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last updated on December 22, 2006 00:00

This has been my first year as Editor of the British Dressage website and there hasn’t been a dull moment in all that time. There have been ups and downs. Membership has hit 12,000 and BD finances have never looked so good, but there were no medals for seniors, young riders, juniors or ponies this year.

However, for the first time, all four British team members went through to the grand prix special at the World Equestrian Games. It was not enough, though. Britain finished fourth and still needs to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. Our standard of dressage is improving; the trouble is that the world’s top riders keep changing the goal posts with ever-higher scores.

The world’s number one, Holland’s Anky van Grunsven, won a record eighth World Cup final, her third in a row, as well as winning the world freestyle title with Keltec Salinero.

The venue for this year’s World Equestrian Games was Aachen in Germany, which has been voted the world’s top venue by riders for many years. It did not disappoint and a record audience of more than 40,000 attended the dressage freestyle evening.
 
Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer flew the Union Jack by winning the World Cup B final with the 15-year-old Hannoverian gelding Douglas Dorsey at the tender age of 21.

Sandy Phillips resigned as selector to concentrate on competing her 12-year-old Rhineland mare Lara 106. It proved the right decision as they represented Britain at the World Equestrian Games and became the 2006 national champions.

Spencer Wilton and Dolendo are the undisputed rising stars of the year. They shot to fame when they won the grand prix special at Hartpury CDI. Not only were they competing in their first international grand prix special, they also beat two British team members. They then came a close second at the national championships after which they travelled to Saumur CDI, their first foreign international, where they promptly won the grand prix and grand prix special.

Retirements:
Emma Hindle’s first grand prix horse, the 16-year-old Hannoverian stallion Wie Weltmeyer, was retired to stud in February 2006. Emma competed him for seven years and they represented Britain at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the 2003 and 2005 European Championships and the 2004 World Cup Final.

Emile Faurie bid an emotional farewell to the 16.1hh Danish-bred gelding Rascher Hopes at the 2006 Blue Waters National Dressage Championships. Aged only nine, “Streaky” was the highest-placed horse on the British team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They represented Britain at the 2001 European Championships, 2002 World Games and won team bronze at the 2003 European Championships at Hickstead.

Manitu N, the anchor of the British pony team for many years, was retired to stud in October 2006. The Danish-bred stallion took Maria Eilberg, Lorna Edmonds and Samantha Harrison to international success. He won team silver in 2000 and team bronze for the next six consecutive years between 2001 and 2006 for Britain at Pony European Dressage Championships.

Deaths:
Arun Tor, the long-time international dressage ride of Ferdi Eilberg, died in January 2006 aged 23. Vivienne Sturt bought the part-bred Cleveland Bay in 1986 and sent the then three-year-old to Ferdi. The pair represented Britain through the 1990s, winning team silver at the 1993 European Championships.

Peter Storr’s grand prix partner Gambrinus died unexpectedly aged 15 on 1 December 2006. Peter had ridden him since a three-year-old. They had been selected to represent Britain at European Championships, World Games and were twice national champions in 2000 and 2001.

Susie Cumine’s Cupido died at the ripe old age of 22. Ridden by Jane Bredin, he led the British team to third place at Aachen CDIO in 1995 and represented Britain at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Marriages:
Former British team member Jane Bredin and Arum Gregory tied the knot in December 2006.

Births:
Former British team member Fiona Bigwood and her Danish partner Anders Dahl celebrated the birth of their daughter Mette Clare this summer.

Richard Davison’s top ride Ballaseyr Royale gave birth to a colt foal. The colt’s sire is double World Cup runner-up Lingh, by Flemmingh, who was partnered in competition by Anky van Grunsven’s pupil Edward Gal. The 16-year-old Ballaseyr Royale, who is by Picandt out of Matadie, is owned by American Gwendolyn Meyer and took Richard to team bronze at the 2003 European Chlampionships.

Another one for the future:
Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer bought the highest-priced dressage lot, the four-year-old Westfalian gelding Dankeschön (Douceur x Ehrentusch), at the 2006 PSI Auction in Germany.

Revamps:
Millions of pounds have been spent on transforming Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Bucks.

Hartpury College, Glos, is in the process of being revamped in preparation for next year’s Para Dressage World Championships.

After being at a leased base for 48 years, the Talland School of Equitation moved to a new home at Dairy Farm, Ampney Knowle, Cirencester. Famous for launching the careers of many top riders, the new Talland was a £3m project, which has been a life’s dream of founder Molly Sivewright and her daughter Pammy Hutton.

And that leaves me to wish you all a Happy New Year and much success, health and happiness for 2007.