Monday, 12 May 2025
The world of para dressage has lost one of its leading pioneers as the passing of Anne Dunham OBE was announced on Sunday, 11 May 2025, aged 76. In a career which spanned 23 years, five Paralympic Games and 32 championship medals, Anne was a trailblazer, tireless campaigner for her sport, fierce competitor and inspirational mentor.
Born in September 1948 in Tyne and Wear, Anne started riding aged eight and grew up working as a local stable hand alongside her schooling, by the age of 16 was running a yard of 80 horses at weekends. As a member of the Horse Ranger Association, she always had dreams of competing but would have to wait a number of years until realising her ambitions and going on to become one of Britain’s most decorated para dressage athletes.
She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis shortly after the birth of her daughter, Amber, aged 27, and by 30 became a wheelchair user. Later in life, thanks to medical advances, she was correctly diagnosed with dystonia. Some 10 years later, her husband sold his business, and she was able to buy her first ever competition horse. They bought a farm in Wales which they turned into a holiday home and riding school.
In 1994 she made her British team debut at the World Championship in the then emerging sport of para dressage where she competed in grade II. Just two years later, she was in the team travelling to the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, in which the sport made its Games debut where they competed with borrowed horses. She picked ‘Doodlebug’ out of the hat, and they secured a bronze in the freestyle competition individually whilst helping Britian to a first team gold medal, the start of a historic winning streak for the British.
An inaugural member of the National Lottery-funded UK Sport World Class Programme, Anne went on to represent Britain at four Paralympic Games – Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, amassing ten medals, six of them gold. In Rio she was 67 and the oldest athlete, but that didn’t hold her back, taking team gold and two individual Grade I silver medals with LJT Lucas Normark, owned by the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham.
However, Anne cited the Welsh Cob Teddy Edwards as her ‘horse of a lifetime’. Owned by Sally-Ann Brown, the perky chestnut with clockwork paces and accuracy accompanied Anne on many adventures and was one of only a few horses to achieve Paralympic, World and European titles.
In March 2017 and after 23 years, Anne made the difficult decision to retire from competitive riding with 32 championship medals to her credit, 19 of them gold. Made an MBE in 2009, she was then appointed an OBE in 2017 to mark her remarkable service to para dressage. Beyond the competition medals, other awards include the 2011 Sunday Times Disabled Sportswoman of the Year, a British Dressage Outstanding Contribution Award in 2003 and a British Equestrian Medal of Honour in 2000. She lived in Broad Hinton, near Swindon, Wiltshire where she enjoyed her retirement by gardening and honing her painting skills.
Anne always cited two major inspirations in her career; her sister Gillian Hartley who travelled to a number of championships, playing the vital carer role and daughter Amber Dunham, of who Anne said, “I wouldn’t have had the success I have achieved if we hadn’t been on this journey together.”
A number of names from the sport and equestrian communities paid tribute to Anne’s personality and achievements:
“Anne was a wonderful, dedicated and devoted member of the ParalympicsGB team whom I had the absolute pleasure of knowing since 2002. 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.”
"I first met Anne in 2004, when I began working with the Para riders on the newly formed Start and Potential World Class Programme. Initially, I was somewhat intimidated by her; she was a force of nature who spoke her mind.
“Throughout the years, I had the privilege of supporting her at numerous international competitions in my capacity as chef équipe for the GB team. One memorable incident involved pushing her around Mannheim showground in a wheelchair, only to be confronted by a security guard who attempted to restrict our access. Anne's sharp retort swiftly resolved the situation. Watching her compete, I saw a fearless warrior whose desire to win was truly inspiring and I realised how her fierce determination shaped her as a person.
“Anne's kindness and support for other riders was equally remarkable, especially the up-and-coming riders starting out in the sport. Anne’s spirit as a rider will forever soar in heaven, just as it did in the saddle. The para dressage family will undoubtedly send their warmest wishes and deepest condolences to her loved ones during this time."
“While I didn’t have the direct privilege of working with Anne in my current role, I was lucky enough to watch and follow her many competitions with the eye-catching Lucas Normark in my time at ParalympicsGB. Her remarkable achievements in equestrian sport speak volumes, few riders have achieved the success to the level she did, and she leaves a huge legacy. A fierce competitor, a true horsewoman, a role model and an inspiration to those that followed her. Thank you, Anne, for all you accomplished and the path you paved for others to follow, you will be truly missed, and I send deepest condolences to your friends and family.”
"Anne was inspirational. She was the driving force behind me, pushing and succeeding to get para riders a pathway through British Horse Society qualifications. 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."
Thank you, Anne, for all you gave to para dressage and the legacy you leave, may you rest in eternal peace.
Paralympic medals: