Millie Dumas and Fabian "I really believe he will take me to the top of the sport one day”
Millie Dumas set an impressive record in 2018 as the rider with the best cross country record at British Eventing National events.
According to BE and EquiRatings Millie produced 40 cross country runs with a 100% clear rate at National level (and that actually increases to an even more impressive 50 runs when you add in FEI starts) so we caught up with her to find out more about her team of horses, who are obviously cross country machines, and any tips she may have for anyone looking to emulate her cross country success (coming soon)
During the year 26 year-old Millie, who has eventing in her blood and French connections, competed in over 50 classes from BE100 to 3* level with multiple wins and placings including the CIC1* at Somerford Park International on Universal Cooley, the CCI2* at Millstreet on KEC Deakon, the Advanced at Aston-Le-Walls (3) on Artistiek and the Intermediate at Farley Hall on Cornascriebe Glenpatrick. Universal Cooley also finished fourth in the 6YO Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion d'Angers
Of all those achievements however, her highlight of 2018 was being part of the winning British Nations Cup team in Waregem on Artistiek
“It was my first year of being involved with the Nations Cup Series and it is certainly something I would love to do again, I had great fun and it was a great way to gain experience in a team competition”
Another great moment was winning the CCI2* in Millstreet on her parents’ KEC Deakon, a horse with a complicated background due to a severe headshaking problem
“We very nearly gave up on him. But I always believed in him and thought that I could train him in a way to make him believe in himself, so it was a great feeling to know that the hard work had paid off. He is improving all the time and we have very high hopes for him next season”
From their home base at Rosamund Green Farm her parents, Katie and Robin, play a big part in Millie’s career. Her father Robin, who represented his native country of France in eventing and is now a British Eventing Accredited Trainer, is her main coach but she also has some help from Yogi Breisner for both jumping phases
“They are very similar in the way that they train, they both have me jumping lines that look nearly impossible, they won’t tell me distances and I just have to ride with my feel and make it happen! At the end of the day cross country riding is all about reacting and positive riding”
Universal Cooley at Le Lion d'Angers
With 2019 now underway and the season fast approaching, Millie will be ‘walking the walk’ as she focuses on preparing her team for this year, including her first CCI5* start with Artistiek.
“I currently have a string of eight event horses ranging from four-year olds just starting their education to the top horses at 4* and 5* level” she tells us “This year I am very lucky to have a strong team of horses at the upper levels that I’ve brought on from youngsters and one of those is Artistiek.
“We’re aiming to step him up to 5* level, but close behind him are Fabian, KEC Deakon, Cameya and Penhill Touch Of Class. They are all very exciting young horses that will be competing at 4* level this year then I also have some lovely younger horses coming up behind, some of which are yet to start their eventing careers”
“Although I wouldn’t be able to name a favourite (they are all so special in different ways), Artistiek is of course the number one in the yard, being the eldest at 14 years of age and one that I have owned since he was a 5 year old. He he has provided me with a lot of success throughout my career and has certainly been my horse of a lifetime so far”
“However, although very talented, he is extremely cheeky and very spooky which in training at home can be really frustrating - luckily he knows when he needs to perform properly at a competition! Fabian is definitely one of my best cross country horses – he is super brave and a great galloper, I really believe he will take me to the top of the sport one day”
From all the good cross country rides she had in 2018 that we filmed, we asked Millie to select the one she liked the most and she chose KEC Deakon at the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing Intermediate Championships.
“I chose this video of KEC Deakon because I love watching this horse go cross country, although just a green Intermediate horse at this point he has his ears pricked the whole way and is always looking for the flags, I love riding him because he is so adjustable and clever and although not the biggest of gallopers he makes up the time by being able to turn and come back to me so quickly”
