Sophie Wells scored 76.76% to finish just off the podium in the grade V freestyle at the World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen.

It rounded off a week of contrasts for Sophie – an emotional grade V gold on Thursday, a tougher team test on Saturday, and now a fourth-place freestyle finish, agonisingly close to a second medal – just 0.68 percentage points shy of bronze.

Gold went to Lena Malmström and Fabulous Fidelie for Sweden on 79.68%, with Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s taking silver for Germany on 78.19% and Britney de Jong and Caramba NOP bronze for the Netherlands on 77.44%.

“It was a bit of a mixed bag”

Sophie entered the arena, gesturing to the sound technicians to turn the music up – a remix of covers by Croatian cellist HAUSER, including Waka Waka, Sway and La Isla Bonita.

“It was so much quieter than the sound check, but a few people had said that earlier in the order, so I was a bit prepared for it,” Sophie explained. “It’s the sort of music that needs to be a little bit louder anyway.”

It was a technical floorplan, and Sophie could count herself unlucky not to have picked up more marks from the judges – the watching crowd had her on 77.93%.

“The extended canter was good – I think that’s a really nice, bold thing she can do,” Sophie said. “But overall it was a bit of a mixed bag – she was fresh coming out, so I didn’t quite know what I was going to get in there. It was nice that she was feeling energetic on day three though, because I didn’t expect that.

“Of course it’s disappointing – it’s four percent off my best. But equally, it wasn’t our best test either – there were mistakes; she dropped me in the two half-circles, and the simple changes weren’t the best she could do. It is what it is, and we just try to get home, regroup, and get better.”

Looking ahead, Sophie confirmed MSJ Gold Standard’s owner, Emma Blundell, plans to sell the 10-year-old mare after these championships, with Sophie’s focus already turning to the horses waiting in the wings for her at home.

“We’ll see what happens – the plan was always that she’d be sold after worlds,” Sophie said. “We’ve got other horses coming up too, like seven-year-old Ontario LC, who did his first international at Hartpury this year.”

Sophie also still has her Paralympic medallist LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, whose talent she rates highly for grand prix work, alongside her para career.

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Nicola Naylor and Humbeto L scored 76.5% in the grade IV freestyle at the World Para Dressage Championship in Aachen to finish fourth.

It capped a memorable World Championships debut for Nicola, who had already claimed individual grade IV bronze earlier in the week. Today’s freestyle was another brave ride from the pair – finishing on a medium trot into a halt before the judge at C – and a marked improvement on yesterday’s team test (22 August), where Humberto had a couple of costly spooks in the canter and walk.

“I thought after yesterday, it was great, because he was so much more with me, so much more settled, willing to listen,” Nicola said. “I took a breath too, and it just felt smoother – he felt like he was in a happier place too, which, given the crowds and the noise, is amazing. But he still kept some of that power. He’s full of beans – I think he could go on for another three days, the way he feels.”

The freestyle itself – set to music from the BBC television series Sherlock – was a deliberately demanding one. “It’s a very busy freestyle – we’ve crammed a huge amount in, literally movement after movement,” Nicola explained.

“We did that deliberately because he likes to be busy. The more he does, the happier he is. If it’s just endless canter along the long sides, he starts to get unsure of what he’s meant to be doing – give him something to do, and he’s really happy.”

Picking out the highlights, she added: “As always, the medium canters were great, and the half-passes too – actually, the whole canter tour flowed really smoothly. I think the timing with the music in the extended walk was a little late, but halfway through he really did extend and take it down, and the trot work was really nice too – I’m very pleased.”

Humberto was also remarkably consistent today, not dropping below an average of seven for any movement. “And that’s lovely,” Nicola said. “Especially after yesterday, when he was a bit all over the place.

“To get him back secure like that is a great note to finish on. He’s never heard crowds like that before, never heard that sort of clapping – so to have given him that experience, and for him to stay with me, I think it’s a great way to finish.”

Reflecting on the week as a whole, Nicola was clear it had been a positive one despite its ups and downs. “It’s been a long week, but it’s been fabulous. There’ve been highs and lows – not really lows, but less-high moments, shall we say – but I always enjoy the training.

“Every test is an experience, and you learn so much from each one. I’ve loved every moment of it, because it’s not often you get this atmosphere to actually ride in and see how your horse handles it.”

She couldn’t resist a fond aside about Humberto’s temperament away from the arena – a horse who, moments earlier, had seemed almost half-asleep during the stewards’ final checks.

“He’s extraordinary – like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” she laughed. “He goes into the arena and he’s got so much power, he’s completely on it, test after test. But you take him out, and he goes to see the stewards, drops his head, half-shuts his eyes – like a donkey falling asleep. He just switches off. He’s like, ‘I’ve done that now, and that’s me, I'm finished.’ Then you pick him up next time and he’s full of power again.”

Further glory for Kate Shoemaker and Vianne

Kate Shoemaker and Vianne took the class comfortably for the USA on 83.31%, the 10-year-old grey mare the only one producing artistic marks into the 90s.

It capped a remarkable treble for Kate and Vianne – having already broken the grand prix A world record for the grade with 78.89% on Thursday for individual gold, then anchored the US record 236.135 team total on Saturday with the first 80%-plus score of the championships.

“None of this has sunk in whatsoever,” Kate said. “It feels like maybe I’ll wake up from a dream tomorrow. To be in Aachen, in this amazing arena, on hallowed ground, is an absolutely incredible experience. I’m just incredibly thankful to be here, and to have gold medals is beyond the icing on the cake.

“Once the team was finished, I just wanted to see if we could have a little bit more in the trot and not really hold back – and she stayed relaxed with me the whole time.

“I think we had our best extended trot of the entire competition. We added one on the last centre line just for fun – that wasn’t originally in there, but she felt so good, I thought why not?”

France’s Alexia Pittier and Sultan 768 held off Germany’s Helen Brandt and Vulkan Vegas IB for silver, 78.65% to 78.01%.

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Athene Lindebjerg’s grade I freestyle at the World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen was her last-ever competitive test – Mari Durward-Akhurst confirmed after a tougher-than-usual ride, scoring 67.85% for eighth place, that the 19-year-old mare is retiring.

Athene had two uncharacteristic spooks, in the corners between A and K and between M and C, before downing tools for a spell. Mari had said after the team test how hard it can be for her, with limited leg power, to get Athene going again once she slows – and she needed all of her experience to bring Athene back on track here.

Athene’s retirement brings the curtain down on one of British para dressage’s longest and most decorated careers. She won individual and team gold with Sophie Christiansen at both the 2015 Europeans in Deauville and the Rio Paralympics the following year, then a hat-trick of individual, freestyle and team golds with Julie Payne at the 2017 Europeans in Gothenburg.

After a break from competition that included having two foals, she returned to top-level sport under the care of South Bucks RDA volunteer Romilly Hart, who got her fit again at the request of co-owner Di Redfern.

Mari took on the ride in 2023 and went on to win individual freestyle bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, two individual bronzes at last year’s Europeans in Ermelo and individual silver this week in Aachen, before this freestyle brought her competitive career to a close.

“She’s retiring now – the World Championships is her last competition, and we’d like to have gone out with a different sort of bang,” Mari said, with good humour at first. But as she began to talk about what the mare had meant to her, the emotion of the moment caught up with her.

“I think she’ll be remembered for life regardless. Honestly, everything she’s given me – she got me to my first Paralympics, my first individual medal... She’s just absolutely incredible, and I can’t thank her enough for it all. This has been amazing.

“She’s made my dreams come true, and I don’t think I’d be the athlete I am now without her and everything she’s taught me. I think that test is a sign she wants to retire – so it’s the perfect time, really. She can go and live out in the field and have a wonderful retirement. She doesn’t owe Great Britain anymore.”

The decision had been made a while ago. “We always knew this would be our last competition together, so it’s been an emotional week. I really wanted her to go out on the high of a gold, but she’s been at the highest level for 10 years – and that’s after coming back having had foals, too. She’s just incredible.

“The sport’s changed so much from when Sophie and Julie rode her – she has to go with a slightly longer contact, and her head moves a lot. We’ve tried really hard with it, but some judges just don’t like the head movement. To end with a silver this week, though – you can’t want much more than that, can you?”

Asked what came next for the mare, Mari added: “She’ll be treated like royalty by Romilly – which she already is.”

Gold went to the Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H of the USA, scoring a personal best 80.54%, with Italy’s Sara Morganti taking silver on Bond Girl 18 (78.77%) and Latvia’s Rihards Snikus completing the podium on Rise And Shine (75.42%) – the gelding making his championship debut at just six years old.

