Young paralympic riders impress in France
A young but determined team of British Para riders led the way at the international Para-Equestrian Dressage event in St-L, France, reports Andrea Oakes.
Natasha Baker completed a grade two hat-trick by taking the warm-up, individual and kur on Never The Less. Hot on her heels with a second place in each Grade Two class was A level student Erin Orford riding Painted Affair.
Grade One rider Emma Sheardown gained scores of more than 70% on all three days with her Thoroughbred gelding Slightly Welton. In their first international, Sophie Wellsand Muziek gave three consistent performance to clinch two seconds and a third in the Grade Four competition.
Michaela Slade and Carneval Tobias won the novice qualifier at Manor Farm, Cambridgeshire, reports Ruth Pearce.
Tobias’s owner Tina Atkins headed the advanced medium and prix st georges music, to rock and roll compilations from Music in Motion, on Holme Park Karachi.
The highest score of the day went to Warwickshire-based eventer Daniel Henson, who won his first ever music on a score just shy of 80% at novice level with Land Vision.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Jacqui Mutch and Sambuca Bay had a double win at elementary, while Karen Edwards-Wilson led the medium music on Caris Poet and the advanced medium qualifier with Cat Balou.
Melanie Wallinger and her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood Lancelot Vl had their first victory at prix st georges at Solihull, reports Madeleine Hill. Alex Kipping, 19, and Markesquerade shared second place with Anne Ballard and Cascade.
Jenny Coleman and Lyndon Hall came first in the tricky advanced 103. The highest mark of the day went to 16-year-old Kerry Bates on Donna Parrina. They scored more than 70% in the advanced medium 98.
Read these reports in full with pictures, plus reports from Maastricht CDI-W, Summerhouse, Rowallan, Welsh Dressage Group, Vale View EC, Reaseheath College, Witham Villa, Richmond EC, Blue Barn and Heart of England
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
