In memoriam: Lindsay Jenkins

It is with great sadness that British Dressage has learned of the passing of longstanding dressage competitor and List 1 Judge Lindsay Jenkins, on Friday 6 April.

Born into a Yorkshire farming community, Lindsay’s childhood passion for horses was put on temporary hold while she completed her education and trained to become a lawyer. Soon after securing her first job, she took out a loan to buy a horse and was back riding again.

Her first love at the time was eventing and armed with two talented horses she worked and trained with Henrietta Knight for a number of years. After reaching 4* level, Henrietta suggested she asked Ferdi Eilberg for help with her dressage and so her fascination with the sport of dressage was born. Lindsay switched exclusively to dressage in the early 1990s.

Under the tutelage of Ferdi, she made her international debut in 1993 with the Lipizzaner mare, Felicia. Following this debut came many national and international successes with a number of horses. With the Danish stallion Tapster she achieved qualifying marks to be considered for the Europeans in 1997, and with Oldenburg mare Pikanja had many international successes winning at the Warsaw CDIO and gaining three top places at the Vienna CDI.

After the late 1990s Lindsay sought help from trainers in Germany, most recently Hartwig Burfeind from whom Lindsay bought the medium level horse Senorita. She went on to enjoy Grand Prix success with her, but tragically lost the mare in 2011 which had an ‘immense impact’ on Lindsay. Later that year, Hartwig gave Lindsay the opportunity of a new horse to ride - a stallion by Diamond Hit, Diamonit II. Lindsay’s husband Mike Middleton secured the purchase of Diamonit and Lindsay had great pleasure training him in recent years.

Lindsay was a familiar and well respected figure in her role as a judge and will be greatly missed within the dressage community.

The British Dressage Board and staff would like to offer sincerest condolences to Lindsay’s husband Mike, to her family and many friends; her loss will be felt greatly within the sport.

Lindsay’s funeral service will take place at 3pm on Thursday 12 April at West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Road, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LD.