|
Desi Dillingham
Canadian born of an American father and a British born mother, Desi arrived in the world with a pony waiting for her, and learned to ride before she could walk. Her family were well known equestrians and her childhood was a world of showing, eventing, hunting and even point-to-pointing. Desi's aunt, Barbara Kemp, built the Olympic Three Day cross-country course for the 1976 Olympics, until then the only woman to ever be given the job. Desi enjoyed a successful riding career but also had a passion for business.
Having joined one of the world's largest recruitment firms, Drake International, Desi was transferred to the UK for one year in 1973. She welcomed this as a chance to see another world and to get a break from horses for a year. Thirty four years later...
Desi's passion for horses slowly came to the fore and, within two weeks of arriving in the UK, she was teaching the Civil Service Riding Club at the Knightsbridge Barracks. Desi was also Treasurer of the Civil Service Riding Club, based at Buckingham Palace, from 1975 to 1980. During this time she ran both riding club one-day events and affiliated dressage in Kensington Palace Gardens as well as riding, teaching and judging.
In the early 80's Desi set up her own company, Masterlock Recruitment, and a chance meeting with Jennie Loriston-Clarke in 1983 lead Desi into dressage and an 18 year period of sponsorship for Jennie and her family. Dressage took over as a passion and, as well as sponsoring in many areas, Desi progressed through a series of other committees. A Fundraiser for BEOF (Olympic Fund) for many years, Chairman of the British Dressage Supporters from 1990 to1996, Dressage main Committee member from 1994 to 1996, Chair of the Dressage Group 1997, Chair of the newly formed British Dressage Board of Directors from 1998 to 2007. Also during this time, Desi was an early board member of the British Horse Foundation and Chairman of the Supporters of British Breeding since 1996.
But Desi's passions for dressage and equine breeding are not exclusive: she is equally passionate in her desire to get more people, young and old, into the saddle. And she believes that we will face an uphill struggle if the only places where people can hack out are along the edges of busy and dangerous roads.
Desi was presented with the BHS Award of Merit in 1989, an Hon Doctorate to Writtle College for services to Equestrianism in 2002, the BEF Medal of Honour in 2004 and the BD Medal of Honour in 2007.
|
