An Olympic and World Championship medallist, Spencer Wilton is one of Britain’s leading dressage riders and technical advisor to the British para dressage team

I can say with complete honesty that 2025 is the year I’ve had my eyes opened to the world of para dressage.

I’d previously done training and a few shows with clients Susanna Wade and Melissa Cannon, but I was by no means an expert. So when Georgina Sharples, para dressage performance manager for the World Class Programme (WCP), approached me for a technical advisor role, I was surprised but excited.

Although it has been a steep learning curve, everyone has been incredibly welcoming. And I’ve spent time observing how every rider approaches training and competition.

Each is unique, but getting to know their disabilities, their strengths and how best to support them has been my biggest takeaway. They’re hugely talented and inspirational people.

When I was riding on British teams, the para squad consistently brought home medals and their success helped secure UK Sport and National Lottery funding for other equestrian disciplines. Those medals kept Britain in the game and helped us thrive. Now we have four funded sports regularly on the podium.

The team behind the team often goes unrecognised, but they’re vital. Between the home teams and the WCP, it takes a village.

Impressive medal stats

Angela Weiss and Nina Venables, the para dressage performance coaches, have been involved for 20 years. I asked British Equestrian for stats. In that time, para squads have won 157 medals, compared to 89 across the other three disciplines – although para dressage does have more medals on offer. The two of them are unsung heroes, who’ve given me invaluable support.

Over the past eight years, the professionalism and standards in para dressage have skyrocketed. With more nations now competitive, the margins are razor-thin. It’s great for the sport, but means securing medals is getting tougher every championship.

As an example, in a grade I walk test, earning seven or 7.5 hinges on minute details and losing half a mark here or there can mean the difference between a medal or sixth. The pressure is immense.

Having a strong back-up team makes a massive impact. One difference between para and able-bodied dressage is that in able-bodied dressage, most athletes have a professional set-up with their own staff.

In para dressage, it’s families putting all their time and resources into supporting a rider to achieve a goal, often with hopes resting on one horse. And access to WCP support becomes a game changer.

As 2025 was a non-qualification year, it was a chance to introduce new combinations at the recent European Championships in Ermelo. The selectors brought in Jemima Green and Nicola Naylor for their debuts, and with just three team appearances between them, Mari Durward-Akhurst and Gabby Blake.

Their faith paid off, with superb performances all round, and to finish just 0.7 off the team podium is remarkable with a fresh team.

Being on the British para team comes with medal expectations, but I remember being a newbie. The WCP message is always self-belief; you’ve been selected, you’re here because we believe in you. That’s what allows you to perform at your best.

Seamless support

When it’s time to perform, everyone steps up, but between those moments, it’s got to be enjoyable too, and if it is, that only helps athletes to deliver their best.

What people don’t see is how seamlessly the support team works. Everyone knows their role, but they all muck in. For para riders, even basic routines can be disrupted at shows, adding pressure. That’s why the team’s work is so vital – and they do it brilliantly.

Georgina Sharples never stops. She orchestrates everything: timings, preparations, coordination. I don’t know when she sleeps! Sophie Thomas and Vicky Cook from the WCP operations team handled all the logistics and did it with a smile. They’re incredible.

I’m 100% on board. After 30 years in dressage, I’ve gained a deep appreciation and understanding for para in a short time – and I’m hooked.

● How can Britain stay ahead as para dressage grows more competitive worldwide? To let us know your thoughts, write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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Danish Paralympian Tobias Thorning Joergensen announced the European Para Dressage Championships was to be his long-term partner Jolene Hill’s swansong.

The 17-year-old Blue Hors Schufro Hit daughter bows out on a high after being part of the Danish team that won bronze, and claiming two individual silvers, in Ermelo.

Tobias and Jolene won medals at all five championships she and Tobias have competed in. The pair won double individual gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, the 2022 World Championships in Herning, the 2019 Europeans in Rotterdam and the 2023 Europeans in Riesenbeck. They were part of the team that won bronze at the 2019 Europeans, and the team that won silver at the 2022 Worlds.

Since they burst onto the stage in 2019, Tobias and Jolene have won 29 of their 47 international starts. Jolene missed the Paris Paralympics last year owing to health concerns, and Tobias said she had spent time in hospital at the start of this year with stomach problems.

“I’m just really happy to be back in the arena with her. She’s been through a lot this last year, and I just want to enjoy the last ride with her,” said Tobias, after their grand prix A test on Wednesday last week (3 September), in which they won silver.

“She’s been very unlucky this year, but everything is ok now and she’s happy.”

Tobias and Jolene enjoyed a brilliant three performances at the European Para Dressage Championships, helping Denmark to team bronze. The pair enjoyed their last dance on Sunday (7 September) in the freestyle, finishing on 79.80% for the silver medal, behind Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq, who won gold with 80.63%.

“There’s a lot of emotions, when I came out of the freestyle I was crying for 30 minutes,” said Tobias.

