Making History: Outstanding Women in British Equestrian Sport

As women continue establishing their presence in various sports, more and more female teams and tournaments emerge on the scene. But even now there are still very few sports where men and women would compete in the same event on an equal basis. Equestrian sport is one such example.

When it comes to gender, equestrianism treats all its athletes, humans or animals, with equality. Horse riding championships and tournaments aren’t segregated by gender, allowing all riders to participate. In fact, currently equestrianism is the only sport in the Olympic Games where men and women compete for the same medal. While there are some other sports, like tennis or relays, where mixed teams occur, they are only a part of the competition, with main events taking place between men and women separately.

Of course, it wasn’t always like that. It took one brave personality to defy the norms and claim the right for women to ride a horse in the same manner men did. From side-saddle to riding astride, women continued their breakthrough to be recognized as equals in equestrianism.  

Women in the British Equestrian Industry

The ride (pun intended) wasn’t always an easy one. As the equestrian sports trace their origin back to military training, women weren’t seen fit to participate in it on any terms, let alone alongside men. It was as late as 1952 when one of the very first women, a Danish rider Lis Hartel, came to the Olympic Games in Helsinki as part of the team.

But today, women are undoubtedly a force to reckon with in the equestrian sport. According to a 2023 State of Nation Survey by the British Equestrian, 88% of regular and 81% of occasional adult riders are females. This index is as high as 85% among young girls. British Equestrian Coaching Survey 2019 revealed that 90% of coaches are also women. In addition to that, women often hold high ranking positions in governing bodies and receive awards in recognition of their merits and input.

And while every single woman who chose to dedicate her life to professional horse riding has made an impact on the development of the equestrian industry as well as participation and recognition of women, there are some names whose invaluable achievements and input in the sport helped it make enormous strides towards equality.

Ginny Elliot

Born Virginia Holgate and sometimes also known as Ginny Leng, Ginny Elliot has an impressive list of achievements to her name. What she is probably most well known for is being the first woman to win an individual medal in the Olympic Games, when in Los Angeles 1984 Elliot secured bronze in the eventing, additionally winning a team silver for Great Britain. She later went on to repeat this success in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

When Priceless won the Burghley Horse Trials in 1983 and 1985, thus becoming the first horse to win this championship twice, Ginny Elliot was his rider both times. Though later their record was broken by Avebury who won three Burghley Horse Trials in 2012, 2013, and 2014, Elliot and Priceless remain the first pair to have achieved multiple wins in the competition, and Elliot is the first person to win Burghley five times.

Some of Ginny Elliot’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows: 

World and European titles:

• 1985 European champion – Priceless
• 1986 World champion – Priceless
• 1987 European champion – Night Cap II
• 1989 European champion – Master Craftsman

Badminton Horse Trials:

• 1985 – Priceless,
• 1989 – Master Craftsman,
• 1993 – Welton Houdini

Burghley Horse Trials:

• 1983 – Priceless,
• 1984 – Night Cap II,
• 1985 – Priceless,
• 1986 – Murphy Himself
• 1989 – Master Craftsman

Charlotte Dujardin

Charlotte Dujardin is considered one of the most successful and influential dressage riders of her time, and rightfully so. When you are not just the first woman but the first ever rider to simultaneously hold all the prestigious dressage titles to your name, you are bound to get recognition. There was a time when Charlotte could mention these titles after her name: the individual Olympic freestyle, World freestyle and Grand Prix Special, World Cup individual dressage and European freestyle, and Grand Prix Special.

Talking about Olympic medals, Dujardin has six of those, including three gold, which makes her Britain’s joint most decorated female Olympian. The other female athlete to achieve this impressive height is cyclist Laura Kenny.

Some of Charlotte Dujardin’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows: 

Sheila Willcox

Back when women were still not allowed a place on the Olympic equestrian team, Sheila Willcox made a name for herself by winning three Badminton Horse Trials in a row, from 1957 to 1959. Not only did this make her the first rider to do it, but her achievement is still to be matched. 

This brought her international fame, also making her the first British female equestrian athlete to gain wide acknowledgement in the world. 

Some of Sheila Willcox’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows: 

Pat Smythe

Patricia Rosemary Smythe specialized in show jumping, thus becoming the first British athlete in this discipline not only to participate in, but also win a medal at the Olympics. Later she went on to lead the British Show Jumping Association as its president in 1983-1986 and vice president in 1987-1996. She is also an author, writing about horse riding for children.

Some of Pat Smythe’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows: 

Marion Coakes

Marion Coakes would build on Pat Smythe’s success, and become the first female show jumper to bring home an individual Olympic medal. 1968 Mexico Summer Olympic Games became her time of triumph. 

Like many younger riders, Coakes started her career with a pony, but refused to replace him with a larger horse when transitioning from the junior to adult career. Stroller became the only pony to have participated in the Olympic Games.

Some of Marion Coakes’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows:

Rosalind Canter

Rosalind “Ros” Canter was an ardent athlete during her school years, participating competitively in several sports. Namely, she took part in swimming events, cross country running, and hockey, alongside the equestrian sports. 

After she fully dedicated herself to horse riding, Canter achieved many impressive results, including becoming the fifth British rider to win the World Championship in Eventing in 2018. 

Some of Rosalind Canter’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows:

Laura Collett

Laura Collett showed that she was going to become a force to reckon with back in her youth career, when she won nine medals, three individual golds among them. In October 2020 she won her first five-star at the French Pau Horse Trials. This makes her the only rider to win a five-star in 2020, as all other events were suspended due to COVID-19. 

Some of Laura Collett’s most outstanding medals and titles are as follows:

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