Jane Gregory, Olympic Dressage Rider

Jane Gregory (nee Bredin)

Dressage rider, Jane represented Great Britain in the Bejing Olympics last year and prior to that in 1996 at Atlanta.

Jane didn't have her first riding lesson until her godmother, Sheila Duvollet, bought her a part-bred Connemara for £175 when she was 12. She joined the North Cornwall Pony Club and won the junior section of the pony club eventing championships in 1976. She also hunted with the North Cornwall and Monmouthshire and continued to event and show jump until she started to work for David Hunt.

This came about through meeting dressage judge Janet Poulden when she lived in Wales. She used to teach Jane through her riding club. "Janet somehow arranged for me to be the novice guinea pig for the national convention, which David was running that year. It was a truly humiliating experience. He said it was a nice horse but that the girl needed lots of help. I ended up in the loo in tears, but it was the best thing that ever happened. I trained with him for two years and then asked if I could work for him."

Jane started work for David in 1981, staying for 11 years and working her way up to become headgirl. In 1992, she left to set up a yard with Suzie Cumine, the owner of Cupido, the horse that took her to international stardom. Then, in 2001, Jane and her partner dressage rider Aram Gregory set up their own yard. Aram, who rides for Hong Kong, and Jane married in 2006 after a 20-year courtship.

Jane's major achievements:

Jane rode her first international in 1994 and went on to represent Britain at the World Equestrian Games the same year. She finished third as a member of the nations cup team at Aachen CDIO in 1995 and was

again on the team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, all with Cupido.

Jane disappeared from the international scene for several years due to injured horses. She was first in the small tour rankings in 2001 and made an international comeback in 2008, winning the grand prix and grand prix special with Lucky Star at Munich CDI in May, followed by a grand prix freestyle win at the Mariakalnok CDI. She then scored a personal best with Lucky Star at Lipica CD when she took the runner-up slot on 72.85% in the grand prix freestyle in June, culminating in selection for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with Lucky Star.

Current Competition Horses:

Lucky Star, a 16.2hh Danish-bred gelding by Lucky Light out of Twinny, born 1992 and owned by

husband Aram Gregory.

Piet, 17.3hh Dutch-bred chestnut gelding by Jazz out of Belinda, born 1997 and owned by Aram

Gregory.

Soul Sister, a 16.1hh German-bred bay mare by Sandro Hit out of Classica, born 2001 and

owned by Aram Gregory.

Samira, an 18hh German-bred bay mare by Sion out of Lara, born 1999 and owned by Aram

Gregory.

Dances With Wolves, an 18hh German-bred liver chestnut gelding by Donnerschwee out of

Waldfee, born 2002 and owned by Aram Gregory