“Now is the right time for her. After everything she’s been through, I’m proud of her to have been able to come here, and I think she deserves to end with three medals for everything she’s done for me – and for para dressage in general.”

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The Netherlands’ Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP won their second individual gold of the week in the grade III freestyle at the European Para Dressage Championships.

This section featured strong competition but the question was whether anyone could top favourites Rixt and the powerhouse 10-year-old stallion, who have been on enviable form. Earlier in the competition Rixt said she felt the pressure after the Paris Paralympics, where she and “Fonq” secured two individual silvers and helped the Netherlands to team silver, but she had nothing to fear.

Rixt and Fonq were third-last to go, with new music for their Paris floorplan. A dark mash-up of Destiny’s Child’s Survivor created suspense and drama for the pair – who scored three 9s and a 10 for their stretch on a long rein, and two 9s for their choreography, for a stunning 80.63%.

Tobias Thorning Joergensen and the much-loved Jolene Hill put in a solid attempt to top them, but again had to settle for silver on 79.71%, in a repeat of Wednesday’s (3 September) individual grand prix A results. Italy’s Francesca and Salvade and Escari won bronze with 76.28%.

Magical moments

“I’m so proud that we did it again, and to do it here in the Netherlands, it’s magical,” said Rixt, who is aiming for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen.

“I picked that song because I’ve been through a difficult time in the past few years, and also Fonq has come a long way and is now shining with me, so I thought the music was really suitable for both of us.”

Rixt praised the standard and competitiveness shown throughout the European Para Dressage Championships, where tough battles were fought for the medals.

“We’ve seen a lot of good sport and the competitiveness between the riders, when it’s so close it makes it exciting. That’s what sport is about,” she said.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp won the grade V freestyle at the European Para Dressage Championships to take a hat-trick of gold medals on her wonderful 10-year-mare Pramwaldhof’s Bayala championship debut.

In the latter stages of the grade V competition (7 September) the scores continued to rise with each combination. Sweden’s Lena Malmstrom posted 75.62% with Fabulous Fidelie, then Britney de John upped the ante to land 76.50% with Caramba NOP for the Netherlands.

Regine, who had won individual gold in the grand prix A on Thursday (4 September) and helped Germany to its historic team gold on Saturday, was last to go with Pramwaldhof’s Bayala, and the pair knew what they had to do. The lovely mare looked a little unsettled as they made their way around the outside of the arena, but as soon as they turned down the centre line, Pramwaldhof’s Bayala focused on nothing but her rider.

The pair’s routine, to music that included Chain Reaction by Diana Ross, showed off Pramwaldhof’s Bayala’s elasticity and athleticism, making use of shoulder-ins, half-passes and simple changes. Their highlight was their final centre line as they powered down towards the judges in extended trot.

“The last line was our highlight, but every step felt so nice. We got here and she said ‘I trust her’ and it felt so nice,” said Regine.

Regine had taken Pramwalhof’s Bayala to Ermelo for the mare to gain championship experience. Her top horse is Highlander Delight’s, whom she won three silver medals at the Paralympics.

“I’m so proud of her,” said an emotional Regine, after finding out she had won her third gold medal of the competition.

Britney de Jong won a hat-trick of silvers with her long-term partner Caramba NOP, the pair also making their championship debut.

“I was hoping for this but I didn’t expect it,” said Britney, highlighting her half-passes and pirouettes as their standout movements from their freestyle.

“He loves to be in the arena, it’s always ears forward ‘we’re going’.”

The bronze went to Lena Malmstrom and Fabulous Fidelie, who also won bronze in the individual grand prix A.

“She was the best today and we did it as well as we could,” said Lena.

“I didn’t expect to receive two medals, but I thought the competition was open and I backed myself, I believed it could happen. I’m so happy that we delivered something people enjoyed watching.”

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After a self-confessed long time in the making, Sweden’s Louise Etzner Jakobsson landed her first gold medal, in the individual grade IV at the European Para Dressage Championships, on Thursday 4 September.

Louise and 14-year-old gelding Goldstrike BJ scored 72.92% to take the top spot in the grand prix A test, at the 65-year-old grandmother-of-four’s 10th championships.

“It took a while!” said Louise, with a twinkle in her eye. “His name is Goldstrike, so it was about time to take the gold medal.”

But Louise is no stranger to success, she won two bronzes at Rio in 2016 with former ride Zernard, and she and Goldstrike won an individual silver at Tokyo. They were out of the medals last summer in Paris, but they have been putting the work in, honing their craft – and it paid off in Ermelo.

“The canter has always been very good. I’ve been working with the trot for a couple of years now, and that was the happiest thing about my test,” said Louise after her medal-winning ride.

“I looked back at the test and the trot looked so nice. He was doing so well, the hard part was that he was very excited. It’s a difficult atmosphere for him, he can be afraid of cameras and different things, but now that we know each other so much more I feel that he trusts me. I can pat him and say ‘It’s ok’.”

Louise got Goldstrike shortly before Tokyo, with the Paralympics in mind.

