British Olympic dressage medallist Laura Tomlinson reflects on the recent National dressage Championships and her experience competing in Germany, praising the high quality of horses and competitors. She highlights challenges facing the sport, such as fewer competitions and spectators, partly due to the rise of online viewing and financial pressures on event organizers. Tomlinson stresses the importance of transparent, honest commentary that acknowledges both successes and difficulties in the sport to build trust and maintain sponsor interest.

Tomlinson advocates for greater engagement and fun in dressage, suggesting ideas like cross-discipline demos or competitions to attract more spectators and sponsors. She calls for the sport to embrace accountability by openly addressing issues such as horse stress during competitions, rather than avoiding criticism, to counter negative perceptions. Ultimately, she believes that combining honesty with entertainment will help dressage grow and regain wider public and commercial support.