Born to Shine on The Centre Line: Millie
Find out more about Millie, Dressage Anywhere regular and para dressage rider in our Born to Shine on the Centre Line feature.
Millie Boo Smith based in Stirling, Scotland started riding with her local RDA group when she was seven years old. She soon caught the dressage bug, competing in 2016 and then discovered the world of online dressage with Dressage Anywhere in 2017!
Millie has gone on to win the Grade 2 RDA Online Dressage Championships, not once, but twice! Millie now competes at BD Para Bronze level.
Millie's current horse is Caldbeck George, a 17-year-old bay thoroughbred ex-racehorse. Millie's Dad said, 'Millie had been searching for years and found George whose owner loves him but couldn't ride regularly and didn't want to sell him. Cue an amazing loan (open-ended).'
'Live your dreams and be bold!'
The new partnership competed in their first BD qualifier in October 2023 and attended their first major championships in February at Myerscough as a Grade 2 para rider.
Millie says that George is quite the character: 'he likes to make dad go over two fields to collect him then as dad reaches him he runs all the way to me!! He's clumsy and goofy but is so calm and gentle.'
Millie's top tips for preparing for a dressage test: 'Learn the test. Walk the test. Then try to refine it. Dressage Anywhere is great for judge feedback!! You can compete at your own yard and get fantastic feedback from judges which is fair, balanced and encouraging.'
Although Millie's biggest challenge is coping with cerebral palsy and bilateral hearing loss, she has gone on to achieve so much: finalist in the YoungScot award, winner of Forth Valley Young Sportsperson of the Year, Foxworthy medal at school and RDA virtual dressage champion. For anyone new to dressage Millie says: live your dreams and be bold.