“A friend had a contact in the Netherlands, and found him. We went and tried him during the pandemic,” said Louise.

“I thought this could be something, but I’ve had a lot of work to do. I taught him piaffe and passage and that’s helped improve his trot. He’s become much stronger and the trot has much more cadence. He’s very educated and he’s very proud when he does his canter work.”

Louise said Goldstrike has a “friendly character”.

“He loves when you scratch him, and he wants to scratch me back,” she said.

“He always wants to do his best, and it’s become easier as he trusts me more. It’s just about imagining that we are riding at home when we are in a competition.”

Louise added that her first gold medal hasn’t sunk in yet.

“It’s very special because I have a lot of help from my family,” she said.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Jemima Green and Fantabulous may have been newcomers to the British squad at the European Para Dressage Championships – but when they cruised to an unexpected individual bronze medal in the grade II on the first day of competition everyone stopped in their tracks. If that wasn’t enough, just a few days later they claimed their second medal, when they danced their way to individual bronze in the freestyle.

In the lead-up to the Europeans, the pair had been posting solid scores – including a +76% freestyle at Hartpury CPEDI3* in July – so earned their place in Ermelo, but as championship first-timers, and Fantabulous only seven years old, the pair were untested in this environment.

This inexperience far from showed when they were the first of the Brits to go on day one of the competition, and they promptly delivered Britain’s first medal, thanks to an assured performance for 73%.

Jemima and “Fanta” were last to go in their grade II section and when Jemima found out they had earned a place on the podium, it was clear just how much this moment meant.

Jemima told H&H that she never dreamed a medal was on the cards.

“At first I had no idea I’d won bronze because I didn’t hear the scores. I was just so focused on our goals; I wanted to get round the arena, have good transitions, and hold it together,” she said.

“When I was told, I thought ‘Pardon?’. Later that night we had a moment to reflect, my dad teared up, my husband teared up, God, I teared up. It’s still a little bit surreal – we actually have a medal, it just seems odd!”

On the final day of the championships Jemima and Fanta won a second individual bronze, this time in the freestyle, with Jemima describing the assured performance as the most confident Fanta had felt. 

Jemima learned to ride as a child and knew from a young age she wanted to work with horses. After studying beauty therapy, she went to work full-time as head girl for eventer Jodie Amos at Aston-le-Walls, then became her second rider. During this time Jemima produced her own thoroughbred, Ebony, to British Eventing intermediate level.

In 2015 Jemima had a non-riding accident and suffered a complete spinal cord injury, which left her paralysed from the waist down.

“My dad said when I came out of the coma one of the first things I said was ‘Oh it will have to be the Paralympics now’. I don’t actually recall being told I was paralysed, my body just knew. But I always said I want to give riding a go, even if it was just hacking, I wanted to try and get back riding,” said Jemima.

“I had to have quite a few surgeries, and January 2016 was my first attempt at getting back on a horse. I got on this amazing [Riding for the Disabled Association] RDA pony, and that’s when it really hit me: ‘Wow, this is going to be a massive challenge’. I had no balance, I couldn’t let go of the front of the saddle, and I was exhausted.”

Jemima persisted with riding – even though she “really struggled” – and she worked with her RDA coach Sarah Harris, then turned towards para dressage.

“I started riding a 14.2hh Connemara, and it was just building up little stepping stones. He didn’t have the best walk but he was so safe and balanced, and it was very much ‘This might not be our final goal but I need to get my stamina up and learn’,” said Jemima.

“It was a lot of learning. I knew how to ride, but you’re then going, ‘Hang on a moment, before I would do that – and now I don’t know how to do it in my new way’. There were a lot of frustrating times.”

Jemima Green on her para dressage journey

Jemima started competing in para dressage in 2019 with British Dressage southwest, going to para dressage camps and building up to home internationals.

“It was very much building up the mileage, and I did have to go through a few horse changes,” she said.

“One of my biggest goals was getting back on my horse Ebony, who I evented. We had a really strong bond and I did manage to get to some CPEDI3*s with her and we were selected for the British Equestrian podium potential pathway more than four years ago. That was a huge step.”

In 2023 Jemima bought Fanta as a four-year-old and had help from Anna Miller, who competed him in young horse classes, initially, as horses need to be six to compete in para dressage.

“As a four-year-old his temperament was really, really solid. He was well produced and very balanced. Obviously he has a great walk and trot, which is what I need in my tests,” said Jemima, who recalled an incident when trying him that sealed the deal.

“I wear Velcro thigh straps and had forgotten to do one up. I went off trotting, and he didn’t flap at all. He was so confident and really forward-thinking. Where I have no leg, they have to be forward-thinking. He’s so trainable, and from a four-year-old you really have the benefit of going: ‘This is what I need’, and teaching them from day one.”

When Fanta turned six last year Jemima started competing him in para classes and the pair made their international debut at the Hickstead CPEDI3* last May.

“At six, we were ‘Right Fanta – let’s go’,” said Jemima, who is supported by her trainer Georgie Nicholls, who also rides Fanta, and groom Maisie Hodge.