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Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes (USA) topped the grade II freestyle on 81.87% on the last day of the World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen, but it was Britain’s Jemima Green who produced the story of the class – a huge personal best on Fantabulous, taking silver on 80.93% (up from 78.44%) off the back of a fourth-place finish in the team test two days earlier. Jemima later said she’d gone into the freestyle with no expectation of making the podium.

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing completed the top three on Poesie 143 with 80.81%, the narrowest of margins – just 0.126 points – separating silver from bronze.

Jemima could barely process the result when it came in. “I just found out it’s a huge PB, which is so, so exciting,” she said, still looking a bit shocked.

“There were mistakes – I was going around thinking, ‘Come on, a little bit more’. He felt a little tired, but relaxed, which meant we didn’t get the spooks, but we did have a trip, and just a couple of transitions where he was a little behind me.

“I came out of the test not really knowing what to expect, so when they said, ‘I think you’ve got silver’ I was like, ‘Pardon?’ I just remember it feeling slightly off – but that clearly doesn’t mean anything, it’s so hard to get that into your brain.”

Picking through the test for its highlights, she singled out the free walk in particular. “It's all a bit of a blur though. My first medium trot wasn’t strong, so I immediately thought, ‘Right, I’ve got to make the next one better’ – and that one was.

“The free walk across the long diagonal – he really let go and stretched for me and he goes so well to our Beatles music with that, which is lovely. When he keeps his rhythm and his balance throughout, it really flows, and it feels soft. He looked relaxed today, but I got a bit more oomph out of him too.”

The result, she explained, was built on a small but significant change made the day before. “We had a slightly longer warm-up – four minutes longer – we’re very precise with him, and we made a saddle adjustment too. Yesterday, I’d felt the left-hand side [of the saddle] had dropped, so we put a shim in to balance it up.

“He’s really sensitive to those tiny adjustments; he won’t hold himself square if the saddle’s not quite right. I think those little tweaks, and the conversations we’ve had as a team, have brought this here today.”

She was quick to credit the wider team behind it. “Without any of them here, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. British Dressage and Agria are supporting us, and we couldn’t be here without UK Sport's full support either.

“There’s no way I could have done this without all the coaches, the trainers, the farriers – everybody. It really is a full team effort, and I so appreciate it, because it's made the difference on him from two days ago to today.”

Reflecting on the week as a whole as she goes home with two medals having also taken bronze in the individual on Wednesday, Jemima admitted it had taken its toll. “Overwhelming and exhausting – I’m not going to lie, I think mentally this has been one of the hardest shows for me. I don’t think I felt the pressure physically, but mentally I did.

“I came in today really prepared – I’ve been watching my music videos and visualising, because I haven’t always had the best luck with music, but it’s got stronger and stronger. I went to bed early last night and really thought about how I wanted to perform. It’s been an incredible experience – but exhausting.”

The grade II field was one of the strongest of the week, and Jemima admitted she hadn’t expected to be anywhere near the podium in it – despite already having an individual bronze to her name.

“It was a really strong field, some big names, so I thought, ‘I’ll probably be fourth again,’” she said. “I would’ve taken that; that’s my comfortable spot! I was expecting some massive scores – I didn’t think I’d necessarily be one of them, so this is truly incredible.”

Elsewhere on the final day, Rixt van der Horst of the Netherlands continued her imperious week, topping the grade III freestyle on Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP with 83.12%. Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen took silver on Blue Hors Zackorado (79.94%), with Italy’s Francesca Salvadè completing the podium on Escari (79.59%) – the narrowest of margins, just 0.353 points, separating silver from bronze.

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Pre-competition favourites, the US have won a commanding team gold medal at the World Para Dressage Championships on a total of 236.135 – higher even than their record-breaking 235.567 total at the Paris Paralympics. Germany were second on 229.875, while the Netherlands finished third on 227.639.

Fiona Howard and the 13-year-old stallion Diamond Dunes led a stacked grade II field, posting an unassailable 79.3% to give the US a flying start to the team competition on day one (21 August) – a massive improvement from their 75% in the individual test.

“He felt great today, even from the first trot around the arena, and he really put his whole heart in there,” Fiona said. “I’m just so proud of him and so happy that we could do this for the team.”

With no LA 2028 Paralympic qualification required as hosts, she was clear the pressure hadn’t lifted: “As a team, we’re all competitive, but we also really want each other to succeed. We put so much work into this that we all want to fight for those medals.”

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing – an individual gold medallist earlier in the week – took second on Poesie 143 with 77.73%, and Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen third on Goerklintgaards Quater with 76.17%. “It was so fluent, and he trusted me totally – his trot was even better than the first test,” Katrine said. “This is a good start to our team score, and now I can cheer my teammates on.”

The US claimed grade I too, Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H, living up to his name with a personal best of 76.38%. “I’m so happy and proud of him, but I love that I gave a good score for the team — it’s important to be there for your teammates and help each other,” Marie said.

Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP topped grade III once again for the Netherlands, scoring 78.47%. “He was on fire today – a really nice, constant and harmonious test,” Rixt said. “There are a lot of nations with a chance of a medal, so I was feeling the responsibility with my score.”

Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen took second on Blue Hors Zackorado (77.07%) – competing alongside his mother, Line Thorning Joergensen, in grade IV. “It‘s amazing to share a competition like this with my mum – she’s probably my biggest partner in all of this,” he said.

The hosts take silver

Grade V opened day two, with Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp adding 75.74% to the team effort on Highlander Delight’s – Germany looking to secure the runner-up spot behind a US side that already looked out in front after day one.

Britney de Jong and Caramba 74.61% locked in the Netherlands’ total on 227.639. That left grade IV, and two German riders still to come who could leapfrog the Dutch. Either Helen Brandt (Vulkan Vegas IB) or Anna-Lena Niehues (Vive l'Amour) needed at least 74.17% to get Germany’s total above the Netherlands’.

Helen went first but fell short, scoring 73.3% – leaving it to Anna-Lena Niehues, whose Vive l’Amour produced a standout test, her paces shining throughout. Despite a mistake in the medium walk, she scored 76.41%, securing silver for Germany.

“It's great for the team,” Anna-Lena said. “The canter work was very good, the simple changes too. It’s always important to be good – but for the team it's more important.”

The highest score of the championships

Kate Shoemaker on her exceptional mare Vianne needed to score better than 71.96% to guarantee gold – which, having scored a new world record 78.89% to win gold in the individual test earlier in the week, seemed a sure bet.

But a little bit of jeapordy was injected into the situation when, as she was entering the arena, the rider before her, Spain’s Carla Onrubia Roman, fell from her horse Valerio.

"She came off, right where we needed to pass each other,” Kate said. “I’d never had the experience of a loose horse next to me. Vianne looked over there, as if to say ‘Are you both okay?’ and Michel [Assouline, the US chef d'equipe] said, ‘Quick, get in the arena’ and I was like ‘Yes sir!’

“I was so proud of Vianne in that moment — she just went into the ring and got on with it. It meant a lot that she had that much confidence in me, with all that excitement going on, to still put in a really good test.”

They scored 80.46% – the highest score of the championships so far, and just shy of Vianne’s own grand prix B world record of 80.72%.

The 10-year-old mare combines exceptional expression with harmony, flowing from one movement to the next, apparently unbothered by any of it. Even after the final halt, amid the applause, she stopped to scratch her face on her leg for a good few seconds before leaving the arena – utterly unfazed by the occasion.

“I’m just flabbergasted – it’s incredible,” Michel added. “Paris was already historic for us, and to come here and set a record team score on the biggest stage in the world for equestrian sport – it’s just incredible. I’m so honoured to be with them, and very proud to be surrounded by such incredible athletes. It takes a village to get the best finish possible.”

Looking ahead, he was already thinking about the road to LA 2028. “I’m still very confident we have a system in place that works,” he said. “We’ve worked hard on putting a strategy together with strong foundations, so I have a solid roadmap.

“It’s going to be an important Games for us because it’s a home Games – but that brings its own pressure too, because the team at home will expect even more. Horses aren’t machines – but I have full confidence it’ll be okay, and that we can show the world it can be done outside of Europe too.”

Final team results

As hosts, the US had already secured their Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic team quota regardless of result – so it was the next seven placed nations who claimed Paralympic tickets in Aachen: Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, France and Sweden.

