Diana Mason, who was the chairman of the British Horse Society Dressage Group, the predecessor of British Dressage, for 17 years from 1975-1992, has been recognised in the recent New Year’s honours list.

 

Diana, 74, was awarded an OBE for her services to equestrian sport. She started her career as an event rider, finishing third at Badminton in 1954 and winning team gold at the European Eventing Championships the same year.

 

As a dressage rider, she competed at two Olympic Games – Montreal (1976) and Seoul (1988) – and was Britain’s team manager the first time an equestrian competition was included in the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996.

 

Diana is an active BD List 1 judge and was an international judge up until the FEI retirement age of 70.

 

She said: “This is not something I had anticipated. The scary bit is that I will have to go shopping for a smart hat for my trip to Buckingham Palace.”