“I had no idea how we were going to cope, but he tried really hard for me last year and it was very much about gaining exposure. Then this year, he’s come out and he feels stronger, I’m stronger in my riding and we’ve really just stepped up.”

“I had pretty much accepted we weren’t going”

Jemima aimed to do her first international abroad this year – Hagen in June – but she still didn’t dare to dream of team selection.

“It wasn’t something we’d really written in for this year. I felt it was our first year of trying to be a little more consistent in our scoring, and I’d felt silly asking if I should put my expression of interest to British Equestrian in,” said Jemima.

“When teams started to look like a bit of a potential, and then having the nomination for the Europeans, it was really overwhelming. There were some really strong Paralympic and European combinations, and I had pretty much accepted we weren’t going.

“Then I got the phone call. I thought they had made a mistake, I honestly didn’t think it was real. Obviously you hope for these things, but I almost felt like a bit of a fraud.”

Fast-forward to the Europeans in Ermelo this week and Jemima and Fanta have shown they deserved their place.

“Fanta has outdone himself. He’s been a complete overachiever, which is fabulous, but you almost kind of think ‘Is the next one not going to go so well?’. But he’s grown with confidence, he’s got stronger, so it’s going in there and just giving him a good experience because again, he is only seven,” said Jemima.

“I need to go in the arena and say ‘You can trust me, we can do this’. I’ve almost got to hold his hand, which is a bit of a new one for me, and then putting that trust into him – it’s a lot of learning and we’re on the journey together, which is amazing.”

Looking ahead

Jemima adds the future looks bright for Fanta – but first and foremost is his continued training.

“I want to do him justice in his education. That’s the thing for me, at seven, it’s really trying to keep that focus and thinking of the future,” she said.

“It’s incredible to have won a medal, but we still need to build on his training. But it’s exciting, because I know that first test didn’t feel anywhere like I know we can get to. There’s more in there and when he starts to relax in those atmospheres, I can say ‘Come on then, let’s give this a little bit more’. To see where he could go is very, very exciting.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg have landed Great Britain’s fifth bronze medal – and Mari’s second – of the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships, finishing third in the grade I freestyle.

Mari and the 18-year-old mare owned by Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine scored 77.14%, their moving soundtrack featuring music from Pearl Harbour and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance once gain proved unstoppable, claiming gold on 80.67%. They are now double European champions, double Paralympic champions and world gold medallists. Italy’s Sara Morganti and Mariebelle won silver on 79.82%. The top three was a repeat result of the grand prix A individual medals earlier in the week.

“I’m really happy to take home another medal; this is the first time I’ve won two medals at a championship,” said a delighted Mari.

“She was so on it and got a bit ahead of the music, and we finished a bit early. There were a few little blips, but overall it was amazing. She loves the music and it suits us both, I know it inside out and she knows it, maybe a little bit too much! It really shows her as a duchess.”

Cloud nine

Mari said it has been an “incredible” week.

“I’m on cloud nine at the moment,” she said. “Everything’s gone to plan – every test I went in there, and we didn’t have any major mistakes. And obviously we’ve got the results, which is just amazing. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet how much we’ve achieved.

“Going last, there was quite a lot of pressure, after Rihards again, but I think we tried to own it. We went in there and gave it our best.”

Gabby Blake finished fifth with her 16-year-old gelding Strong Beau, with 74.40%, their marks averaging 7.5 throughout, and three 8s for the coefficient for music and interpretation.

Gabby said “Beau” had put her through her paces and was feeling “cheeky”.

“I didn’t expect him to be like that because he wasn’t in the 10-minute box,” she said.

“My stretches and halts were good, and I was on top of my music. My freestyle is my favourite thing to do, but today it was a bit harder. I think the shadows gave him a bit of a fright, and he can be cheeky, but horses are horses.”

Gabby added thanks to her coach Sophie Wells who had been “holding my hand this week”, and the National Lottery and British Equestrian.

“I wouldn’t be here without them,” she said.

Nicola Naylor shines for fourth in grade IV freestyle

Britain’s Nicola Naylor and Humberto L were last to go in the grade IV section and came within touching distance of the bronze, finishing on 74.83%, behind Denmark’s Pia Wulff Jelstrup who was third with 74.995%. French rider Alexia Pittier won gold with Sultan 768 (78.055%) and Louise Etzner Jakobsson and Goldstrike BJ took silver (75.15%).

Humberto looked exuberant and a spook at his shadow during his medium canter cost them some marks. 

“I’m feeling really pleased, it was close, but I feel I rode that well and that’s what has made me happy. We obviously didn’t want the ‘extras’, but that’s the horse I know and wanted to show off in there,” said Nicola. 

“His whole way of going, the expression, the power that we didn’t quite tap into day one and two, today we did and I am so pleased.”

The gold is Alexia’s first ever medal with Sultan, having competed at Paris last year.

