We need to find new audiences

Laura Tomlinson on rebuilding dressage for a new generation

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IT is crazy to think we are about to close out another year, and that in a couple of months we will be stepping into 2026 with fresh resolutions, hopes and goals. Now that I am in my 40s and that bit wiser, I find myself reflecting more on what this past year has taught me and what I want to carry forward.

This year, I learned to be more patient and to notice the smaller wins instead of only judging myself against the distance to the bigger goal. I also learned that my body needs more upkeep than it used to. Missing a gym or Pilates session hits harder now, both physically and mentally.

Dressage has had a tough year, with ups but also downs, fighting social media critics with ever louder voices and a decline of sponsorship within the sport, which has made competitions more expensive to run and to take part in.

It feels like we have been forced into a corner, and the only hope of emerging with a positive future is to find a new audience of enthusiasts who want to be part of what should be a wonderful sport.