British Dressage member Michael Smith became the 2008 Land Rover Skill at Arms National Champion at Windsor Horse Show on 9 May 2008.  

Michael, who has competed up to prix st georges level and currently has a horse at elementary, said: “You have to ride the horse one-handed at speed with good control and rhythm and that is where my dressage training helps a great deal.”

 

He believes he is only the second civilian to win this competition, of which the most difficult discipline is SLR (sword, lance, revolver). A sword has to be struck into two dummies after two small fences have been negotiated. Then a pistol is drawn and two more jumps have to be tackled, each with a balloon positioned on the ground behind it, which must be shot while the rider is going over the fences. Finally, a 7’6” lance is drawn from the ground at canter and two 2.5”-diameter rings must be taken from the gallows before a tent peg is picked up from the ground.

Michael was riding the 29 year old mare Duchess, courtesy of Mr and Mrs Dudeney from Ditchling Common Stud.