Derbyshire-based Steph Croxford is an inspiration to all riders, having made the journey from Novice level dressage up all the way up to Grand Prix in just six years. Along with her popular gelding Mr President, Steph has represented Great Britain on numerous occasions.   

To the Gallows

Steph was introduced to horses only to show willing to her then boyfriend and future husband, Simon. Simon owned a nutty hunter called Gallow who bit and kicked Steph until she decided that the safest place to be was on his back. After a few tumbles, Steph got the hang of the appropriately named Gallow and Simon eventually gave him to her as an engagement present. After Gallow’s retirement, Steph scraped together funds to buy ex–steeplechaser, Waverley. After a couple of years of galloping and jumping, Waverley sustained an injury from another horse while out in the field and Steph made the tough decision to send him to a hacking home for a semi retirement.

A legend is born

It was while still feeling the loss of Waverley that Steph decided to go and view a small three-year-old gelding advertised in the local newspaper. He was by an unregistered Gelderlander/Hackney cross stallion out of a Dutch warmblood mare. This horse was soon to be known as Mr President.   

Steph trained the willing talented and expressive horse up the levels and he is now a popular and successful international grand prix dressage horse. His breeding makes him all the more special as he holds his own in top level competition against fashionably-bred warmbloods.

The pair scored more than 70% in their first World Cup qualifier at Olympia in 2006. The following year Steph gave birth to a baby girl, Annabelle, and was back competing only six weeks after the birth.

International success

She was a member of the Nations Cup team at Hickstead CDIO, where the British team finished second. Steph and “Mr P” won their first foreign international class at Saumur CDI when they took the grand prix freestyle with more than 74%.

2009 saw more grand prix wins for the pair including at Myerscough Premier League show and at Biarritz CDI in October where Steph and Mr P came second in the grand prix and went on to win the grand prix special.

Leading lady amateur

Despite her illustrious competition career, Steph has classed herself as an amateur, as until becoming a mother, she fulfilled her dressage commitments whilst working as an environmental geologist and geochemist.

Steph's secret weapon

Steph trains with Richard Davison and has a lucky bridle that she uses for all competitions despite it falling apart and being repaired on many occasions, much to Richard’s horror.