1. United States – 236.135
   Fiona Howard (Diamond Dunes) 79.3% · Marie Vonderheyden (Fan Tastico H) 76.38% · Rebecca Hart (Floratina) 73.533 (discard) · Kate Shoemaker (Vianne) 80.46%
   
2. Germany – 229.875
   Heidemarie Dresing (Poesie 143) 77.73% · Regine Mispelkamp (Highlander Delight’s) 75.74% · Helen Brandt (Vulkan Vegas IB) 73.3% (discard) · Anna-Lena Niehues (Vive l’Amour) 76.41%
   
3. Netherlands – 227.639
   Annemarieke Kobel (Doo Schufro) 73.71% (discard) · Tessa Baaijens-Van De Vrie (Happy Grace) 74.57% · Rixt van der Horst (Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP) 78.47% · Britney de Jong (Caramba N.O.P.) 74.61%
   
4. Denmark – 225.867
   Katrine Kristensen (Goerklintgaards Quater) 76.17% · Sandra Lynge Eriksen (Inzurgenzy Firfod) 72.63% · Tobias Thorning Joergensen (Blue Hors Zackorado) 77.07% · Line Thorning Jorgensen (Suarez) 70.41% (discard)
   
5. Great Britain – 222.379
   Jemima Green (Fantabulous) 74.03% · Mari Durward-Akhurst (Athene Lindebjerg) 74.58% · Sophie Wells (MSJ Gold Standard) 73.76% · Nicola Naylor (Humberto L) 70.16% (discard)
   
6. Italy – 220.808
   Massimiliano Chiantore (Fashion Girl) 71.46% · Sara Morganti (Bond Girl 18) 74.08% · Francesca Salvadé (Escari) 75.27% · Federica Sileoni (Leonardo) 67.67% (discard)
   
7. France – 219.818
   Vincent Brunet (Drazic) 65.46% (discard) · Chiara Zenati (Zeus de Malleret IFCE) 71.47% · Vladimir Vinchon (Pegase Mayenne) 75.22% · Alexia Pittier (Sultan 768) 73.14%
   
8. Sweden – 219.106
   Renee Claesson-Ribring (Zapp VS) 70.6% (discard) · Pam Svane (Raja) 72.7% · Lena Malmström (Fabulous Fidelie) 73.97% · Lotta Wallin (Questionmark) 72.43%
   
9. Norway – 211.878
   Jens Lasse Dokkan (Dockland V) 69.71% · Ine Nyhuus (Aagaardens Lia) 70.93% · Mira Antonsen Hjelle (Atterupgaards Dora) 71.24% · Christina Marcussen (Zorro Hoejris) 69.61% (discard)
   
10. Belgium – 207.883
    Emma Vercammen (Odin) 69.4% · Barbara Minnei (Freiherr von Nymphenburg) 69.67% · Francesca Vanhoeck (Fastlane vant' Beekhof) 64% (discard) · Kevin van Ham (Eros van Ons Heem) 68.82%
    
11. Austria – 206.828
    Julia Sciancalepore (Heinrich IV) 70.96% · Pepo Puch (Royale Choice) 70.17% · Thomas Haller (Haller's Hermine) 65.57% (discard) · Julia Mitterhuemer (Showgirl) 65.7%
    
12. Canada – 205.622
    Roberta Sheffield (Nardando) 67.1% · Jody Schloss (El Colorado) 71.92% · Eleonore Elstone (Szecrecy HP) 66.61% · Laura Hall (Istrano) 64.65% (discard)
    
13. Singapore – 204.292
    Gemma Rose Jen Foo (Mona Lisa) 68.92% · Laurentia Tan (Hickstead) 72.88% · Hui'en Hilary Su (Gambler) 62.5%
    
14. Brazil – 203.891
    Flamarion Pereira Da Silva (Don Furitello) 63.23% (discard) · Cleberson Leopoldino Antunes Palhano (Fronterizzo Da El Comandante) 66.08% · Sergio Froes Ribeiro De Oliva (Novidade VD) 71.33% · Rodolpho Riskalla (Franziskaner 13) 66.47%
    
15. Spain – 203.070
    Felix Gomez González (Merlin) 68.23% · Maria Del Carmen Lopez Garcia (Bribon de Ymas) 62.17% (discard) · Iker Beitia Astondoa (Belizzo) 66.351 · Carla Onrubia Roman (Valerio) 68.49%
    
16. Ireland – 201.811
    Jessica McKenna (D.C.I Cerruti) 66.7% · Katie Reilly (Keystone Dawn Chorus) 69.73% · Rosemary Jean Gaffney (Norabel) 65.38%
    
17. Czech Republic – 199.083
    Marcela Lochovska (Viola) 65% · Anastasja Vistalova (Don Athello 3) 68.54% · Vladimir Votrel (Ruby Beatle) 65.54%
    
18. Poland – 193.990
    Mariusz Woszczek (Zachwyt - Nad Wigrami) 63.37% · Agata Weigt (Discovery 64) 65.97% · Dominika Paczek (Quentino) 62.24% (discard) · Maciej Bigaj (Be My Love) 64.65%
    
19. Japan – 193.933
    Soshi Yoshigoe (Vior) 66.43% · Sho Imaba (Dallas) 66.5% · Junichiro Okawa (RH’s Totally Joker) eliminated · Toshifumi Jo (Elmero) 61%
    
20. Hong Kong – 186.567
    Lok Yee Louie Lam (Jockey Club Felaini S) 63.07% · Fleur Schrader (Jockey Club Todays Special) 59.23% · Tin Chi Timothy Tsang (Jockey Club Cethegus M) 64.27%

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Britain has finished fifth at the 2026 World Para Dressage Championships on a team total of 222.379 – missing out on the podium, but comfortably inside the top seven that secures qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

The USA won gold on 236.135, Germany took silver on 229.875, the Netherlands bronze on 227.639, and Denmark fourth on 225.867 – just 3.488 points clear of Britain.

The Brits went into grade IV and V on the final day of the team competition (Saturday 22 August), looking to build on a first day that left them a little off the pace for a spot on the podium.

Paralympic qualification was always the goal for the team, but their individual tests had been so strong earlier in the week that hopes were high heading into the team competition.

In a reminder of how strong the individual week has been for the team: had this week’s individual scores (grand prix A) been counted instead of today’s team scores (grand prix B), Britain would have won team silver – narrowly ahead of the Netherlands, comfortably clear of Denmark.

Mari Durward-Akhurst opened Britain’s team campaign yesterday in grade I, finishing runner-up to the USA’s Marie Vonderheyden on 74.58%. Jemima Green and Fantabulous added 74.03% for fourth in grade II, as Fiona Howard’s Diamond Dunes stormed from fourth in her own individual test to top the grand prix B outright on 79.3%. Rixt van der Horst extended her unbeaten run in grade III for the Netherlands.

None of the day-one totals were final – every team still had riders to come in grades IV and V. But a gap was already beginning to open up: Britain sat 13th overnight with only Mari and Jemima’s scores in and two riders still to come. The USA (229.208), Denmark (225.867) and the Netherlands (226.742) each had three of their four riders in already, while Germany, with three riders still to go, had just Heidemarie Dresing’s 77.73% on the board.

In the grade V, Sophie Wells backed up her individual gold with fourth in the team test on MSJ Gold Standard, scoring 73.76% – a drop of 1.19 percentage points from her individual test – behind Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp (75.77%) and the Netherlands’ Britney de Jong (74.61%).

Gold Standard looked a little harder work than two days earlier – still very accurate and relaxed, but a little behind Sophie’s aids at times and not as settled in the contact.

“I thought the feeling she gave me today was better than anything I've felt from her – even better than the individual test,” Sophie said.

“She warmed up really well, nice and energetic, and felt a little lighter, a bit more up for it. It’s a little frustrating going in there and coming out with a score lower than two days ago, but that’s dressage, that’s sport – my biggest goal coming here was for her to be a happy horse in the arena, and I feel like she was.”

Asked where she felt the marks had been lost, she added: “The halts probably weren’t as good. I felt the simple changes were actually better, the downward transitions were better, and I felt like she was a little more uphill in the trot – I don’t know, to be honest. I’ll go and watch the video, read the sheets, take the comments, and we’ll try again [in the freestyle].

“At the end of the day, I’m walking away with a happy pony, and I enjoyed the feeling I got today, so I’m pleased.”

“Nothing to lose”

Grade V’s completion locked in the Netherlands’ total on 227.639 – a real number for the chasing pack now to beat. The USA looked out in front regardless of what was still to come, needing Kate Shoemaker to better just 71.96% in grade IV to top that Dutch mark – a modest ask given her individual gold this week came on 78.89%.

Britain, by contrast, looked out of the running for the podium: Nicola would have needed a score well clear of her personal best – 79.02% – to get her team above the Dutch total.

With Germany still having two riders to go in grade IV, Denmark was the only other realistic target. That meant clearing 77.25%, assuming Denmark landed on their likely floor of 225.867 – the probable outcome, since last-to-go Line Thorning Jørgensen’s individual score of 70.08% was the lowest of the Danish team. It was a tall order: 3.39 points above Nicola’s own individual bronze-medal score of 73.86%.

