DRESSAGE DAYS Q&A

In October 2022 we welcomed Jill Day to the BD Board of Directors as Chairman. From developing the Eastern Region as both regional training rep and joint Chairman with Anita Darken, to two terms as BD Training Director from 2001 to 2008, and several selection roles for both our Under 21 and Senior teams, Jill’s contribution to British Dressage is vast. During her competition days, Jill campaigned successfully at international Grand Prix with her ‘horse of a lifetime’ Nominee Redwood. Jill lives in Haverhill, Suffolk, and is a freelance coach who works with riders of all levels and abilities.

I started life in the Horse Rangers as my parents couldn’t afford for me to ride. The Rangers allowed you to ride one week and muck out the next, so it was much more affordable. Then years later I took over the lease of the Queen Elizabeth Riding School in Chingford which I ran for 12 years. There was no specific moment that got me into dressage. I did a bit of everything at a low level and a horse that didn’t like jumping but was OK in dressage took me on that path.

I care about the sport and I care about the people in it, I am a doer and I enjoy being involved.

I struggled in my early years affiliated; I wasn’t very good. It took me four years to win my first point! I used to beg, borrow and steal rides where I could and competed with mixed success, usually because the horses I was riding had been given up on with their owners. Nominee Assurance who sponsored me for 21 years bought me my first dressage horse and I did very well with him. He wasn’t a top horse but he could do everything, so he took me to international Grand Prix. I know what it is like to struggle at the bottom, and the pressures at the top, and this has been useful in my coaching career.

I still remember the first time I was invited to compete for Great Britain abroad. Back then, you just hoped you were doing OK and someone would notice you and you waited for the call. It was still a shock when the call came and I was on my way to compete in Holland.

Obviously, I want us to win lots of medals and to the world stage. However, I want BD to be successful, be well run, look after its members and I want to see riders enjoying being a part of BD.

Walking my dogs and an afternoon out with friends. I love the theatre, especially musicals, although I only go to matinees as I am not a lover of being out in the evening, I am very much a home girl.

I am not really into famous people – a dream dinner party for me would be with friends. However, if I had to choose then Stephen Fry, Sandy Toksvig, Chris Evans, Hugh Jackman, Graham Norton and David Beckham. T