Nicola Buchanan

(UK) Internationell dressyrryttare

Nicola Buchanan is an International Dressage Rider based in the United Kingdom. She represented Great Britain between 2002‐2016. Highlights including winning Grand Prix at the Hickstead CDI *** in 2008, being listed for the Beijing Olympics and competing in World Cup Qualifiers including Olympia London.

Nicola learnt to ride while growing up in Indonesia on the native ponies, “My mother had always been a keen horse women and it was her influence that got me started. I was sent to school in England at 11 and my riding took a back seat until the holidays. These were then spent in Singapore where I spent all my free time at the Saddle club riding and competing. One of my highlights while on holiday was competing on the pony club team. We were sent to Hong Kong (where I was born ) to compete against Malaysia , Thailand , the Philippines, Indonesia and most of South East Asia. It was an excellent experience and I won individual silver.”

Nicola spent  4 years working and training in Holland at the yard where the Dutch National Dressage Championships took place. For 6 years she was based in the USA importing, training, competing & selling Dutch dressage horses. 2 beneficial years were spent training in Germany with German Olympic Dressage Team trainer, Jonny Hilberath. Nicola has been based in the UK since 2000 and she trains with Carl Hester Team GB Olympic Goldmedalist.

In the spring of 2014 Nicola purchased Half Moon Dark Magic, a five year old gelding, and plans to bring him up to International level over the coming years. In late 2015 a partnership was formed with the Countess of Shaftesbury who owns St Giles Stud and Nicola now competes two of her younger horses namely, St Giles Cosmopolitan, a 4-year-old gelding by Conen x Conteur x Welt Hit and St Giles Fairytale a 5-year old Premium State mare by Furst Romancier x Donnerhall x Pik Bube. Sharing her experience, based in the South of England she trains riders from Novice to Grand Prix level.