But full credit to Nicola and Humberto L – they went for it. The pair came in with real purpose, at times almost looking like they’d take off in the canter, but Humberto had a touch too much energy for his own good, throwing in a couple of big spooks. They scored 70.16%, finishing as Britain’s discard for the day.

“We just went for a little bit more expression, a little bit more power today,” Nicola said, “and he got a bit more noise-sensitive and a bit more reactive – he was reacting to everything, so there were a few mistakes here and there where I had to nurse him through it. Some tests are just like that.”

She knew the risk going in: “There were some really lovely moments – I think he really came up in both canters, because we had that extra power. But it can just boil over slightly too much, and that was the risk.

“In some respects we had nothing to lose. He’s a horse I’d like to move up a couple of percent if I can, but he’s not used to being asked for that much more in the arena. I think he got quite excited about it – but it’s great to have an occasion where you can try that.

“It did feel like he was going to take off at times in the canter – that’s why I kept telling myself to dig deep with my seat and just sit tight. But I didn’t want to stop riding the test the way I was, because then what's the point? He did feel up for it – it was just that he was in overdrive with adrenaline.”

It was Nicola’s first World Championships, and despite not getting the team medal she didn’t take the moment lightly. “It’s been wonderful – we’ve had all four of us get medals on the first day, which was a really uplifting moment for everybody,” she said.

“We’ve all worked so hard to get here. It’s an honour wearing the flag – there’s a lot of competition at home, and I’ve been a reserve for many years, so I know what that’s like. When you finally get picked, it’s a dream come true, and it’s all the better because we’re such a strong group of riders.”

“Onwards and upwards”

Performance manager Georgina Sharples was left with mixed emotions reflecting on the two days of team competition.

“I’m thrilled that we have qualified,” she said. “Coming here to qualify for LA 2028 was the primary aim, and we’ve achieved that. But I’m disappointed with the final results. We’ve got some fabulous combinations, and I know what they’re capable of – we showed some of that over the previous two days.

“I think we were the only nation that medalled with all four riders individually in their grade, so we very much came here with an expectation that we'd medal as a team too.

“We’ve got some cracking horses, and they delivered some super work, but we also had some incredibly expensive spooks. You can’t get away with that at this level. It’s incredibly close, and ultimately that’s cost us a podium finish.

“I’m disappointed for the riders, for the team, because we know what we’re capable of. It wasn’t our day for this competition – but we’ve got the freestyle tomorrow (23 August). Onwards and upwards.”

Looking ahead to LA, Georgina was keen to stress the positives.

“We’ve had two days where people have done exceptionally well – a world champion, a silver, two bronzes. Our riders are all very much on an upward trajectory. We're still assessing horsepower – we've got horses at home that are potentially LA combinations, but there aren’t many opportunities to get that experience.

“You need competitions like this, where the pressure is high, and you’ve got the rest of the world there, to give those riders that exposure. I think we’ll take a huge amount of positives from here and build on it.”

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News broke on the morning of the team competition (Friday 21 August) at the 2026 World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen that judges had made an error two days earlier, allowing Ireland’s Clodagh Walsh and Chantal to complete their individual grade I test after the judge at C rang the bell for apparent lameness.

Clodagh correctly stopped but was then allowed to continue, following a discussion between the judges.

“Under normal circumstances, further to the judge at C ringing the bell, the athlete should have been eliminated,” an FEI statement read. “The FEI acknowledges that this decision was not in accordance with the rules.

“The FEI apologises for the understandable upset and confusion caused to Clodagh Walsh, who had acted in accordance with the rules at all times and who bears no fault for this regrettable situation; the FEI recognises the difficult circumstances in which she completed her test.”

Clodagh was not present for the grade I team test on Friday, suggesting the elimination has since been upheld – and therefore the Irish team has been reduced to three riders.

Oddly, though, her grand prix A score (61.83%) is still listed in the official results – a discrepancy that remains unexplained.

A scare for Japan’s Junichiro Okawa

The grade I team test brought further drama when Japan’s Junichiro Okawa, riding RH’s Totally Joker, fell during his test. He was attended to immediately by the emergency medical team and taken to hospital for further evaluation; his horse was unhurt and returned to the stables. Junichiro was later given the all-clear by doctors.

“I’m so sorry to have caused you all so much worry,” he said afterwards, in a statement translated by Hiroko Copley-Mackie of Team Japan Para.

“Thankfully, there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the bone, and it seems I’ll be able to go home once the doctor has written up my medical certificate. I’m very relieved. I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone for being so concerned and for being so kind and helpful.”

The combination was eliminated from the grand prix B test as a result. With four riders in the Japanese team, all three remaining scores will have to count.

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Mari Durward-Akhurst backed up her opening-day silver with another strong test in the grand prix B (team test) on Friday, as Britain’s para dressage team began its World Para Dressage Championships campaign in Aachen.

Riding Athene Lindebjerg, she finished runner-up in grade I on 74.58% – a fraction up on her individual score of 74.54% earlier in the week – behind only the USA’s Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H, who topped the class on 76.38%, itself a shade down on Marie’s individual test 76.71%.

Jemima Green and Fantabulous, meanwhile, fell back slightly from their individual bronze, scoring 74.03% (against 75.24%) for fourth in grade II. It leaves Britain 13th after day one, sitting soley on Mari’s score – with Jemima's presently the lower of the two and set to be discarded. However, this is set against some teams who have multiple counting scores already.

Grade II produced the standout swing of the day elsewhere in the field. Fiona Howard and Paralympic gold medallist Diamond Dunes had finished fourth in Wednesday’s individual test on 75% after an uncharacteristic error; today, they responded with 79.3% to top the grand prix B outright.

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing (77.73%, up from her individual gold-winning 75.48%) and Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen (76.17%, up from 75.31%) completed the podium places between them – both improving on their grand prix A scores.

Grade III also went, and Rixt van der Horst on Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP shows no sign of letting up: the Dutch pair went even higher than their individual score two days ago, topping the class on 78.47% (up from 77.53%) to continue their unbeaten run at major championships. Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen (77.07%, up from 75.1%) and Italy’s Francesca Salvadè (75.27%, up from 74.77%) rounded out the placings behind her – both, like Rixt, improving on their individual-test marks.

With grades IV and V still to come for most nations, the team standings remain provisional – but on what's gone in so far, the USA (155.675), Denmark (153.234) and the Netherlands (153.034) look the most convincing of Britain’s rivals for a medal, each with two strong scores already on the board.

“A score that didn’t come easy”

Mari was last to go in the grade I. The score didn’t come easily, though – she felt Athene lacked the sharpness of her individual test two days earlier, even if the judges didn’t mark her down too much for it.

“It wasn't our best test,” Mari said. “She was hard work, but I managed to keep her going and get her to do what she wanted to do – she just didn’t have as much energy as the first day. I think it’s because she’s already been in there once; she was a bit like, ‘Oh, same thing again.’”

There were compensations, though – she felt the test flowed better in places. “I felt it was a smoother test compared to the first,” she said, picking out the halts again as a highlight, along with the stretch: “I can’t let go of my reins, so I have to try and hold my hands and push one arm as forward as I can, and she stretched nicely.”

Athene dropped behind her leg early on and never quite came fully back. "It's a hard one, because she felt really good in the warm-up, but then when she went in, she just dropped me a bit, and I don't have the leg power to get her to go more forward from behind," Mari said.

“I just try and use as much seat as I’ve got, and the whip for little taps and just keep going. It’s physically quite hard work. She’s not an easy ride. She makes it look easy, but she makes you work for every little bit.”

Mari, who watched none of her rivals’ tests beforehand, said the team was buoyed by Sophie Wells’ gold the day before. “We’re all on a high,” she said. “It’s always an honour to be on the team – I dreamed of it for so long, and to have done it successively for a number of years now is amazing.”

“Oh, where are we going?”

Jemima and Fantabulous were the first to go and their test was not without incident. Despite a fantastic start Fantabulous had a spook at E, jumping away from the boards.

“It was so quick – I was a bit like, ‘Oh, where are we going?’ He pulled the rein right out of my hand, so I’d completely lost it, and I just thought, okay, whistle, which is his cue to come back to me, and then straight back to it,” Jemima said.

“It’s just one of those moments you have to take. I needed to find my line and focus back on the test.”

Jemima did well to re-gather her reins and her composure to get back on track quickly, though she admitted the moment had cost her. "I feel a bit gutted, because it was going to be a stronger score," she said. “But I’m very pleased with what we’ve got – it’s still a strong score.”

