Your Stories: Kindness costs nothing

In the world of British Dressage, results are often the first thing that catch the eye – percentages, placings, qualification tickets. But behind every score sheet lies something far more important; mindset, support, and the unseen hours that shape a rider’s journey. For Joshua Bailey, that journey has been anything but ordinary. 

Photo credit: KB Photography

A Journey That Started Elsewhere 

Like many young riders, Josh didn’t begin in dressage. His early years were rooted in show jumping, progressing through the British Show Jumping Academy. But even at just 13, he faced a major challenge that many riders encounter – a mental block. Rather than forcing the issue, he made an exceptionally mature decision that would define his ridden career:;“My horse Diva is bred for dressage. She wasn’t enjoying the jumping, and neither was I, so we decided to go back to her roots and give dressage a go. She is a horse who always wants to impress, protect and look after you as much as possible – she is very loving and careful around people”.

That willingness to step back, rather than push beyond comfort without confidence, set the tone for everything that followed. A year later, a new chapter began. After buying his mare Noraaflee (Diva) in 2023, what started as a shift in discipline quickly became something much bigger. With guidance from coach Keri Bishop, it became clear early on that this combination had potential. 

In just 18 months, Josh progressed from Intro through to Medium, contesting at championship level and posting some exceptionally impressive results: they won at the Combined Training Championships, won the Prelim championships at the Sheepgate Under 21 Championships, attended the LeMieux National Championships for Prelim Silver, and competed at the Petplan Winter Championships at Novice Bronze, where they finished just half a mark off the podium. But the focus, Josh explains, was never just about winning: “It’s not about the winning, it’s the scores and seeing those improvements. One of the biggest things that has motivated me was coming out at the championships and seeing consistent sevens and eights, not just the odd one. It’s a key memory seeing those scores and seeing all the hard work and training paying off”. That mindset has driven a level of consistency that stands out just as much as the results themselves.

Central to this success is Diva, a mare described not just for her ability, but for her character. “She always wanted to impress and look after me… she is very intelligent, but her brain is quicker than the legs sometimes.” Managing that balance has been one of the key challenges. Training is structured not around forcing performance, but understanding the horse “It’s a system that prioritises her mental relaxation alongside her physical development. The future is looking brighter every day that we go and train, and ride, and compete because she is learning and understanding what is going on”.

For Josh, one of the elements of his development that he focuses on is his respect for that process. “You have to have this mutual respect with your coach – if you are working against each other and you are taking their constructive criticisms personally; you aren’t going to get anywhere. If you're doing something correctly, they'll [judges and trainers] praise you… If you're not doing it correctly, they will tell you. Everyone has their own way of training and opinions, so if you find someone you click with that is brilliant”.

This mindset has allowed Josh to build a consistent relationship with his coach, Keri, one based not on constant reassurance, but on mutual understanding and shared goals. It also means accepting that progress is not always comfortable.

Consistency, in this context, is not just about training frequency or results, but about staying aligned with a method. Trusting that even when something feels difficult or repetitive, it is serving a purpose.

Josh highlights that this trust with a trainer goes both ways. A good coach doesn’t just instruct; they read the rider, adapt their communication, and build a system that works for the individual and is what he attributes his success on.

Beyond the arena

What sets this story apart, however, isn’t just what happens inside the boards. 

Outside of competition, Josh has developed a reputation as someone who actively supports others – whether through stewarding, volunteering, or simply offering his encouragement to fellow riders. As a volunteer steward at his local competition centre, he reads situations, offering reassurance when it’s needed most – something that doesn’t go unnoticed. “You might look at someone and think they don’t need help… when actually they’re the one who does.” 

This awareness is rooted in something deeper. Following the loss of a family member in 2020, both Josh and his brother turned to volunteering and fundraising, raising over £30,000 each for the air ambulance. Behind this volunteering work sits a simple but powerful principle driven by his late grandmother: “Our mindset doesn’t allow us to become negative… you had to have a purpose and a solution”. This philosophy, which has been passed down through family, reinforced through coaching, is visible in every step of the journey so far. 

“Part of stewarding for me is embracing everyone’s experiences; you have to celebrate the successes and learn to reflect and move forward from the lows. I am there to help work with people and give them a positive experience. If I can be the person to give them that grounding and boost of confidence before they go in the arena, then I have done my job properly”.

Despite all the results, scores and titles, what matters most is not the outcome – but the approach. This led Josh to write an exceptionally moving poem, titled "In the Saddle of the Mind". Driven by Josh’s experience as a showjumper, a dressage rider, and as a volunteer, his poem explores the themes of being the change, supporting those around you, and recognising people who might need that extra hand to hold. “If this poem could help just two people… that’s enough. A lot of this poem is driven by his volunteering stewarding in dressage, showjumping and showing. The simple act of asking someone ‘how are you feeling?’, ‘are you ready to go?’ and being the reassuring voice can make the world of difference to somebody”. This message really highlights the community and camaraderie between riders, stewards and show organisers, and being that friendly face can make the difference to those around you “that kindness costs nothing”. 

"IN THE SADDLE OF THE MIND" - BY JOSHUA BAILEY

Share your story

Do you have an inspiring dressage story that you would love to share? No matter where you are in your dressage journey, whether you've recently made your test debut, overcome the odds, or have been a long-term member progressing through the levels, we would love to hear how you fell in love with the sport and why you chose to join British Dressage!

For a chance for your story to be featured on our website and social media, please email us at communications@britishdressage.co.uk.