“It’s a very, very good feeling. He’s a lovely horse, and still only 10 years old,” she said.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

‘She’s going the best she ever has’: Mari Durward-Akhurst delivers Britain’s second medal at 2025 para dressage Europeans

Historic team gold secured at European Para Dressage Championships as competition goes down to the wire

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

Jemima Green and Fantabulous have rounded off their debut championships in style by winning individual bronze with a personal best in the grade II freestyle at the European Para Dressage Championships.

“I’m honoured to have him in my life”, said an emotional Jemima, of the seven-year-old star in the making.

Germany’s 70-year-old Hediemarie Dresing, 70, made it a hat-trick of golds, dancing her way to victory with Poesie 143 on 80.94%. Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen scored 78.37% with Georklintgaards Quater for silver, and Jemima and Fanta won the bronze with 76.31%.

Jemima’s elegant floorplan was put to music featuring a Santana/Rihanna mash-up, and pieces from violinists Caitlin de Ville and Lindsey Stirling.

“It was the most confident he felt all week,” said Jemima. “It was really enjoyable to ride. He can be quite music-sensitive to big strong beats, so we wanted something that highlighted his paces but was also quite subtle.

“We kept the floorplan quite simple, just where we’ve struggled with the confidence in our freestyle, because I just want us to go in there and enjoy it and gain the confidence before we start making it a little more complicated.”

The score was a personal best for the pair – but Jemima believes there’s still more to come from the young gelding.

“There were a couple of times where we just had a bit of a sideways step. I was really pleased, but also slightly kicking myself because I didn’t feel like our medium trot was the strongest – and I thought maybe I need to put in another medium. Then I question myself about the freestyle, and that’s where I need to get better so I can really try to show him off more,” she said.

Dream debut

Jemima has enjoyed a dream championships, winning two individual medals, having taken bronze in the grand prix A test earlier in the week.

“It’s a complete shock and very overwhelming,” she said.

“Without the huge support from the National Lottery and British Equestrian (BEF), this wouldn’t have been possible.

“Without the BEF support I wouldn’t have felt as confident throughout this week as I have. Fanta has been absolutely adored by everyone and kept in the best possible condition, and without them there’s no way any of us could be here.”

Jemima said “it’s such a privilege to have such a lovely horse”.

“He is just a wonderful person. He’s so talented. It’s an honour to ride something so amazing,” she said, adding that his breeders Rainers and Angelika Ahlers had been in attendance this week.

“They are just thrilled. And my family are all here, and they just love Fanta. From everyone thinking ‘Oh my god’ about me getting on a four-year-old – I just love that they’ve seen him from that point up until now, it’s just incredible. You don’t get that lucky.”

Playful routine

Heidemarie had a clear goal of breaking the 80% barrier – and she did with her playful routine to a mixture of French and German music.

“I was a little bit late with the music, but I wanted to get 80% and I got it,” said Heidemarie, who won double gold at the 2023 Europeans in Riesenbeck with her other top horse, Horse24Dooloop.

“The gold is a hat-trick, it feels incredible. At the start of next year I will start preparing for the World Championships in Aachen, and I have the two horses to choose from.”

Katrine’s floorplan, to a Queen medley, had the spectators and judges entertained, for the silver.

“One more silver medal, it’s fantastic!” said Katrine, who is pregnant with her second child, due in January.

“Throughout this whole championship Quater has been very focused on his job so I was really happy with him. I really love to ride our freestyle, fitting him to the tempo and choreography. It’s a freestyle I’ve had for a couple of years and when I hear the music I know where I have to be in the arena, which makes it easier to make it more fluent.”

Katrina said she is “very thankful” to have Quater at another championships. The European Para Dressage Championships is their third together; they won double individual silver in Paris and double gold at the World Championships in Herning.

“It’s been so nice to still be able to compete while pregnant. Now I can go on maternity leave knowing I’ve done the job,” said Katrine.

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The times riders will compete in the freestyle at the European Para Dressage Championships have been released – as all four Brits in the hunt for individual medals.

The final day of competition at Ermelo, the Netherlands, gets under way at 7.30am UK time (8.30am local time) tomorrow (7 September).

There are medals up for grabs across the grades. The top eight riders in each grade or all riders where there are less than eight (grade II), based on their combined results from the A and B tests, have qualified for the freestyle.

Grade III will go first, followed by grades I, II, V then IV. The first rider down the centre line will be Ireland’s Katie Reilly and Keystone Dawn Chorus at 7.30am UK time (8.30am local time).

When will the British riders go?

• Jemima Green and Fantabulous 9.40am UK time (10.40am local time) (grade II)
• Gabby Blake and Strong Beau at 10.47am UK time (11.47am local time) (grade I)
• Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg at 11.11am UK time (12.11pm local time) (grade I)
• Nicola Naylor and Humberto L 3.18pm UK time (4.18pm local time) (grade IV)

Who else to look out for?