Going first in the entire team competition added its own pressure. “I felt really good when I first woke up, and then I got here, and I really felt nervous – I had the shakes; it was a bit of an emotional moment,” Jemima admitted.

“Everything almost hit me at once, which I wasn’t prepared for. But we took some deep breaths, had some chats, and watching the others warm up helped me feel calmer.”

The walk on a long rein stood out for how she rode it straight after the spook. “I thought, ‘Oh God, please don't do anything' – but I was still confident enough to let the reins go and let him stretch. He could have held the tension, but he didn’t.”

Re-approaching the spot where the eight-year-old gelding had spooked, she worked hard to keep his concentration on her. “I was just playing with keeping him in a little left bend, so he wasn't looking to the outside – just trying to keep him with me, and that seemed to do the job,” she added.

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Sophie Wells scored a personal best of 74.95% on MSJ Gold Standard to win grade V gold for Britain at the World Para Dressage Championships.

This win with “Gracie”, a 10-year-old mare owned by Emma Blundell, extends her extraordinary championship medal collection to a new horse within a year of taking on the ride, and Britain’s gold medal haul at these championships to four.

“I’m quite emotional – which is quite rare for me,” said Sophie after hearing she’d won gold, her voice cracking. “I’m over the moon. I think it's just really special – I lost my dad last year... and it's just very special. He would have been thrilled – he’d be down the pub telling everybody.”

Despite Sophie’s record medal haul over her 17-year-long decorated championship career – this was her 41st championship medal by our count – it was her first individual gold since the 2018 worlds in Tryon.

She admitted the battle back to the top has not always felt certain: “I’ve got that perfectionist personality and dressage obviously suits me for that reason,” she said.

“I love the horses, I love riding, I love training them. There’s something in me that loves competing. I didn’t know if I’d get back to the top again, to be honest – I was really dramatic about it. We’ve had a rubbish few years with horses and things happening in life. I get up every morning, and I want to be the best that I can be for my horses.”

If the occasion was massive for Sophie, Gold Standard – “cool as a cucumber” – seemed oblivious to it. Sophie laughed when asked whether the mare had exceeded expectations for a first championship.

“She’s in the stable and looks like she’s been to 20 of them,” she said. “She’s like, ‘What’s the big deal?’ I really don’t understand it, but it’s so nice to have a horse that's so accepting of a new environment.

“She’s a happy soul, which is a bonus in a place like this – it’s not exactly a quiet championship. I took her round the fountain roundabout yesterday, and there were hundreds of people taking pictures of her, and she was just like, ‘Sure, take a picture, but I’m just going to have a snack’.”

Sophie Wells on the World Championships experience

Although Gold Standard has taken her first championships in stride, Sophie admitted – despite her experience – she’s been struggling with nerves, and the waiting in particular.

"I do feel so old, with how many championships I've done, and I still got so nervous today – I was thinking ‘What the hell, it doesn’t get easier’,” she said. “I think it’s because you know what’s coming. I couldn’t go on social media last night, so I was in the gym for about three hours, just stretching and exhausting myself this morning, because I couldn’t do anything else.”

During the test, Gold Standard’s temperament proved to be exactly the asset Sophie needed. The mare was unfazed even when, just before her first medium trot, a massive cheer echoed across from Aachen’s main arena where Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair had just gone clear for Germany in the showjumping.

“I think she’d be quite happy if the cheer was for us!” Sophie said. “She’s a really nice type of horse to have. I wasn’t particularly worried about the atmosphere coming here, which is a nice change – the past couple of horses I’ve had have been a bit more on edge, a bit more tense.

“Gracie is the opposite. I have to do less schooling and keep her fresh and willing – at home she hacks and jumps and does all of that, and she’s done none of that here. I’m just trying to keep it as fun and light-hearted as possible for her.

“I've literally schooled her twice – we’ve been here since Sunday, and it’s Thursday now. I put the jumping saddle on and had a bit of a canter session around the arena familiarisation, but the less you do with her, the better. She’s probably good for about half an hour of schooling – if you drill her, she just switches off. She doesn’t need to be drilled. She finds the work easy; it’s just about keeping her happy.”

On the test itself, Sophie picked out her halt and half-passes as highlights, along with a walk-to-canter transition she felt particularly pleased with: “I felt like in my second [canter] extension I was able to go for a bit more – I didn’t want to ramp it up too much today, because you don’t know if they’re going to get a bit tight going in there, and I didn’t want tight mistakes rather than exciting ones.

“But there weren't really any mistakes at all – my simple changes could have been smoother in the downward transition, but the upward ones were good." Asked whether there was more to come from the pair, she was unequivocal: “Oh, 100% – there's loads more in there for her.”

European podium

Britney de Jong and Caramba NOP of the Netherlands took silver on 73.15%. Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s completed the podium in bronze on 72.97% – a margin of just 0.18 points separated silver from bronze.

Sophie’s gold completes a clean sweep of individual medals for the British team: Mari Durward-Akhurst (Athene Lindebjerg) won silver and Jemima Green (Fantabulous) and Nicola Naylor (Humberto L) took bronze in their respective grades. So all four British riders have now won individual medals at these championships.

For context, if team scoring were based on today’s individual results alone, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands would be separated by less than two points in the race for the podium behind the USA – though the actual team competition, starting tomorrow (21 August), will be decided by each grade’s dedicated grand prix B test, not today’s scores.

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Nicola Naylor scored 73.86% to win grade IV bronze for Britain at the 2026 World Para Dressage Championships – but not on the horse she was originally entered with. Her nine-year-old mare Moulin Rouge – known at home as Satine, after the character in the musical – was withdrawn in favour of her more experienced stablemate and European medallist Humberto L, who had been her direct reserve.

It was a late swap, and the original selection of Moulin Rouge over Humberto had been unexpected given Humberto’s higher average scores. Moulin Rouge appears to be the mare Nicola and the selectors have in mind for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, and the plan had been to give her championship experience here – but it was decided Aachen came too soon, and the decision was made to opt for experience instead.

“It’s just not her moment,” said Nicola, who was competing at her first World Championships. “She is absolutely extraordinary – a horse that will be on fire, and the campaign for LA will start with her as soon as we get home. Humberto and Satine have been neck and neck all year, and he was my direct reserve, so we had another horse who could step in.”

She stressed that the decision was about protecting the mare’s development, not doubting her: “There are some strength issues we’re working on. I don’t like to push them when they’re not ready,” she said. “They need to be at their best health, their best strength, to come and do something like this. She had amazing scores all year, but I was careful at her last international at Hartpury – I didn’t push her there. I just thought she needs to get stronger and healthier in herself, and then she can take on something like this.”

Nicola Naylor on her World Championships test

Humberto competed in this same arena in April, so it wasn’t new to him, and it showed. He and Nicola produced a flowing round, the medium canter a highlight, averaging an eight from the panel.

“He loves that bit,” Nicola said. “You can feel he’s quite excited – he just goes, and he covers the ground. He’s got such a big, bouncy canter, and you can feel he’s really happy when he’s cantering. He’s like, ‘Come on, we’re doing the thing I like now.’”

It’s remarkable to see a visually impaired rider trust her horse enough to ride that forward, with as much impulsion as Nicola had in the canter. Their one blemish came at M – where the horses enter Aachen's stadium three – when Humberto spooked. "I felt like there was a real partnership there, and he really trusted me," Nicola said. "There was one moment where he was a little unsure, but other than that, he was superb."

Nicola is blind – in 2025 she became the first blind rider to compete in an able-bodied grand prix – and relies on her groom, Julie Riches, who calls out the arena letters as Nicola approaches them so she can orientate herself. It’s a reminder of how much of a team effort para sport is, in particular.

“Julie has taken on the role of calling the letters – and it’s another partnership,” explained Nicola, who trains with Sarah Millis. “Whenever we go to international competitions, she has a great relationship with Humberto because she’s with him almost 24/7 at the stables.”

On what the day meant for her partnership with Humberto: “I’m beyond proud, particularly with Humberto – he’s been my horse for six years, and it’s been a real relationship of love and work. To get him to come here and trust me enough to go into that arena... that is not the horse I had six years ago. He could not have done that six years ago. I didn't know what to expect today, but he held it together, and I am really proud of him.”

US golden run continues

Kate Shoemaker won gold with a new world record of 78.89%, riding perhaps the outstanding para dressage horse of the moment, the 10-year-old mare Vianne – her fifth world record across two grades, but not, as Kate was keen to stress, a gold medallist before today.

