We are very proud to have an incredible team of Derrière riders.

CARL HESTER MBE

Carl Hester

Carl lived on the Isle of Sark from the age of four. He learnt to ride at an early age as the island has no cars and relies on horses as a means of getting around.

At 16, Carl moved to the mainland where he was offered a job at the fortune centre of riding therapy in Dorset. Although he started out competing in eventing, he moved to dressage and became young rider national dressage champion in 1985 and was selected for the young rider team in 1988.

Carl was approached to work for renowned dressage trainer Dr Bechtolsheimer in 1989, where he stayed for three years. Carl then set up a yard with Kate Carter, which they ran together for 10 years. In 2004, Carl went solo and runs his own competition yard in Gloucestershire. Carl has achieved great success in dressage and is one of the most successful british riders in the sport’s history.

Major achievements at a glance: competed in five Olympic games (Athens, Sydney, Barcelona, London & Rio). Selected for the team for Beijing, however injury to his horse Dolendo prevented him competing. Winner of Great Britain’s first ever Olympic dressage medal as part of the gold medal winning team at London Olympics 2012. Part of the gold medal winning team and winner of 2 individual silver medals at the 2011 European dressage championships in Rotterdam. Part of the silver medal winning dressage team at the 2010 world equestrian games, Kentucky. Part of the silver medal winning team at the 2009 European dressage championships, Windsor winner of 66 national championship titles including the national title on eight occasions. The most successful British Dressage rider in history.
 

BEX MASON - SHOW JUMPER - UK

Bex Mason

Bex launched Bex Mason showjumping in 2010 after many years breaking in and competiting at an international level with past Olympians such as Tina and Graham fletcher (GB), Ludo Philleaperts (BEL), Steve Cohan (NZ) and Viki Roycroft (AUS).

Bex mason showjumping produces horses for competition and sales for clients. The ultimate aim is to be able to finance herself for a life with horses.

Bex is no stranger to long days and longer weeks. From the age of 6 Bex has played, lived and breathed horses. Throughout the long uk winters Bex will always be first to the yard at 5am and the last to leave. This commitment to horses and her lifestyle has taken her many places around the world and will continue to do so long into her life.

She recognises that attention to detail will reap rewards in the long run. Bex has embarked on a ‘rider performance programme’ in conjunction with experts at hartpury college with the sole aim of gaining every possible performance advantage by ensuring she can offer not only technical skill, but peak physical performance when riding all of her horses.

Bex has been fortunate enough to develop relationships with some of the world’s best showjumpers. These mentors have worked with Bex for a number of years and assist her in keeping focused, setting realistic goals and being pro-active in getting to the top of her profession.

ERIN ORFORD - TEAM GB - PARA-DRESSAGE

Erin Orford

Double European medallist Erin Orford is a leading International Para Dressage Rider for Team GBR. A member of the World Class Podium Squad, Erin has competed both nationally and internationally for over 10 years, and is a familiar face on the circuit, with numerous titles to her name. As well as her success in Para Dressage, she has also ridden up to Advanced Medium at Regional level, taking her first able-bodied title in 2012, when she won the Home International at Elementary on Nirvana Morroko. 

Erin was shortlisted for the London 2012 Paralympics, named as non-travelling reserve for the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2016 and 2020 Paralympics. In 2017 a late call-up paved the way for her long-awaited Championship debut with Dior. The highlight of her career so far, Erin and Dior returned from the FEI European Championships in Sweden as Gold and Bronze medallists! 2018 saw Erin and Dior selected for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA where Team GBR won the Silver medal.

A qualified UKCC Level 2 Dressage coach, alongside her riding and coaching commitments, Erin works part-time in Digital Communications, is an Athlete Mentor for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and attends various events as a motivational speaker.

KATIE BEDWIN - TEAM GB - ENDURANCE

Katie Bedwin

Katie is the leading uk endurance young rider 2015/2016, aiming for wec 2017. Sponsored by derrière equestrian, surrey equine massage, feedmark, torq and baileys

Katie is a 19 yr old endurance rider currently competing at international level & is part of the great britain young riders squad & english endurance squad. Katie competes two horses burfield red dragon & elayla . In 2015 katie's aims were to complete her first cei3* & went on to represent gb at the young rider world championships. Katie is our young endurance star for the future & we believe one to watch. Congratulations katie from all at team derriere equestrian.

MATTHEW BURNETT (GB) DRESSAGE RIDER & TRAINER

Born in 1985, Mat Burnett was horse mad from an early age and began working with them as soon as he could. His first job age 12 was leading riding school ponies around in lead rein lessons, so that he could ride them back to the field at the end of a long day!

Fast forward 20 or so years and Mat has now established himself as a top Equine professional and a
sought after rider coach, holding regular clinics and demonstrations at venues all over the UK. He has experience working with hunters, horses with behavioural issues, starting young horses and producing stallions for both Show Jumping and Dressage.

Mat now concentrates on Dressage and with the help of his various trainers including Conrad Schumacher, Emile Faurie, Carl Hester and Peter Storr he has produced numerous winners across all levels from
4 year old classes to Grand Prix and with his mount, Treliver Decanter, he has also represented GB.

Based at beautiful stables near Knutsford, in the picturesque county of Cheshire, Mat offers training for clients who want to get the best out of their horses at any level – whether they ride themselves or would prefer Mat to ride and train them.

ANTOINE NOWAKOWSKI - DRESSAGE RIDER - BELGIUM

Antoine Nowakowski is a 25 years old French dressage rider. He has competed in many international competitions in small tour including saumur, pompadour, deauville. Antoine is now starting to compete in medium tour. With his goal is to compete up to the grand prix with his current mare vidermie. Antonie’s trainer is bertrand liegard, french dressage rider who recently won a grand prix special at the cdi5* in majorca. Having many horses in training livery and antoine has already found sponsors who are willing to invest in young horses. They will take the lead for the grand prix level after his mare’s retirement. Antoine is also an active dressage trainer and rider in belgium.

 

DAISY BERKELEY - EVENT RIDER - UK TEAM GB

Our ambassador rider eventer Daisy Berkeley, is an incredibly experienced eventer, having contested many world class events, and being a former British open champion and winner at the prestigious Blenheim horse trials. A British eventing team stalwart, Daisy has medals in all three colours from the European and world championships, as well as the Olympics.

Derriere equestrian sponsored rider Daisy Berkeley is an event rider and alumni of British teams, including the 2008 Olympics, where the brits placed third. Daisy’s top results in 2016 included a top fifteen placing in the three star class at Bramham with ‘strike smartly’, and a second place at Houghton with ‘Ballinteskin Cooper S’ in the one star CCI. Daisy is an experienced eventer with top rides having included springbok and spring along. She has a promising string of youngsters that she is currently producing.

“Derriere underwear is fabulous; discreet and very comfortable,” Daisy says. “the breeches are extremely smart and very flattering. Excitingly, I have started to get into yoga. When I heard that mark todd is quite a follower, and remains supple at his age, I thought I would give it a go! It has made a great difference to my core strength, balance and flexibility. When I combine this with my wonderful derriere clothing, I hope to have that edge we are all looking for, so roll on next season!”

Daisy says “derriere underwear is fabulous; discreet and very comfortable,” Daisy says. “the breeches are extremely smart and very flattering. Bear in mind also that a good sports bra is essential, in order to both carry and open the shoulders, and not focus on any discomfort caused by breast movement,” Daisy concludes.

DL DRESSAGE: LUCY CARTWRIGHT & DANIEL BREMNER