Rob’s riding to dressage glory (From Bournemouth Echo)

Rob’s riding to dressage glory

7:00am Sunday 27th January 2013 in News

A TALENTED dressage rider from Christchurch, who was nearly paralysed in a fall, has made it through to the final of a prestigious national competition.

Rob Trobridge, 22, could be in line for £4,000 cash prize if he wins the British Dressage Young Professional title.

He qualified for the last six following a rigorous selection procedure along with his 11-year-old horse Diamond Son.

The finals in mid-March will pit Rob against the country’s finest riders and will be a great coup for the Parley Equestrian Centre, where Rob is based.

His success is even more remarkable considering he had a serious fall in 2010 in which he broke his back and narrowly avoided permanent paralysis.

The former member of the Under-21 British Dressage Team has seen a rise in popularity of the sport since the Olympic Games last summer.

And he is expecting a busy competition season and increased interest in dressage.

Currently Rob has two horses of his own and he looks after four others as well as giving lessons.

He said: “It was a great thrill to get through to the final six.

“The competition is for those working in the business and I spent a day with top pro Carl Hester as part of the selection process.

“He won a team gold at London 2012 and I learned a great deal from him. I have been based at Parley for just a year and it is the perfect place to work and train.

“I am very much looking forward to the final, but the competition will be extremely fierce.”

Jane Wyatt, managing director of the Parley Equestrian Centre, said: “Rob has done incredibly well and we all hope he is wins the title.

“He has a great horse to work with and together they are a formidable team.”

Rob, who teaches dressage one-to-one, was the youngest person in the UK to gain his Level 2 UK Coaching Certificate in Dressage Training.