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143 (grade II) are at 9.16am British time (10.16am local time). Home-side rider Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP will ride at 8.10am UK time (9.10am local time) and Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill are at 8.26am UK time (9.26am local time); both in the grade III. Grade I gold medal contenders Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance will ride for Latvia at 11.03am (12.03pm local time).

Earlier today the team competition concluded, where Germany won a historic gold. The Netherlands won silver and bronze went to Germany. Great Britain finished just outside of the medals in fourth.

Hopes will be high for Britain, having already won three individual bronze medals, from Jemima Green and Fantabulous and Mari-Durward Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg on Wednesday, and Nicola Naylor and Humberto L on Thursday.

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Germany has won a historic team gold at the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships – as Britain finished just off the podium in fourth.

The team medals remained open right until the final combination of the day, Britain’s grade IV Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, rode their test, resulting in a thrilling competition in Ermelo, the Netherlands, today (6 September).

Germany finished on a final score of 224.454 for gold, the Netherlands won silver on 223.362, and bronze went to Denmark 221.974. Great Britain finished just outside of the medals on 221.267.

“It’s incredible. It’s like a dream right now,” said German chef d’equipe Nico Hörmann. “Thank you to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Great Britain for the great competition. It was really close, and we were on the right side today.”

Germany’s oldest team member, 70-year-old grade II Heidemarie Dresing, said she was “very proud of the team”, praising their “great team spirit”.

“We are proud of winning the gold medal for the first time – it’s a little bit of a surprise,” said Heidemarie.

How the action unfolded

On the second day of team action the sun came out for the grade IV and V riders and there was a buzz of excitement at the Netherlands’ National Equestrian Centre. Denmark had sat in provisional gold overnight (221.766), Britain in silver (221.267) and the Netherlands’ in bronze (220.567) – all with one rider to go. But Germany still had two big scorers to come.

The grade V got under way first, and Isabel Nowak and 14-year-old gelding Siracusa Old kept Germany in the hunt for gold with 72.82%, producing a test she was thrilled with as she threw her hands in the air in celebration after the salute.

The pressure fell on the home-side’s final rider, Britney de Jong and her long-term partner Caramba NOP. Britney showed off the 18-year-old gelding’s big extended trot, trending early at 73%. They exhibited control and athleticism in their lateral movements, before a bold extended canter, breaking the 74% barrier. They completed on 74.40%, at the top of the rankings in this section – giving the Netherlands a final team score of 223.362.

“We know what we can do, so it was a case of ‘We need to do that now’,” said Britney, about her test, having just missed out on individual gold on Thursday (4 September).

“Overall I was really happy about the test. He was more forward, we had some more expression, things like the half-passes were better than Thursday.”

All eyes then turned to Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Pramwaldhof’s Bayala – who had won individual gold in this grade two days earlier. The 10-year-old mare had a big spook on the outside of the arena, moments before turning down the centre line, and the first halt looked a little unsteady, but they promptly regained their composure and their marks began to climb.

The extended canter allowed Pramwaldhof Bayala to really shine, but the final rein back dropped their marks slightly, the pair completing on 74.11%. The score was just shy of Britney and Caramba’s, but enough to put Germany in front at this stage on a final score of 224.454, ahead of the Netherlands.

Regine said Pramwaldhof Bayala “felt a bit nervous, but in a positive way”.

“She was so light in the hand, and she went into the corners much better. She trusted me more today, and we worked together,” she said.

“I think we had a strong extended canter, and the half-pass to the left she felt great. On that side I’m not as strong, but she said ‘Ok, I have to help you’, and that’s a wonderful feeling.”

Turning to the grade IV riders, it was Denmark’s chance to keep themselves in the mix, and their final rider Pia Wulff Jelstrup came forward with nine-year-old mare Zafia. A mistake in their medium trot proved expensive, resulting in two 5s and their trending score to fall to 68%, but they pulled it back to post 72.22%. This slotted Denmark into the bronze position on 221.974, but the door was still wide open for Great Britain.

The team competition goes down to the wire at the European Para Dressage Championships

Final combination of the day and championship first-timers, Nicola and Humberto L started positively, but the sensitive 13-year-old gelding looked more aware of his surroundings than during their individual bronze-medal winning performance of Thursday. A spook in the collected trot transition was costly – one judge giving a four – but they recovered well, to finish on 71.41%.

“I’m really pleased with him, he did really well. I went in there today with a bit more expression, and when I got in there I could feel that he was a bit nervous, so it was sort of a quick decision of how much do you go for, and how much do you hold his hand? I could feel that he was just a little bit unsure,” said Nicola, who owns Humberto with Rosalind Emery Kay.

“His medium canter was really lovely, I was pleased that he was able to relax into the walk work and I think he did one really nice pirouette. Of course we got the spook; the problem is that I can’t see whatever it is he sees, I can just feel it in his body and then I know he’s nervous.

“But he was great, I had to hold his hand and keep my leg on, and he went past whatever he was looking at. Whatever monster he found, he got through it.”

In the team medals, only the best three scores count and so Nicola’s score was dropped. Britain’s 221.267 was the result of Jemima Green and Fantabulous (72.100), Gabby Blake and Strong Beau (74.000) and Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg (75.167).

