Annabella, riding her mother Sarah’s nine-year-old mare Espe is the first British dressage rider ever to win an individual medal in the young riders division.
It comes off the back of silver and bronze medals Annabella won at junior Europeans in 2021 and 2022, but with so many of her successes having been a first for Britain, it highlights how few youth dressage riders we have had in the medals at Europeans to date.
So, who are the other Brits with youth or under-25 medals to their name? And what are Britain’s youth dressage medallists up to now?
Lottie Fry, 27
Lottie Fry was a stalwart of British youth teams from ponies right up to under-25s. She became under-25 European champion in 2018 riding Dark Legend, winning freestyle gold and individual silver that year, and leading the team to bronze. They were Britain’s first ever under-25 medals.
Lottie became the leading rider at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands, where she has been based since 2014. She graduated to the senior Europeans team the following year, and her star has carried on rising since.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
She helped Britain win Olympic bronze and European silver in 2021 on Everdale, and most notably of all, was crowned world champion with Glamourdale in 2022. Lottie is currently ranked number two in the world, having held the world number one spot earlier this year.
Phoebe Peters, 24
Phoebe Peters and her superstar pony SL Lucci were the face of British youth dressage between 2013 and 2015, when they picked up no fewer than five individual medals, and led Britain to a place on three consecutive pony team podiums too.
Phoebe became the first British dressage rider ever to win an individual medal at a youth Europeans when she claimed pony double gold in 2013. She took freestyle silver the following year, and returned in 2015 to win double individual gold – breaking their own world records along the way – and leading Britain to team glory too.
Phoebe went on to compete on junior teams and up to national prix st georges, before gaining a degree in French and German. She spent several months based with Klaus Balkenhol in Germany during the first part of 2022, before moving to become assistant rider at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands in May 2022, working alongside Lottie Fry and competing at under-25 grand prix.
Alex Hellings, 24
Alex partnered the renowned dressage pony Der Kleine Lord to team silver at the 2014 pony Europeans, and also won individual bronze the same year.
She continued to progress though youth ranks with Uvender V, riding at the junior Europeans in 2016 and young riders in 2019. Nationally, she and Uvi competed together up to grand prix level until the gelding was retired at the end of 2022.
Alex is another young rider with a first class degree to her name, having graduated in mathematics in 2020. She is now a professional rider and coach based in Derbyshire, with a string of horses she is bringing up through the levels.
Britain’s youth dressage team medallists
While Britain boasts just four individual medallists – Phoebe Peters, Alex Hellings, Lottie Fry and Annabella Pidgley – youth teams have fared well in recent years, with six team medals since 2013.
Ponies
2013 – bronze
Rebecca Bell with Valido’s Sunshine
Rose Hugh-Smith with Holsteins Derwisch
Phoebe Peters with SL Lucci
Erin Williams with Dynasty
2014 – silver
Rebecca Bell with Valido’s Sunshine
Alex Hellings with Der Kleine Lord
Bethany-Rose Horobin with Gigolo
Phoebe Peters with SL Lucci
2015 – gold
Rebecca Bell with Valido’s Sunshine
Isobel Berrington with DHI Langar
Clare Hole with Rembrandt DDH
Phoebe Peters with SL Lucci
Juniors
2022 – bronze
Myles Graham and Nibleley Union Hit
Sophie Wallace and Rosalie B
India Durman-Mills and Escade
Annabella Pidgley and Espe
Young riders
2023 – bronze
Annabella Pidgley and Espe
Lily Laughton and Skovborgs Romadinov
India Durman-Mills and Escade
Jessie McConkey and Lady Gaga
Under-25s
2018 – bronzeLottie Fry with Dark LegendRebecca Edwards with Headmore DelegateClaire Gallimore with Annette BallerinaRyan Todd with Charlex Eskjeberg
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
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
