Michael Ansell

Colonel Sir Michael Picton Ansell, CBE, DSO (26 March 1905 – 17 February 1994) was a soldier, showjumper, polo player, and horse show administrator.

Early life Ansell was born on 26 March 1905 at the Curragh, County Kildare. His father Lt Col George Ansell was killed in September 1914, during the First World War, leading the 5th Dragoon Guards in a cavalry charge against German positions, for which he was subsequently mentioned in dispatches. After attending St Michael's Westgate-in-Sea and Wellington College he went to Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Military career In August 1924 he was commissioned into the 5th/6th Dragoons, a regiment formed two years earlier by the amalgamation of the 5th Dragoon Guards and 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons (his father having served in both regiments). He served throughout the 1930s a cavalry officer, show jumping rider, He was repatriated from a German POW camp in 1943.

Showjumping An invitation to take up the position of chairman of the British Showjumping Association led to him being credited with revitalising the sport.

Honours/Affiliations In 1967, when his address was given as "Pillhead House, Bideford", he was High Sheriff of Devon. He was President of St Dunstan's, a charity for blind servicemen, from 1977 to 1986. and a Knight Bachelor (Kt) in the 1968 New Year Honours.

His autobiography, Soldier On, was published in 1973. It had a foreword by the Duke of Edinburgh. His final book, Leopard: the story of my horse, featured a foreword by Prince Charles.

In 1977, he was a recipient of the Silver Olympic Order.

Death He died on 17 February 1994 in Brighton, England, aged 88.