What dreams are made of

Britain was fielding a new team at this year’s European Para Dressage Championships; Nicola and Jemima Green were making their championship debut, Gabby Blake returned to the squad for the first time since the 2023 Europeans, and Mari Durward-Akhurst was on the team in Paris last summer.

“It’s lovely to be part of the team, it’s what dreams are made of,” said Nicola.

“We’re a completely new team, we’ve all pulled together. It would be wonderful to walk home with a team medal, but it was all so close, so we’ve got everything to look forward to and nothing to complain about.”

British Equestrian para dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples told H&H the feeling was “mixed emotions”.

“I’m incredibly proud of this group of riders. We obviously have a new team here, two championship debutants, a seven-year-old horse, and the fact they came out and performed the way that they did. Three individual medals and a fifth place out of three grades was phenomenal,” she said.

“I’m disappointed for the team, we are ambitious and I think it’s well within our grasp – you can see how close it is. It’s literally points of percentages that make the difference. But that said, these guys are going to learn so much by coming here.”

All four Brits have qualified for the individual freestyle tomorrow (7 September). Times to follow.

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Thunder and lightning provided challenging conditions during the first day of the team competition at the European Para Dressage Championships – as Great Britain sits in the silver medal position overnight.

Three Brits were in action in the grand prix B test today (5 September); Jemima Green and Fantabulous (grade II) and grade I riders Gabby Blake (Strong Beau) and Mari Durward-Akhurst (Athene Lindebjerg).

Coming into the Europeans all eyes had been on home nation the Netherlands as gold-medal contenders; Denmark, Italy and Germany fighting it out for places on the podium. But today proved the deal is far from done.

The day opened with the grade IIIs and bright skies, but by lunchtime the weather took a dramatic turn. A sudden thundery downpour 10 minutes before the start of the grade II resulted in a delay to competition.

Germany’s grade II combination Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143 were first into the arena in this section, and if their interrupted warm-up had affected them, they didn’t show it, as they soared their way to a score of 77.53% – one judge, Belgium’s Marc Urban at H, awarded them 79.50%.

“It felt amazing, she’s a wonderful horse, but it was a little bit difficult because of the storm. She was a little bit tense, and I tried to calm her down,” said Heidemarie, who was happy with her score.

“She’s new to this environment and I’m very proud. There were little mistakes, but we learn more at every event, every week, every month.”

Jemima Green gets Britain’s medal hopes under way

Second to go in the grade II was Jemima Green and Fantabulous, who were sent back to their stable during the delay. The pair got off to a tricky start when seven-year-old “Fanta” had an unfortunate stumble on the centre line, but regained their composure and visibly grew with confidence as the test progressed. They finished on 72.10%.

“It was certainly a new experience for us,” said Jemima. “We got me on in the rain, but I was very relieved when they said ‘Everybody back to the stables’. But then it’s trying to work out the new plan.”

When the competition got the go-ahead to restart, Jemima’s trainer and rider Georgie Nicholls had time to warm up Fanta again before Jemima got back on.

“He felt very good, but a little bit on edge. Then he got a little bit disturbed in the 10-minute box by the applause for the first rider. He reacted, then took a breath,” said Jemima.

“I’m really pleased, we didn’t have what we would say is an ideal warm-up or prep. We then tripped on entry, which is just one of those things. I found out our score started quite low, but he tried so hard in there for me.

“After our test the other day, I felt like I gave us a little bit more time and used the arena a bit more. It really just helped us gain that little bit of ‘Ok, breathe, and let’s think about that movement’ – and I think he really needed that from me today.”

Jemima said she was “thrilled” with her score – a solid first on the board for Britain. A country’s top three scores across the grades will count towards the final team scores and decide the team medals.

“Considering how it could have potentially gone; he’s never experienced weather like that, he’s never had thunder. He was really well behaved, but to begin with he wasn’t sure and swinging everywhere,” she said.

“I thought ‘Oh God, am I going to get him back and supple?’ So I’m very pleased he allowed me to ride him, he listened to my aids on the leg yields, he stayed with me in the transitions, and he didn’t get really tight, which is what I was expecting.”

The day’s events have given Fanta valuable mileage.

“We’ve come out going ‘That’s another box ticked’,” said Jemima. “At these things you never know what you’re going to get, and you can’t prepare for these conditions. You’ve just got to try and work with it and get your head back in the game.”

The grade II grand prix section B concluded with the same standings as Wednesday’s grand prix A; Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143 on top, Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerlingtgaards Quater in second, and Jemima and Fanta in third. There are no individual medals awarded for the grand prix B, only team medals.

Thunder and lightning halts proceedings during grade I

The drama wasn’t over for the day, as thunder and lightning then halted the grade I as Britain’s Gabby Blake and Strong Beau were in the 10-minute box. Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance were already at the top of the leaderboard on 78.38%, and it was going to take a lot to better them.

