Sophie Wells’ blog: getting ready for the Euros

We are right in the middle of preparation for the Europeans and all the fine details are vitally important.

Reece [Valerius] and Noki [Pinocchio] both went to squad training last week at the lovely Unicorn Trust in Stow on the Wold and had a thorough check up with the team support staff, while I saw the human sports science team. We got our team kit and final details for the trip.

After we returned home, the boys saw Maxine Poole for a final massage to make sure they were in good shape. Rachel Sainsbury from Dodson & Horrell also popped by to make sure their feeding is exactly right. It’s a massive team job — I don’t know where I would be without them!

We are very fortunate to have the support of UK Sport and lottery funding to help with trips such as these, enabling us to take the support team we need and make sure we are as best prepared as possible.

See you on the other side!

Sophie

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now