A CARDIGAN man has been appointed to a top role in the world on international dressage.

British 5* judge Andrew Gardner has been made a member on the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports) Dressage Committee. His appointment was approved at the FEI Bureau meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay, last month.

Mr Gardner, who became a 5*/O-judge in 2011, will be replacing outgoing Mexican member Maribel Alonso.

He juggles his judging with practising full time as a chartered surveyor in Cardiff. He’s a professional member and examiner for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts.

His judging career started some 30 years ago. Part of the working party that formed British Dressage and a past board director, Mr Gardner was chairman of judges for two terms and in 2011 he sat on the committee overseeing judge training and examinations.

“Judging underpins our sport. It is voluntary but nevertheless demands great commitment and integrity because it commands so much responsibility. You have to remember that it influences people wherever they are in their training. It is not something to be taken lightly,” said Mr Gardner.