Anne Dunham
General:
Anne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis shortly after her daughter was born when she was 27 and has been wheelchair bound since she was 30.
Anne recalls “always being with horses” and joined the Horse Ranger Association, which she describes as “girl guides with horses”, as a young girl. During her school years, Anne used to work at a local stable in her spare time and, by the time she was 16, she was running a yard of 80 horses at weekends.
“I always wanted to compete, but I would ride other people’s horses and they would compete them,” says Anne.
It wasn’t until she was 40 and her husband sold his business that she finally became a horse owner and had the opportunity to compete. They bought a farm in Wales and turned it into a holiday home and riding school.
In 2003, Anne was awarded the British Dressage Outstanding Contribution Award for her services to Paralympic dressage.
Date of Birth:
24th September 1964
Lives:
Broad Hinton, Wilts.
Major Achievements:
Anne has won 12 gold as well as countless silver and bronze medals. She is the current Paralympic champion for her grade, grade I, which is the level for the most disabled competitors.
In 2007 she won a team gold medal and individual silver (freestyle Ia) at the World Championships, Hartpury. In 2008, Anne was part of the gold medal winning team at the Bejing Paralympic Games. She also came away with an Individual Gold - Grade Ia and Individual Silver - Grade Ia Freestyle.
Top horse(s):
BB Call Me Caine, a 16.1hh bay gelding by Looking Glass out of Brookbank. He is kept at Pammy Hutton’s yard, Talland School of Equitation in Gloucestershire
Josephine VII, born 1994, bred and owned by Astrid Hargreaves
Teddy Edwards, a 16hh Welsh Section D chestnut gelding, born in 1997 and owned by Sally Ann Brown.
Age when started riding/why:
“I was 8 years old and had always wanted to ride”
Name of first horse/pony:
Barnaby & Sequin.
First competitive experience:
“A hunter trial when I was aged 40 and had been wheelchair-bound for 10 years.”
Trainer:
Pammy Hutton.
Most admired rider(s) :
Carl Hester & Pammy Hutton.
Most admired sportsman/woman (non-equestrian):
Tanni Grey Thompson.
Qualities you look for in a horse:
“Good paces and temperament, but preferably not a bay – they are so common. I always look for something a bit different.”
Favourite competition venues:
Addington Equestrian Centre, Bucks, and Moorsele in Belgium.
What other career would you have chosen?
Teacher.
Favourite meal:
Salmon en croute.
Favourite drink :
G&T.
Best advice you’ve ever been given:
“You only get out of life what you put into it” and “do unto others as you would like them to do unto you”.
Who would you most like to have dinner with:
Pierce Brosnan.
Ideal holiday:
The Andes.
Favourite TV programme:
Any CSI
Favourite book:
Lord of the Rings.
Favourite film:
House of the Flying Daggers
Favourite band/singer:
Rod Stewart / Bryan Adams