Pioneering para dressage rider Anne Dunham passed away on Sunday at the age of 76.

Anne won 32 championship medals for Great Britain in a career which spanned 23 years. She rode at five Paralympic Games, winning 10 medals – six of which were gold, as well as at multiple World and European Championships. She was a trailblazer, tireless campaigner for her sport, fierce competitor and inspirational mentor.

At the age of eight, Anne started riding at a local stables in Tyne and Wear and just a few years later she was running a yard of 80 horses at weekends. She continued to ride even after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 27 and became a wheelchair user. Later in life, thanks to medical advances, she was correctly diagnosed with dystonia. 

Anne made her debut on the British team at the World Championships in 1994 and rode at her first Paralympics in Atlanta two years later. She was a regular fixture on the British team until 2017, when she retired from competitive riding as one of Britain’s most decorated para dressage riders.

A huge loss

“Anne was a wonderful, dedicated and devoted member of the ParalympicsGB team whom I had the absolute pleasure of knowing since 2002,” said Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB chef de mission. 

“While her remarkable achievements over 20 years in Para dressage speak for themselves, what always stood out for me was her commitment to being her absolute best and encouraging the best from those around her. 

“Anne really was a team player and represented the heart and soul of ParalympicsGB with passion and professionalism. The world of Para sport will miss her greatly and my deepest sympathy goes out to her family and friends.”

Anne enjoyed success aboard several horses including LJT Lucas Normark and Olret but it was Teddy Edwards, the Welsh cob with whom she won Paralympic, World and European titles, that she referred to as her ‘horse of a lifetime’.

She was awarded an MBE in 2009 and received an OBE in 2017.

‘Inspirational’

“Anne was inspirational. She was the driving force behind me, pushing and succeeding to get para riders a pathway through British Horse Society qualifications,” said Pammy Hutton, her trainer and friend who runs Talland School of Equitation.

“I was also never sure who was coaching who! She helped me, Charlie and Pippa [Pammy’s children] and fellow rider Suzanna Hext to name a few; whilst not a qualified coach, behind the scenes she was amazing and gave so much help, especially mentally. 

“I am in our indoor as we speak and her words are with me still, and her words will stay with them too for their lifetime. 

“She was a perfectionist and every step on a horse had to be perfect. I cannot repeat what she said when one half circle was one step short! A week later she won gold again for Great Britain and her footfalls were exact! She was unbelievable and if she had a gold medal to go get, if she humanly could, she would and did.

“She even asked permission to retire, who does that?! She lit up Talland and I will miss her so very much.”

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