Mia Smith ia British international dressage rider and full-time student at Hartpury university studying equine performance and rehabilitation. Mia spends term times at Hartpury where she trains with Nick Burton, Lizzel Winter and Carl Hester through the Hartpury Equine Academy. Outside term time Mia lives on the Wirral and trains with Helen Dutton who has been her trainer for the last three years. Mia also benefits from BD Youth’s Foundation Academy and is part of the 2025 National Academy.
Tell us about your horses
A victory lap at PetPlan
I have three dressage horses, Dutch Discovery (Dj), MS Maestro (Mango) and MSJ Diva Da’Olymbrio (Diva). Dj has brought me all the way from elementary to Inter I, I owe him everything, he is a real character, can’t be on his own for a moment and absolutely loves showing off in the arena, sometimes too much! He is very hot and excitable and that’s one of the things I love most about him. Mango was the first horse I had after ponies and we bought him rising 5, when he was advertised, he was 16.1 and he just kept growing, now he is a full up 17 hand chunk with a delicate little face and a tiny nose. With him I started my BD youth journey with camps, squadding, inter regionals and home nations, he’s competing at medium but training at PSG at home, he thinks tempi changes are a very fun trick and tries to put them into every movement now that he understands how they work. He is by far the snuggliest horse I’ve ever met, and he’d happily spend hours sleeping on your shoulder. Diva is the baby of the family purchased at 3 months old, now 5 years old, I backed her myself before sending her to Greg Sims for her early education. She is ridden and trained by Helen Dutton while I am away at university and excitingly 2025 will see the start of her competitive career with both Helen and myself. She is as brave as a lion and thinks that all personal space is her personal space to receive cuddles.
How did your journey begin and transpire to where you are now?
Mia loved eventing when she was younger
I first started riding at 4 years old because my whole family rode horses, it started with an 11-hand loan pony, riding at local shows progressing to pony club, showjumping and eventing. I loved eventing but when I was looking for my first horse after ponies, I decided to do either showjumping or dressage. I started BD in December of 2020 with my Connemara gelding Otto.
Who have been the most influential people on your journey?
People are everything from other competitors to trainers to parents, farriers, physios, vets and officials, throughout my journey I have met many inspirational people who have encouraged and supported me to keep going and reach for more with confidence. If I have to name some people, I am enormously grateful to Charlotte Thomas who introduced me to BD Youth, Steph Bradley of Freedom Saddlery who also coaches for BD Youth and Helen Elizabeth Dutton who is my biggest support and coach, all three of them have been there for me through the happy tears and the ugly crying. And one other important mention I must make is Ivan Stockdale my horse’s wonderful dentist who tells me every time I see him that I must mention him if I do any publicity! I currently train with Helen Dutton, Lizzel Winters, Nick Burton and Carl Hester
What do you love about dressage?
I love horses and I love riding, I love all the disciplines but there’s something really special about dressage horses because they’re clever and they make decisions, offer ideas and work with you. Dressage takes the basic paces and adds complexity and power, and I enjoy teaching horses how to use and strengthen their bodies in different ways.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
Mia with her trainer, Helen Dutton
My parents who drive me to all my competitions and support me emotionally and financially, Helen Dutton my patient and kind coach, our farriers Sam Crompton of Total Equine Care and Steve Hinton, our Physio Harriet Sophie Eaton-Jones, our dentist Ivan Stockdale who will be delighted to be mentioned more than once, the team at Nantwich Equine vets, Lizzel Winter and the Hartpury Equine Academy, Steph Bradley of Freedom Saddlery our saddle fitter, the admin team at BD Youth especially Hannah James
Proudest moments?
When spooky baby Mango made it to our first Home Nations, being the first person to sit on Diva, being selected for Foundation then National Academy 2025 with Dj as well as Hartpury Elite-Development Academy. Getting selected for our first CDI Young Riders with Dj. Doing our first full lines of 3 and 4 tempis on Mango as my first horse I’m producing up the levels myself. Winning the PSG Silver winter Area festival then the PSG winter Area festival championship 2025.
Do you ever get nerves when competing?
Sometimes I get very nervous but I know that as soon as I’m heading down the centreline I know that its going to be ok, the more prepared you are the better you feel. I like to use the time when I’m plaiting up and grooming to listen to music, be with the horse and relax with them.
What are your future aspirations?
I would like to compete at Grand Prix, and I’d like to get involved in breeding programmes. I’m interested in training each individual horse with long term health in mind tailored to them based on conformation, temperament and taking into account strengths and weaknesses and the causes for them to protect the longevity of the horse’s sound life.
Your Top Tip
Just do it, don’t be afraid to fail even if you don’t feel 100% ready. Nobody is judging or laughing at you, it’s better to just give it a go than to never find out just how much you can achieve.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Ride with confidence even if you don’t feel it because your horse needs to know you believe in your partnership and that it’s going to happen.