“Coming into [the Paris Paralympics], we were still really trying to figure each other out – she was eight, still trying to figure herself out, and one day one aid would do one thing, and the next day something else,” Kate said. “This year we really came into our own as a partnership. It just feels so easy – I can go in there, think about it, and the ride’s going to happen. That’s what it felt like today – she was completely one with me. By the time I’d finished trotting, I was already smiling. I was crying before the final halt. I was just so filled with joy.

“I wasn’t thinking about points or scores or medals – I was just thinking, how can I show this very special horse to the best of our ability today,” Kate added.

“She earned a world record in this arena in April, so we got to come in thinking, this is our arena – let’s go show them our absolute best.”

It’s the US team’s second individual para gold at the championships; Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H took grade I gold on the first day of competition (19 August) with 76.71%

Germany’s Anna-Lena Niehues won silver on Vive l’Amour, scoring 74.64%.

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Jemima Green and Fantabulous produced a career-best round to take individual bronze in the grade II grand prix A individual test at the World Para Dressage Championships, scoring 75.24% – narrowly eclipsing the pair’s previous best of 75.23%, set at Aachen in April.

The result also came with a notable spread across the judging panel: E, C and M placed her in the low-to-mid 70s but the judge at B – Anne Prain (FRA) – marked her considerably higher at 80.35%, the top score of any competitor from that box.

“It wasn’t the easiest to ride – he almost felt too relaxed in there, which I wasn’t prepared for,” Jemima said. She was referring to their one real mistake – a walk-to-trot transition in which the eight-year-old gelding was slow to react.

“There was a slight moment of miscommunication – I think he just kind of was in his own little world, which we call ‘Fantaland’.

“After that, he was ‘Oh, I’m back with you, Mum’. It is a big place – he’s found the atmosphere over the last few days quite a lot, and he’s been sleeping quite a lot – but he’s still so young.”

On her reaction when the scores were read out, Jemima added: “I was very shocked, because I was actually walking up going, ‘Oh no, that was a disaster’. And then the [judge at B]’s mark came at the end, and I just couldn't hold in the shock. They said it was a personal best – that’s just incredible to get for our first worlds test.”

Jemima Green’s World Championships bronze edges out others

Jemima’s bronze came at the expense of one of the grade’s reliable performers. Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes – a triple Paralympic gold medallist, and so often faultless in this class – were left to rue an error in the very same corner that had briefly caught out Fantabulous. The pair finished fourth on 75%, just 0.241 points shy of the podium.

“This has been a really hard 18 months for me and my health, and I’m just so proud of that horse because he has risen to everything I’ve thrown at him,” Fiona said. “We didn’t have our best ride out there today, but I really couldn’t fault this horse – he put his heart out there today. And I’m so proud of him because it has not been an easy 18 months for either of us.”

Gold went the way of Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143, though not without alarm. A tractor sparked into life just outside the arena as the pair walked down the centre line, sending the 11-year-old mare reversing at speed – a heart-in-mouth moment for her support crew watching.

“I thought it was the end,” Heidemarie, 71, laughed afterwards. “But then I think I had better make the test, ride forward, and show people what my horse is able to do.”

That she did, keeping her composure and steering Poesie back to the task, and although they picked up an average of 1.8 from the judges for their entrance, the pair recovered well enough to top the board on 75.48%, with a nervous wait for the scores to follow.

Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater were next in and took silver on 75.31% with a less expressive but accurate test. Heidemarie’s scores took a while to come through, so it wasn't until both riders had finished that the picture became clear – hers read out first, then Katrine’s, confirming the Dane a fraction behind. In the end, barely half a point separated gold from fourth.

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Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg kicked off Britain’s World Para Dressage Championships, winning a silver medal in the grade I grand prix A individual test, scoring 74.54%.

Gold went to the USA’s Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H on 76.71% – a clear 2.167 points clear of the field – and Italy’s Sara Morganti and Bond Girl 18 took bronze on 74.46%, 0.08 points behind Mari.

Athene came into the arena with great purpose and kept her impulsion throughout the test, as distant roars from Aachen’s main arena – where the showjumping was under way – punctuated the air. It was only accuracy on the tighter movements, like the voltes, that prevented an even bigger mark.

“Everything we worked really hard on came off in the test, so I’m delighted,” Mari said. “Just at the right time, everything came together. She was hot out there. But when she saw the big screen [in a corner of the arena], she kept a lid on it and was really up for it.”

Athene Lindebjerg’s decorated career stretches back over a decade – Paralympic team gold with Sophie Christiansen at Rio 2016, three golds with Julie Payne at the 2017 Europeans and Paralympic and European bronzes with Mari. But despite the 19-year-old mare’s medal-laden history, this is her first World Championships appearance.

“I am emotional now,” Mari said. “She’s obviously 19 now, so we’re not sure what the future holds, and I’ve had so much pressure everywhere we’ve gone – we’ve had to deliver because somebody else already has, but this is our story, so this just makes it unique. I’m so pleased she’s now a World Championship horse as well.”

With the team test still to come, Mari was clear she had no intention of holding anything back today. “I definitely didn’t play safe – I went bold,” she said. “I worked really hard with the psychologist on going in and owning test A, because I find it harder than test B. The circles are much tighter; she’s one big-moving horse, and they’re hard to get around – whereas B’s got bigger 10-metre circles and they’re just a bit easier, it flows a bit better. We definitely went for it and hopefully in the team test (grand prix B), we’ll have a bit more to give.”

Mari’s silver took Britain’s 2026 World Championships medal tally to three gold, three silver and one bronze – seven medals in total – holding second place in the overall standings behind hosts Germany (12).

Golden birthday

For gold medallist, championship debutante Marie Vonderheyden, the win had extra significance – 19 August is her birthday, and she turned 36 the day she won her first World Championship title.

“It was very good – it’s my first medal,” she said, still visibly processing the result. “It’s kind of hard to find all the words I want to say, but [Fan Tastico H is] the champion.”

Marie took over the ride on Fan Tastico H – teammate Roxanne Trunnell’s Paris 2024 grade I silver-medal horse – in early 2025, so this is a partnership of around 18 months.

It marks a remarkable turnaround for the French-born American, who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in 2015 after a horse she was riding spooked. She was in a coma for two months and had to relearn how to walk and speak.

“I used to compete before and when I had my accident... I need to do it again and again and again,” she said. “I don’t know how I can tell you, but it doesn’t make me nervous, and I hope it will stay like this.”

This is predicted to be the first of a spate of medals for the US para dressage team – the dominant force in the sport at the moment.

Double European champion Rixt van der Horst (NED) took grade III gold in the individual test earlier in the day, riding Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP to 77.53%
– comfortably clear of the field by 2.434 points. Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen took silver with Blue Hors Zackorado on 75.1% and Italy’s Francesca Salvadè completed the podium with Escari, 0.333 points further back on 74.77%.

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Watch the para dressage World Championships live from Aachen this week and join thousands of others to appreciate this sport at the highest level.

There are five days of competition across the five grades in the World Para Dressage Championships and there will be medals on offer every day. H&H dressage editor Oscar Williams has set out his predictions for the medals.

You can find more information about how to follow other sports at the 2026 FEI World Championships on our how to watch the FEI World Championships hub.

How to watch the para dressage World Championships on TV

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🇩🇰 Denmark 🇩🇰

Viewers in Denmark can watch via DRTV for free.

🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇪

Viewers in Germany can stream for free on ARD.

How to watch the para dressage World Championships from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

Para dressage World Championships broadcast times

Local time is CEST.

• To stay up to date with all the latest news from the FEI World Championships, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Britains golden era in para dressage already feels a distant memory and the World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen won’t be the place it returns.

Once untouchable – team champions at every Paralympics until Paris – Britain finished sixth in Paris then fourth at last summer’s Ermelo Europeans. But the team in Ermelo went closer than most would’ve thought, finishing just 0.7 points off the bronze medal spot, buoyed by an impressive championships debut from Jemima Green and Fantabulous, who took individual bronze in all three grade II tests.

But close only counts for so much and the honest read is that Britain are no longer among the undisputed favourites for team honours. A podium finish in Aachen looks like a stretch.

That’s partly down to who’s coming back. The USA arrive as reigning Paralympic champions and the best para dressage nation in the world – and three of the four combinations that swept five golds in Paris return unchanged for Aachen.

Rebecca Hart (Floratina), Fiona Howard (Diamond Dunes) and Kate Shoemaker (Vianne) return, while Marie Vonderheyden takes over the ride on Fan Tastico H – US rider Roxanne Trunnell’s Paris grade I silver-medal horse – having partnered him since early 2025. If Aachen goes to form, gold should be heading back across the Atlantic.

Behind them, it should be the two nations who shared the top two Ermelo steps. Germany bring back both their Ermelo grade winners in the same combinations – Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143 in grade II, Regine Mispelkamp and Bayala in grade V – giving them a proven core to build a team score around.

