Top British dressage rider Carl Hester praised the Wellington CDI event for its high-quality competition, excellent facilities, and innovative efforts to engage the public, such as the International dressage Viewing Experience and behind-the-scenes social media content. Despite the event’s success and his personal wins, Hester highlighted the financial challenges of dressage, noting that prize money remains low compared to other equestrian sports. The Wellington team continues to invest in infrastructure and plans more international competitions, hoping for better weather and sustained interest.

Hester also addressed the controversy surrounding British dressage’s decision not to send a pony team to the European Championships, which sparked criticism on social media. The selectors cited the young riders’ readiness and mental health concerns, as well as resource allocation priorities, opting instead to fund additional training camps. While acknowledging both sides of the debate, Hester questioned the logic of shortlisting riders if there was no intention to send a team, inviting readers to share their views on team selection and resource management in youth dressage.