Emma Hindle announces competition career retirement

Olympian Emma Hindle has announced her retirement from competitive dressage, bringing a close to a distinguished career representing Great Britain. As she steps away from the sport, Emma reflects on the journey that shaped her time in the arena.

Emma Hindle (49) began her equestrian journey in childhood, with lessons at her aunt’s stables sparking an early passion. After starting out in showing and eventing, she soon found her calling in dressage and trained with Stephen Clarke as a youth rider. It was in 1996 that she made her major championship debut aboard Boucheron, riding at the Young Rider European Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. Just two years later, following five years in Sweden training under Kyra Kyrklund, Emma moved to Germany to work with Dutch rider Ellen Bontje. From there she went on to found Brookhouse Stud and establish herself as a key figure in the sport.

Emma became a mainstay on British senior teams, representing her country at multiple European Championships, one World Equestrian Games and two Olympic Games. Her first major international breakthrough came aboard the stallion Wie Weltmeyer (by Weltmeyer), affectionately known as ‘Wally’. The pair were shortlisted for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 before being selected for the 2003 European Championships at Hickstead, where they helped secure a team bronze medal for Great Britain. They returned for the 2005 European Championships and in the interim contributed to a seventh-place team finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics, as well as contesting the 2004 World Cup Final.

Emma continued to build on that success with Lancet (Wenzel x Shogun xx), a former Dutch Olympic team horse previously ridden by Imke Schellekens-Bartels. Together they competed for Great Britain at the 2005, 2007 and 2009 European Championships, winning team silver in 2009 at Windsor. A second team medal in front of a home crowd. She also rode “Lance” at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen and delivered a standout performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, placing fifth with the team and seventh individually, making them the highest-scoring British combination at the Games.

Speaking about her Olympic experiences, Emma said the Games were "in a way surreal", adding, "Is it not the most beautiful idea to have the best athletes from across the globe come together to compete and bring the world together to celebrate the excellence of human endeavour?"

Then reflecting on some of her personal standout achievements, Emma said, “Some of my fondest memories have to be the 2003 European Championships with Wally and the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Lance, but really it was the journey to both that made the outcome so sweet. The joy was the process of getting there and the amazing people and animals that supported me, picked me up when I fell, gave me a shoulder to cry on and pulled me back when I got carried away. I have been so privileged to have had such people and animals in my life – thank you to you all. I am eternally grateful.”

When asked what it meant to represent Great Britain over the years, Emma’s response was simple: "It meant everything. Hearing your anthem play and watching the Union Jack rise – those moments are some of the most precious memories I have in my life."

Following the passing of her father John Hindle in 2012 Emma returned to the UK, settling at a property in Manchester. She stepped back from full-time competition to take the reins of her father’s real estate business and also raise her son Luke. However, her passion for dressage never faded and in 2017 she returned to the international circuit with Romy del Sol and Diesel S, once again competing at Grand Prix.

Then in 2023, inspired by the upcoming Paris Olympics, Emma reignited her top-level ambition and acquired Zippo M.I. (by Blue Hors Zack) from Daniel Bachmann Andersen, making their international debut at the 2024 Aachen CDI Festival 4 Dressage. She also debuted her other Grand Prix ride Rosmarin (by Blue Hors Romanov) at Hickstead CDI in 2024 and campaigned both horses internationally until earlier this year.

Now, as she moves on from competition, Emma is focused on what lies ahead. When asked what’s next, she said, “That is a brilliant question. Life is often a process of elimination, and right now it’s easier to say the things I don’t need in my life. You can only appreciate the right now, cherish beautiful memories from the past and dream that you make more in the future."

She leaves her competitive career with a final message of encouragement: “I love the words of Thomas Edison, ‘Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.’ I wish everyone the very best of luck. Dream big and don’t ever give up – if you haven’t failed, you haven’t tried.”

British Dressage offers heartfelt thanks to Emma for her immense contribution to the sport and wishes her every success and happiness in the years ahead.

Photo © Kevin Sparrow