HARTPURY COLLEGE hosted its prestigious Festival of Dressage last week, with more than 300 horse and rider combinations competing over the five days of top-class sport, writes Becca Dunn.

Michael Eilberg was the clear winner of the competition, with eight successes including the Dodson & Horrell FEI CDI Grand Prix Special and the FEI Prix St Georges 2009 Q on Woodlander Dornroshen, with whom he won the class last year.

In the FEI CDI*** International Dressage Competition, Michael beat sister Maria into first place by three penalties. Third place went to Becky Moody and Wallenstein.

Anne Dunham from Wiltshire was named Individual Champion in her grade (1a) in the FEI CPEDI*** International Para Dressage Competition.

Anne was also named Overall Champion and Great Britain won first place in the team section of the CPEDI*** Paradressage competition.

The highlight of the week was the Gala Evening which hosted the Young Horse Championship. As well as competition riding there was a display of top dressage stallions who were put through their paces in front of a packed audience.

This year's NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials runs from the August 11-14 August, with a mix of CCI*, CCI** and CIC*** events.

Entrance to the event (Wednesday to Friday) is free. Entrance on Saturday and Sunday is £10pp with car parking free. Children under ten go free, and tickets are available online or on the gate.

Anne Dunham has been called up as a member of the squad of five horses and riders that will represent Britain at the para-equestrian dressage European Championships in Moorsele, Belgium in September.

Anne, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 27, will compete with her top horse Teddy Edwards, owned by Sally Ann Brown.

Anne, from Broad Hinton, is a five-time Paralympic gold medal winner, having collected golds at four consecutive Paralympic Games.

Anne occasionally trains with Pammy Hutton at the Talland School of Equitation at Ampney Knowle near Cirencester.

The four other riders travelling with Anne to the Championships are: Natasha Baker, Sophie Christiansen, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Wells.

David Hunter, World Class Performance Manager for the para-equestrian dressage team said: “Selection this year was extremely challenging given the strong list of candidates across the grades.

“We have a determined team of experienced riders with some newer horse combinations and will work hard to defend our team gold in Moorsele.”

All the riders are on the World Class Programme, which is generously supported by Lottery and Exchequer funding via UK Sport.

Commenting on her selection, Anne said: “I’m excited, very pleased and looking forward to it. There were so many in line for selection I wasn’t sure it would happen so I’m delighted.

“My team-mate Sophie Christiansen will be among the strongest competition; it's great for the country and spurs you on to better things.”

BADMINTON ESTATE opened its gates once again to host the 23rd annual Unaffiliated Dressage Championships this week.

The annual competition celebrated the elite of the dressage world and the timetable included the prestigious Young Dressage Horse of the Future Class, which was won last year by top dressage star (and Hartpury champ!) Michael Eilberg.

The YDHF class is now sponsored by MOLOH, a clothing and accessories company, which has stores in Tetbury and London.

The winner of this class receives £3,500, the world's largest prize fund awarded in a young horse class. Other classes include Grass Roots, Middle of the Road and High Performance as well as Pony Club and Riding Club teams and individual competitors.

Full report in next week’s Wilts & Glos Standard.