Top riders have been discussing British competition and venues in their H&H columns. We speak to Olympic medallists and equestrian centres to find out how to boost the national circuit for the benefit of all concerned
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre. INNOVATIVE thinking and round-table discussions could help improve the British competition circuit – as venues strive to offer five-star facilities and “something special” in the UK.
Kelsall Hill, Cheshire, and Wellington Riding, Hampshire, say they have the facilities and enthusiasm to put on top-level competitions, but they need to know what riders want and receive support from governing bodies to do so.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
Credit: Charles Sainsbury-Plaice
H&H’s showjumping columnist proposes how to give British showjumping a massive shake-up
The new rules mean we can get back to what we love doing
H&H’s dressage columnist eyes up the competition at European international shows
Carl Hester riding En Vogue at home ahead of their debut.
“He gave me a lovely ride – except for an unfortunate blip when he stopped for a poo in the
H&H’s dressage columnist on great memories at Hickstead, and change needed in the sport