The Netherlands counter with strength in even greater depth – Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP return as reigning grade III European champions, Britney de Jong and Caramba NOP as Ermelo’s grade V grand prix B winners, and crucially Sanne Voets is back aboard Demantur after sitting out Ermelo, adding a Paralympic medal-winning combination the Dutch didn’t even need at Europeans.

Denmark, Ermelo’s bronze medallists, look the shakiest of the European top three. Katrine Kristensen returns on Goerklintgaards Quater, but Tobias Thorning Jørgensen has switched from multiple-championship-medallist Jolene Hill onto Blue Hors Zackorado. With further changes elsewhere in the team, it’s harder to read their medal chances.

Para dressage World Championship team medal predictions

Para dressage World Championship individual medal favourites

Fiona Howard (USA)

Fresh from a hospitalisation for kidney surgery last December, Fiona’s season took a record-breaking detour. While her triple Paralympic gold partner Diamond Dunes stayed off the CPEDI circuit, she rode US team-mate and coach Kate Shoemaker’s Vianne just days before March’s Wellington CPEDI and broke her own grade II freestyle world record – set on Diamond Dunes in 2025 at 83.27% – with an 84.934% score on a horse she’d never competed before.

Back on Diamond Dunes for Aachen, the pair picked up where they left off: 78.1% in the grand prix A and 80.83% in the grand prix B on their return in July.

Rihards Snikus (AUT)

Rihards and grade I ride King Of The Dance made history at the 2022 worlds, winning Latvia’s first-ever equestrian gold, before adding individual and freestyle Paralympic titles in Paris, and double gold at last summer’s Europeans.

Now 18, the gelding hasn’t competed at all in 2026, leaving his form for Aachen a genuine unknown after such a long absence. US team members Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H – world number two in the grade and unbeaten in the freestyle, bar one runner-up finish this season – look well placed to capitalise if the champion isn’t fully sharp.

Kate Shoemaker (USA)

Newly installed as world number one – dethroning long-time team-mate Fiona Howard’s 15-month reign – Kate has been near-unbeatable in 2026, winning almost every start across Wellington, Aachen and Aalborg, with only a single freestyle retirement blotting the record. On that run, she was also a winner in an able-bodied inter I test (67.29%).

Kate bought Vianne (below) outright at the end of 2024, after taking over the ride from Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, then lent the mare to her US team-mate Fiona for a week in March, so that she could go on her record-breaking run.

Rixt Van Der Horset (NED)

Runners-up in all three grade III tests in Paris, Rixt and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP (below) have kicked on since, sweeping all their tests at last summer’s Europeans. Their one defeat of the season came in the grand prix A at Hagen last month. They were beaten by Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Jørgensen and Blue Hors Zackorado – who will run them close in Aachen – but they responded by winning both the B and freestyle there, the latter their best score of the season at 85.69%.

• To stay up to date with the latest news and reports throughout the Aachen World Championships, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

With Britain’s golden era in para dressage in the past, the focus at the World Para Dressage Championships (19-23 August) will be on building towards the LA Paralympics in 2028.

A top-seven finish – excluding Olympic hosts USA – in Aachen would secure qualification, and that should be within reach. In many ways, the pressure is off: with no team medal expectation, there’s room for some of the squad’s less experienced combinations to bank valuable championship experience.

Mari Durward-Akhurst and veteran Athene Lindebjerg anchor a team otherwise built around youth: Jemima Green’s eight-year-old Fantabulous, the selectors’ call to field Nicola Naylor aboard the developing nine-year-old Moulin Rouge rather than her more experienced European Humberto L, and Sophie Wells and the 10-year-old MSJ Gold Standard’s late, form-driven arrival into the fourth spot.

It’s a young squad built for the next cycle as much as this one, so let’s find out more about them.

Mari Durward Akhurst, 32

HORSE: Athene Lindebjerg, 19

BREEDING: Gribaldi x Diamant, bred by Ulla and Kristian Bech

OWNERS: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Romilly Hart

GRADE: I

FORM: Athene, now 19, has been unbeaten all season – an 83.87% freestyle at April’s Hartpury CPEDI remains her high point, backed up by a clean sweep at Wellington in June (including an 80.76% freestyle) and another hat-trick at the final selection the following month, albeit a shade below those spring peaks (77.04%, 74.71% and 78.11%). The technical gains keep showing: Mari points to work on the stretch walk and the centre-line halts, and credits a lighter travel schedule for keeping the mare fresh.

RIDER’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORD: Mari will be making her World Championship debut but has competed at two Europeans and the Paris Paralympics.

Jemima Green, 37

HORSE: Fantabulous, eight

BREEDING: Foundation 2 x Fürst Romancier, bred by Rainer and Angelika Ahlers

OWNER: rider

GRADE: II

FORM: Fantabulous, still just eight, has kicked on since winning bronze in Ermelo – runner-up in the mid-70s in all three tests at April’s Aachen CPEDI – behind European gold medallists Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143 – a hat-trick at Hickstead in May, then back-to-back personal bests in the grand prix B (76.07%) and freestyle (78.44%) at Hartpury, in what Jemima called the most settled she’s felt him. The grand prix A there was tougher (74.76%) – a rare off day – but a tweak to their changeover routine with trainer Georgie Nicholls yielded the two personal bests that followed.

RIDER’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORD: Jemima will be making her World Championship debut.

Nicola Naylor, 65

HORSE: Moulin Rouge, nine

BREEDING: Decor Ferdinand x Dorado, bred by P Buwalda

OWNER: rider

GRADE: IV

FORM: Moulin Rouge has spent the season shadowing her more experienced stablemate Humberto L – and got the better of him at Wellington in June, sweeping all three grade IV tests, including a 76.55% freestyle. But Humberto turned the tables at the final selection trial, leaving Moulin Rouge second in both grands prix (71.75% and 72.19%). Nicola chose to ease off rather than chase more from the still-developing mare, and although Humberto edged the head-to-head on the day, it was Moulin Rouge the selectors chose to carry to Aachen, likely with the next cycle in mind as much as this one.

RIDER’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORD: Nicola will also be making her first appearance at a World Championships.

Sophie Wells, 36

HORSE: MSJ Gold Standard, 10

BREEDING: Governor x Fürstenball, bred by Mount St John Equestrian LLP

OWNER: Emma Blundell

GRADE: V

FORM: Since taking on the ride in February, Sophie’s grand prix B score has climbed steadily – 71.61% at Waregem, 72.46% at Hickstead, 73.03% at Wellington. Then, right when it mattered most, she pulled it out of the bag: a clean sweep at July’s final trial with personal bests throughout (74.05%, 74.4% and 80.27%).

RIDER’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORD: This will be Sophie’s fifth worlds. She won triple gold in Kentucky in 2010 (Pinocchio), team gold and double individual silver in Normandy in 2014 (Valerius), double individual gold and team silver in Tryon in 2018 (C Fatal Attraction), then individual silver and bronze in Herning in 2022 (Don Cara M).

• To stay up to date with the latest news and reports throughout the Aachen World Championships, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Watch the FEI World Championships live from Aachen this week and join thousands of fans in watching the ultimate showcase of equestrian sport. Today is the final day of the championships – and we’re finishing with the individual freestyle in the para dressage, the showjumping individual final, and the cones in the driving.

While we’ll be reporting on the dressage, eventing, showjumping and para dressage, this page reveals when, where and how you can watch all the equestrian sports at the 2026 FEI World Championships.

Today at the FEI World Championships

Sunday 23 August

Para dressage

• Individual freestyle tests – all grades
• Starts 7.15am UK/8.15am local

Driving

• Marathon
• Starts 7.30am UK/8.30am local

Showjumping

• Individual final
• Starts 1.20am UK/2.20am local
• Follow with H&H’s live showjumping World Championships reports service

How to watch the FEI World Championships on TV

There is no complete terrestrial TV coverage of the FEI World Championships in the UK or US. ClipMyHorse.TV and FEI.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand. ClipMyHorse.TV is showing every session across all sports during the fortnight of competition in Aachen.

This will be complete live coverage of the World Championships, including all disciplines, with additional editorial content and multiple commentary options for a complete viewing experience.

Find the broadcast schedule for each sport below.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

ClipMyHorse.TV discount code

You can save 26% on a ClipMyHorse.TV subscription until 23 August 2026 with code AACHEN26. This discount is for new and returning customers without an active membership – this brings the cost to around £154 for your first year’s subscription.

Visit tv.fei.org to claim your discount.

ClipMyHorse.TV commentary options

ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV is available to viewers across the world with the following commentary options for each sport. Each sport is also available to view without commentary.

