Dressage at Hickstead Then and Now
Dressage at Hickstead was founded in 1993 after 4 years of preparatory work by International trainer Dane Rawlins and a small group of financial supporters, on a site of land at Douglas Bunn's All England Jumping Course, Hickstead in West Sussex. Its first year coincided with the demise of the fantastic Goodwood venue. Within the space of only a few years it grew to become Britains premier venue for both International and National Dressage Competitions
Dressage at Hickstead is now considered to be a World Class Dressage venue and is highly regarded on the International Scene, voted by riders as the 3rd best International Show after Rotterdam and Aachen. Promoting Britain's status in the sport of dressage.
It has also contributed greatly to the opportunities available for our own British riders. In 1998 we had the privelige to be selected by the FEI to host the Junior and Young Rider European Dressage Championships, a great honour not only for Dressage at Hickstead but also for Great Britain. This event was made even more memorable when the British Junior Team took the Bronze Medal.
In 2003 Dressage at Hickstead was the home to to the enormously successful FEI European Championships at which the British Team took the Bronze Medal behind Spain and winners Germany. At this stage it appeared that Team GB would not qualify for the Athens Olympics, thanks to the Dressage at Hickstead Team and wonderful home support, our four team members secured Bronze and the Olympic ticket. Emma Hindle with Wie Weltmeyer, Emile Faurie with Rasher Hopes, Richard Davison with Ballaseyr Royale and Nicola McGivern with Active Walero.
Dressage at Hickstead continues to grow, it was with great pride in 2009 that we welcomed the Exquis World Dressage Masters Series and Moorlands Totilas who made history at Hickstead. Moorlands Totilas was competing for the first time abroad at Grand Prix level and scored a new World Record in the Kur. Laura Bechtolsheimer scored a new personal best. What an unbelievable show.
So onwards and upwards, looking forward to 2011
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