Kendal woman wins the ‘most important horse event in UK’

39-year-old Amy Dixon, from Kendal, and her horse, Goodluck II, won the BE90 grassroots championships 2023 last month.

The Badminton Horse Trials were first held in 1949 by the 10th Duke of Beaufort in order to let British riders train for international events. Riders complete the competition over five days. 

Horses are first judged on ‘dressage’ displaying the utmost elegance, obedience and discipline before demonstrating athleticism. This is done by tackling a four-mile cross country course jumping man-made and natural obstacles within a set time. On the last day, horses must then take on show jumps designed to test agility, accuracy and recovery also in a set time.

Amy won the Inaugural Grassroots contest in 2010 aboard Maid In Holland. This year, she was riding Ronnie (real name), whom she bought as a four-year-old pony from Holland after seeing him in a video. 

She went into the competition with the now 12-year-old horse after having back surgery just before Covid.

Amy said: “I never went with any expectations at all. On the first day I hoped to be in the top ten and thought there wasn’t a cat in hell’s chance I could catch up the following days. I was happy to just not be too disappointed and to just have a nice, jolly time.

“I moved up quite considerably in the other disciplines however and stayed consistent as other many other riders were too slow. I was overwhelmed to eventually get the lowest score with the least faults.

“I took a lot of hard work after the back surgery to get back here.”

Amy works in her family’s business, the Bluebird Cafe in Coniston, and was a veterinarian pharmaceutical rep for ten years with a degree in Equine Science. Horses are very much a hobby for her however this doesn’t mean she’s any less passionate.

“My parents aren’t ‘horsey’ people,” Amy said. “However they’ve supported me since the age of four when I used to watch the horses trek past the house from the local riding school at Windermere. 

“I wasn’t brought up in a ‘horsey’ family but I’ve always been passionate about them.

“Badminton is a real true test of the horse and the rider and there’s a lot of pressure as so much can go wrong on the day. You’re there with professional 5-star professional Paris Olympic riders.

“I think I just went in with mindset of not being tense and nervous as that will affect Ronnie too. If you’re passionate, work hard and gain the knowledge it will show. 

“I’d encourage any rider to compete in Badminton and not be intimidated. It’s not a bitchy event at all and it’s such a magical experience.”

The grassroots event is sponsored by prestigious French company Voltaire and the prize fund this year was just over £100,000.