• Dressage: English, German, Dutch, Spanish, French or Swedish
• Eventing: English, German or French
• Showjumping: English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, French or Czech
• Para Dressage: English
• Vaulting: English or German
• Driving: English or German

Watch FEI World Championships for free

ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV is available to viewers across the world but some countries are also hosting free streams of a selection of sports, including Canada, Denmark Germany, Belgium and Sweden.

These streams are usually geo-blocked, but if you’re worried about accessing your usual free stream while you’re away, you can use a VPN.

🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

Fans viewing from Canada can watch live on CBC as well as highlights on Rural TV.

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇩🇰

Viewers in Denmark can watch the para dressage via DRTV for free.

🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇪

Viewers in Germany can stream for free on ZDF and ARD.

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇪

RTBF will show the showjumping live (you’ll need to create a free account), while HippoTV will broadcast highlights.

🇸🇪 Sweden 🇸🇪

Viewers in Sweden can watch the showjumping via SVT Play for free.

How to watch the FEI World Championships from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

FEI World Championships broadcast times

Local time is CEST.

• To stay up to date with all the latest news from the FEI World Championships, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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.

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.

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news in the run up to the 2026 Aachen World Championships, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

A rider due to compete at the World Championships aged 71 said her aim is of course to win a medal – but also show there is “no such thing as ‘it can’t be done’.”

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing will start at Aachen, a home championship, as the overall world number two in the para dressage rankings but she is top of the Grade II list. She brings her 11-year-old mare Poesie 123, with whom she has won seven of her eight international starts this year.

“Naturally, my aim is to win a medal,” Heidemarie said. “At my first World Championships in 2022, the 2021 Paralympics and the 2019 European Championships, I came fourth several times. While I was fortunate enough to take three gold medals home with me from last year’s European Championships in Ermelo, the desire to make it on to the podium at the home World Championships in Aachen is very strong.

“Beyond that, however, I also want to inspire older people and serve as a role model, because there is no such thing as ‘it can’t be done’! If you exert yourself and stay active, you can achieve amazing feats even at an advanced age.”

Heidemarie has multiple sclerosis, which means she has neurological and muscular impairments such as balance issues, fatigue and reduced muscle strength. She relies on a wheelchair, as she said she can only walk a few metres without it.

“Staying active keeps me fit!” she said.

Heidemarie first rode aged eight; her mother had always loved horses, she said. She had riding lessons and first competed in showjumping, then bought a horse with “the first real money I earned”.

Heidemarie Dresing: horses are my life

“Horses are my life,” she said “I can’t imagine life without them. Naturally, my training has changed since the onset of the illness, but I am still absolutely thrilled by the sense of unity and harmony we can create together.

“Sometimes I am moved to tears when I see everything the horses do for me and how considerate they are. They respond to the subtlest of aids and are forgiving of mistakes, too, which is something really special.

“Competing has always been part of my life, because I am very ambitious. When I thought my illness meant I would no longer be able to compete at shows, I initially wanted to quit. But then I learnt about para sports from [German para dressage rider] Hanne Brenner and suddenly I was able to compete again – albeit in a different way compared to before.”

Heidemarie Dresing added that Poesie is “as crazy as I am!”

“She is a fighter and has a mind of her own – after all, she is a girl!” she said. “But that is precisely the attraction of it. She is a truly special horse and the two of us harmonise extremely well together and share a very subtle form of communication.

“The horses provide fresh motivation for me every single day, they are the best medicine. It is fantastic that we para athletes are now part of the event in Aachen. It is great to have this opportunity to demonstrate our skills on such an impressive stage.”

To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

The eight-strong British para dressage squad shortlist for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, Germany (11-23 August) includes Paralympic gold medallists Sir Lee Pearson and Sophie Wells.

We’re expecting confirmation of the four definite entries in mid-July, and form-wise, there are no real surprises in the nominated entries. Three of the four combinations from last summer’s Europeans are among the entries – the exception is grade I rider Gabriella Blake, whose Europeans ride Strong Beau retired in April.

The other three are Mari Durward-Akhurst with Athene Lindebjerg, Jemima Green with Fantabulous and Nicola Naylor with Humberto L.

The stakes for selection are higher than usual. The worlds are the principal qualification route for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics – the seven highest-placed teams, hosts USA aside, secure their tickets in Aachen – so this is no championship at which to experiment.

A nation of Britain’s standing should make that cut, but they finished fourth at both last summer’s Europeans and the Paris Paralympics, just outside the medals each time, and on that form, nothing can be taken for granted. Expect the selectors to name their strongest possible side.

Mari and the vastly experienced 19-year-old Athene look all but certain of a place – European bronze medallists last summer, and seemingly on better form now than they carried into those championships.

Jemima Green and Fantabulous, breakout stars of the Europeans with double, and unexpected, individual grade II bronze, have gone from strength to strength this season. Their grand prix B scores – the test that decides team placings – have been up around two and a half percentage points on the form they carried into Ermelo.

Nicola Naylor poses the selectors an enviable problem: she is one of only two athletes on the list – with Sophie Wells – nominated with two horses, and this season there has been precious little between them.

Humberto L, her grade IV partner from Ermelo, and the younger Moulin Rouge have shadowed each other all spring, the latter edging both grands prix and the freestyle when they met head to head at Wellington in June. But on grand prix B, the season’s figures lean back the other way, Humberto L averaging around 73.1% across his internationals to Moulin Rouge’s 72.6%.

The pick of the chasing group is Sir Lee Pearson. The 14-times Paralympic gold medallist and home-bred Breezer, who Lee rode at the Tokyo Paralympics and the 2022 worlds, have averaged just under 73% in the grand prix B at CPEDIs this spring.

Among the international averages of the nominated entries this season, that puts them fourth, behind only Athene, Fantabulous and Humberto L.

Behind them, it tightens: Moulin Rouge is a fraction off stablemate Humberto L, and Sophie Wells’ current stronger grade V mare, MSJ Gold Standard, only a touch further back on 72.4%, a little over two points adrift of Fantabulous. Sophie’s other ride, LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, is on 71.3%, and Erin Orford’s LJT Nutbush on 71.1%.

So at the moment, with the team built from the three best grand prix B scores and no more than two riders per grade, the strongest side on current form would be the three combinations from Ermelo – Mari, Jemima and Nicola – plus Lee.

These averages rest on just two or three spring internationals apiece, so a single test can shift the order, which is what makes the final domestic international, Hartpury (1-5 July), worth watching. For the able-bodied team, it’s likely to have little bearing on selection; for the paras, with places this tight, it could be decisive – and it’s the chasing pack who have the most to gain.

British para dressage squad shortlist for the 2026 World Championships

The full list of nominated entries, by classification grade and then in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:

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

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

Grade III

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

Grade IV

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

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 LJT Egebjerggards Samoa

Owner: The Lady Joseph Trust

Breeder: Anders Green Hansen

Breeding: by Blue Hors St Schrufo, out of a mare by IPS Gribaldi

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

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Paralympic medallist Sophie Wells has a new exciting ride, as she aims for selection for this summer’s World Championships with two horses.

Grade V rider Sophie has taken on Emma Blundell’s MSJ Gold Standard. The nine-year-old Governer x Furstenball mare, known as Gracie, has been produced to advanced medium by Holly and Amy Woodhead.

“She’s done a few demos at Burghley and Bramham and things in big atmospheres and she’s really good with that, so I’m hoping she can come out at the internationals this year and we can see how far we can go,” Sophie told H&H.

“She was for sale last year and I went to try her but we weren’t in a position to be able to buy. I said to Emma I’d love the opportunity to campaign her and to let me know if circumstances change, then I got a message before Christmas.

“I’ve only had her a few weeks, but it’s started really well, so hopefully that continues. She’s beautiful, she’s a chestnut mare, she loves her food, she’s gorgeous.”

First outing for Sophie Wells with new ride

Sophie and Grace had their first outing at Vale View on 1 February, scoring 72.56% in a grade V grand prix A test.

“It was lovely. Obviously there were a few miscommunications because we don’t know each other that well yet, but the feeling in the arena was really positive. I could really ride her forward and she just went in and did her job, which was amazing to feel, so it’s really exciting,” said Sophie.

“The World Championships in Aachen would be the big goal. It’s very early days, we need to go out and do some more and see what the judges think, but I really like the feeling she gave me at Vale View.”

Sophie said her Paris Paralympics medallist, the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham’s 10-year-old mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana), is doing well and will also be aimed at the World Championships. Diana had some down time last autumn, but has returned to competition.

“Diana did the Arena UK high profile in December. We’ll do regionals and then crack on with the para winter championships and some internationals from there, so fingers crossed,” said Sophie.

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