how you’ve progressed or a nugget or advice from your trainer. This not only helps learning and focus but boosts confidence and the belief that you’re progressing along a traectory.
“Think about how to evaluate progress or performance, perhaps by running through a video so your coach can offer feedback,” says Jo.
“Maybe something felt like a failure in your mind, but by unpicking it you can identify and develop areas for improvement.
While homework can bring about a longer time change in mindset, old habits can pop up in the heat of the moment.
“The mind can focus on distracting thoughts or take us to the uncontrollable elements,” says Jo, who adds that the warmup ring is typically where fear of failure makes an unwelcome reappearance. “Asking yourself What can take care of’ is usually enough to bring your focus back to the here and now and restore cool, calm collection.
Seeing the positives!
“Our relationship with failure can depend on our upbringing, education and experience,” says sports psychologist Jo Davies.
“Some people see failure as feedback and the chance to learn and progress. Others have a less positive approach and view it as proof of not being good at something.
“Think about how you deal with failure and whether you regard judges’ comments as criticism instead of useful feedback,” she suggests.
“Base your goals on processes rather than outcomes. If you aim for rhythm throughout the test, for instance, and put all your effort into that, you can’t fail.”
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Winters watch Bryony Goodwin
Bryony Goodwin proved herself as a young horse specialist when at the powerful Hawtins Stud and now her own training business has made headlines at the Nationals, followed by Winter Regional success.
Last year’s nationals were a ‘good day at the office’ for Bryony Goodwin, champion in the PSG Silver with Antonia Brown and Catherine Witt’s Krack DE and in the Advanced Medium Silver and Medium Gold with her own and Sam Bolton’s Dion II. Krack DE was also runner-up in
the Advanced Medium Silver.
But it’s just part of the picture for Gloucestershire-based Bryony, who trains from her fiancé Chris’s family home. After 13 years at Hawtins Stud where she was responsible for starting the
careers of some of the most talented young horses in the sport, she’s now progressing up the levels with her own clients’ horses. “It’s most important to me that the horses are happy and the owners are enjoying the experience, and they feel involved on a level that suits them,”
Her passion for riding young horses led her to Judith Davis’s Hawtins Stud, where she fell in love with dressage.
“I started out doing everything including the breeding side. But I had a few falls and lost my confidence, so went part time. This worked out really well because I was able to freelance and started riding other horses and doing things like hunting which got my confidence back.”
She returned to her role at the stud concentrating on riding and competing, and became associated with some of the stud’s well known progeny. “I took Hawtins Floriana right from backing, almost to Grand Prix, although she sadly never competed in a Grand Prix due to injury. She was very special –Judith used to describe her as ‘Bryony’s mare’; generally the horses would always be for sale but ‘Flo’ was one that she wanted to keep.”
“She was the first horse that I went up through the levels with and we learnt together.”
The move to running her own business came about as a result of the Covid pandemic. “As the rider, I was furloughed, and when everything went back to normal, my role wasn’t available. I’d never really planned to have my own yard – I was freelancing, helping a couple of young
riders with their horses.”
A local racehorse trainer was breeding sports ponies for fun and asked if Bryony would have her four-year-old which got her out and about competing again.
“I also started doing a bit with Chris’s horse which although dressage-bred was just hacking and hunting – unless you are out competing people don’t know you are doing it. Then Sue Chaplin asked if she could send a young horse to me from Devon and was a loyal customer for a few years.”
Bryony had met Sam Bolton when they were at a livery yard together and they then bought Dion together. In 2023 they won the Horsequest Elementary Gold at the nationals.
“It’s really only since then that things have moved on and now I have a yard full of really nice horses. It’s been hard work for a few years.”
Dion (Dante Weltino x Rubiquil) was brought over from the Netherlands by
Tim and Antonia Brown –who Bryony had done some riding for when first self-employed - for Sara Lucas to ride but was later offered to Bryony to purchase.
“Sometimes you just click with a horse; he started competing at novice and elementary and now we’re aiming for PSG next year. I don’t plan to compete him over the winter, but to focus on training.”
Bryony’s expression lights up when she describes the nine-year-old. “I adore him. If someone else rode him they’d describe him as a lazy lump. When you start to ride him he’s a bit heavy in front and hard work, but once he gets going he turns into a bit of a sports car, gets quite hot and goey. He tries so hard and never says no.”
She adds that she has just started going to David Pincus and doing half steps with Dion. “He’s doing really well. It would be lovely to think that he will make it to Grand Prix, but horses being horses, you never know!”
Clothes for a 10
British Dressage is excited to launch of our brand-new clothing and merchandise collection, bringing style, comfort, and performance to riders and supporters alike.
Brought to you in partnership with our new partners Phillips UK, we have created a fresh range of contemporary BD branded apparel, now available to view and purchase on the BD website. There’s a choice of clothing options suitable for all your needs, whatever the weather, ready for you to wear both in and out of the saddle.
Whether you’re riding and training, or simply showing your love for the sport, this latest lifestyle collection is designed to keep you looking great in all seasons! You can choose from our heritage, iconic and classic designs, perfect for dressage enthusiasts who want to support the sport in style. Designed with your comfort and relaxation in mind, they will provide a perfect enhancement for any discerning equestrian’s casual wardrobe.
The collection including jackets, coats, hoodies, sweatshirts, polo shirts and t-shirts, in a variety of different colours. Additional BD branded merchandise is also available for you and your horse, including rugs and saddle pads, as well as a new gift range.
The British Dressage collection will be expanded over the course of the year to introduce new styles and seasonal colours that each use premium, high-quality materials, ensuring durability, comfort, and performance.
Visit the British Dressage shop by clicking on the button below, to explore the collection and see the latest trends. If you’re attending the NAF Five Star Winter Championships next week, please come and see us on the BD stand, where you can view samples of the new clothing and merchandise, and place your orders online for home delivery.
The BD trade stand is situated by the indoor warm up arena, parallel to the NAF Five Star arena. Come along to view samples, order online and speak to our friendly team of experts and staff.
Treat yourself Trade stands
Indoor trade stands
Baileys Horse Feeds – Public Entrance
Feeding advice and product information on Baileys’ range of feeds and fibres.
British designers / producers of fine quality stock pins, Riding stocks & accessories. T: 07966 763196
E: sales@stockpinchic.com www.stockpinchic.com
Spillers Horse Feeds – Outdoor Stable Area Trade Stand
Free feeding advice & opportunity to weigh your horse using a weigh bridge. Individual consultations including body condition assessment and recommendation. T: 01908 226626
E: team.spillers@effem.com www.spillers-feeds.com
Sue Carson Saddles - Outdoor Trade Stand
Manufacturers and fitters of bespoke saddles
T: 01629 540343 www.suecarsonsaddles.co.uk
Value Equestrian Wear – Outdoor Trade Stand
Offering a great range of branded equestrian clothing, footwear and horse accessories at amazing prices. Featuring Special show offers especially for the Championships only. T:07714 288689 www.theequestrianoutlet.com
