Angela Halloran-Smith is on a mission to raise the profile of dressage on the island as part of her role as Bermuda’s first head coach.

Halloran-Smith is aiming to reinvigorate the island’s grass-roots programme and inspire more riders to compete on the international stage.

Having spent more than 25 years competing and coaching in Bermuda and the United States at all levels including Grand Prix, Halloran-Smith is passionate about sharing her knowledge with Bermuda’s riders.

“My role as the national coach is to promote the sport and get it out there because a lot of people just don’t know about it,” said Halloran-Smith, who was appointed by the Bermuda Equestrian Federation last month.

“I want to be an ambassador for the sport and let the public know what’s going on the dressage community, as well as letting people know what’s really available to them.

“For such a small island it’s amazing the opportunities that are here. That’s my purpose.”

The North Carolinian believes Bermuda has the potential to be a futile ground for producing riders and plans to send a team of juniors to the Dressage4Kids Festival in Saugerties, New York, in August.

She admits that dressage might lack the thrills and spills of show jumping but points out that the sport is “the foundation for all equestrian activity”, and hopes to make it attractive and affordable for local competitors.

In an effort to cut costs, the Bermuda Dressage Group (BDG) has started holding shows at stables such as Spicelands in Warwick and Inwood in Hamilton Parish rather than just their Vesey Street headquarters.

“I want to get a few more dressage shows at the lower level and get the grass roots going again,” said Halloran-Smith, who also serves as the BDG president.

“The hard part is how technical the sport is and I think it’s important we make it more appealing and fun to the younger children.

“It’s hard to attract youngsters because they love to jump ... it’s more exciting ... I get it. But there are some youngsters that really take to it.

“We have at least four coming through and they are exceptional.

“I see a lot of great potential here — we have some nice horses and good riders.”

Halloran-Smith, a stable manager at Hinson Hall in Devonshire, suspects that a disconnect has developed between the island’s top riders who compete overseas and the sporting community.

Although it is inevitable those riders will leave the island to further their careers, Halloran-Smith believes it is important that the next generation’s careers are heavily rooted in Bermuda.

Annabelle Collins is thought to be the only dressage rider competing overseas. She represented the island at the Pan Am Games in Rio in 2007, finishing seventh. Virginia McKey also competed for Bermuda at the Pan Am Games in Toronto in 2015, placing 31st.

“Perhaps people don’t feel part of the journey [of the international riders] and I think it makes a huge difference if they can see it happening behind their own back door.

“It’s important people can watch them compete on the weekend, see them start at the lower levels and follow their progression.”

Halloran-Smith, who competed for Bermuda at the Caribbean Equestrian Association Dressage Challenge in February, has targeted the CAC Games as a realistic goal for the island’s riders. Dawn Fox was the previous rider the qualify for the Games, held in Veracruz, Mexico, in 2014 but was unable to compete because the financial costs.

“We also want to get Bermudians to try and qualify for the CAC Games — it’s a great stepping stone for the Pan Am Games and the Olympics,” Halloran-Smith added.

“Dressage is one of the few sports where athletes can actually qualify in Bermuda.

“To have a qualifying show all we have to do is bring in two international judges from different countries to judge the show — how easy is that?

“We want to create some excitement and I do think Bermuda is missing the boat by not doing more here on the island.

“It’s just going to take some more work and organising behind it all to put on those quality shows.”