The British para dressage team for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, Germany (11-23 August) has been announced – with one real surprise.
It was expected that three of the four combinations who competed at the Europeans in Ermelo last summer would return. Grade I combination Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg and grade II combination Jemima Green on Fantabulous are back and expected to be the two big scorers on the team.
Nicola Naylor is back too, but not on her European ride Humberto L – instead, she’ll be riding her other grade IV partner, Moulin Rouge.
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We wrote when the nominated entries were released that 14-year-old Humberto L and nine-year-old Moulin Rouge had been shadowing each other all season, with Humberto L holding the higher grand prix B average – the score that determines the team medals – but Moulin Rouge having just won a head-to-head between the two at Wellington CPEDI3*.
After that was written, Humberto L burst into form at the final selection trial at Hartpury CPEDI3*, winning all three grade IV tests and scoring 74.46% in the grand prix B.
Moulin Rouge was runner-up behind her stablemate in both the grand prix A and B, trailing by a couple of percentage points – though Nicola had eased off from asking too much of the still-developing mare at Hartpury, which puts the gap in context.
On which of the two might ultimately be selected, Nicola said at the time: “I’ve let them give what they wanted to give, and I've been very relaxed about which one comes out on top.”
My guess is that most would have expected Humberto to get the nod on the numbers. But the selectors may have half an eye on Los Angeles 2028, wanting to test the exciting young mare in a championship setting. Humberto will instead be Nicola and team’s direct reserve.
The fourth spot
Gabriella Blake was the fourth rider at the Europeans, but her long-time ride Strong Beau retired in April.
That left one spot in genuine contention, fought out between Erin Orford on LJT Nutbush, Lee Pearson on Breezer, and Sophie Wells on MSJ Gold Standard – and, like the fourth-spot race for the dressage team, it went down to the wire.
Lee arrived at Hartpury as the form pick, Breezer sitting fourth among all eight nominated combinations on the season’s grand prix B average. But it was a quieter week by his own standards – 71.9% in the grand prix B, down on a season average of just under 73%.
Erin and LJT Nutbush swept all three grade III tests, but their 71.1% grand prix B average was the softest of the trio coming in, and a solid rather than spectacular 71.97% wasn’t enough to close the gap.
It was Sophie and MSJ Gold Standard who seized the moment, winning all three grade V tests with personal bests throughout – 74.05% in the grand prix A, 74.4% in the grand prix B and 80.27% in the freestyle. The result lifted her season grand prix B average from 72.36% to 72.87%, overtaking Lee’s, which dipped to 72.56% – a swing that settled the fourth spot in her favour.
The team’s clear goal in Aachen is qualification for the LA 2028 Paralympics, secured by finishing among the seven highest-placed teams, hosts USA aside. Britain fell just short of the medals at both last summer’s Europeans and the Paris Paralympics, finishing fourth and sixth respectively – so nothing can be taken for granted. But with three of the horses on the team 10 or younger, there's a young core here capable of carrying this squad well beyond Aachen, LA included.
British para dressage team for Aachen World Championships
Grade I
Mari Durward-Akhurst with 19-year-old mare Athene Lindebjerg
Owners: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Romilly Hart
Breeder: Ulla and Kristian Bech
Breeding: by Gribaldi, out of a mare by Diamant
Grade II
Jemima Green with eight-year-old gelding Fantabulous
Owner: rider
Breeder: Rainer and Angelika Alhers
Breeding: by Foundation 2, out of a mare by Fürst Romancier
Grade IV
Nicola Naylor with nine-year-old mare Moulin Rouge
Owner: rider
Breeder: P Buwalda
Breeding: by Ferdinand, out of a mare by Dorado
Grade V
Sophie Wells with 10-year-old mare MSJ Gold Standard
Owner: Emma Blundell
Breeder: Mount St John Equestrian LLP
Breeding: by Governor, out of a mare by Fürstenball
Reserves in alphabetical order
Nicola Naylor with 14-year-old gelding Humberto L
Owners: Rosalind Emery Kay and rider
Breeder: J Lamers
Breeding: by Cachet L, out of a mare by Haarlem
Erin Orford with 14-year-old gelding LJT Nutbush
Owners: Carl Hester, Anne Barrott, Rowena Luard and The Lady Joseph Trust
Breeder: Mr A Gregory
Breeding: by Negro, out of a mare by Sion
Sir Lee Pearson with 14-year-old gelding Breezer
Owners: Jenson Guest, David Pearson, Linda Pearson and rider
Breeder: Sir Lee Pearson
Breeding: by Bacardi
The entries are announced in collaboration with the British Dressage selectors and World Class Programme principal partner Agria.