Gabby and Strong Beau took to the arena, around an hour later than planned, and looked in great form. “Beau” spooked during one of the early medium walks, but it didn’t throw them off and they finished strongly, posting a brilliant 74%.

“I’m very pleased with that,” said a beaming Gabby. “Having that gap, then to come back like he did was unbelievable. It’s the first time I’ve had to deal with that, and he coped really well.

“I had to laugh at his spook, it was at the grass, and I thought ‘Do you really have to do that?’. He came back from it, and it didn’t bother me, whereas I’d have previously held it all the way round, so I’m pretty proud of myself.”

Gabby was delighted with her halts.

“I’ve put a lot of work in to get him to stand square, and his bending was a highlight. Everything I’ve put into practice came out today,” she said.

“He really looks after me, besides his little bloop! I think that was him being a little bit fresh and excited, which I like, because he does love what he does. I’ve got a fantastic partnership with him, I absolutely adore him.”

“I’m pleased I’ve got it done”

The Brits weren’t done there, as Mari Akhurst-Durward and Athene Lindebjerg stepped up. Athene looked forward and correct, and the pair were warmly rewarded with +75% from four of the five judges, to finish on a final 75.17%.

“I’m pleased I’ve got it done,” said a relieved Mari, who was also feeling the repercussions of the weather delays.

“I had geared myself up, then we got delayed the first time, and then the second time, and by that point my body said ‘It’s sleep time’. It was quite hard, but Athene is incredible and helped me out so much in that test. She’s a show queen and we’ve got that partnership now, the minute she goes in the boards she knows her job.

“I looked up and around more than on Wednesday, so we had more bend in the circles. I’m really happy, 75% is a good score. We’ve got Nicola to go tomorrow, we’re a new team together and we’re all supporting each other.”

Gabby and Mari both thanked British Equestrian and the National Lottery, stating without them “this wouldn’t be possible”.

In the grade I standings, Rinards and King of the Dance top of the leaderboard for Latvia, followed by Italy’s Sara Morganti on 77.46%. Mari and Athene lie third and Gabby and Beau fourth.

The Netherlands impress in grade III

In the grade III section this morning, first down the centre line was Ireland’s Jessica McKenna and DCI Cerruti, who posted 66.93%. Karla Dyhm-Junge got Denmark’s campaign off to a solid start, finishing on a respectable 71.90%. The Netherlands’ pathfinders Tessa Baaijens-van de Vrie and Happy Grace responded with 73.33%.

Next for the home side was Rixt van der Horst, who took individual gold two days ago with Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP. The flashy stallion looked fresh and keen, but really settled into his work, trending early at 74%.

A mistake during the turn on the haunches left resulted in a drop in marks – one judge giving a 4 – but they recovered well, saving their best for the latter stages of the test. The serpentine, a coefficient mark, received four 8s and a 9, and their half-volte another round of 8s – resulting in a final score of 75.63% and putting them at the top of the grade III leaderboard.

“I had a really good feeling today, there were some little hiccups, but overall, it was really nice. I tried to be a little bit more on point today and a little bit more forward and flowing,” said Rixt.

“The extended walk was good, he could maybe have put his head down a little bit more, but he felt really relaxed and more so than our test on Wednesday. I had hoped to score a little bit higher, but it will be an exciting and close team competition and that’s the beautiful part of the sport.”

There was one man who could shake things up, Denmark’s multiple medallist Tobias Thorning Joergensen and the experienced 17-year-old Jolene Hill, the final combination in the grade III.

The pair got off to a tentative start, but their marks lifted as they produced the smooth and flowing work they are known for. Although the mid-way halt cost them, they bounced back, receiving two 9s for their serpentine, finishing with 75.33, to slot in behind Rixt on the rankings.

“I think the test was great, but the halts were expensive again. I pushed a bit more and feel like the trot work was good today, and the walk, and overall I’m really happy with the performance,” said Tobias.

“I knew it was going to be incredibly hard to beat Rixt, but I’m really happy to get that close. The team competition is fully open – we normally have Great Britain and the Netherlands sitting on top, and sometimes Germany will be there as well, but this year everything is open so that’s really nice.”

Overnight team standings at the European Para Dressage Championships

Denmark sits in provisional gold on an overnight score of 221.766 after three riders. Great Britain is in silver on 221.267, and the Netherlands in bronze on 220.567. Italy is out of the medals in fourth on 216.624.

Germany is in seventh overnight on 144.733 but only two of their riders have gone so far; Heidemarie Dresing and Melanie Wienand. Grade V riders Isabel Nowak (Siracusa Old) and Regine Mispelkamp go tomorrow and are sure to be big hitters for Germany and shake up proceedings.

The team competition at the European Para Dressage Championships continues tomorrow (6 September) starting with the grade V at 9.00am UK time (10.00am local time) and Sweden’s Lena Malmstorm and Fabulous Fidelie first to go. This will be followed by the grade IV section, in which Britain’s Nicola Naylor will go at 2.06pm UK time (3.06pm local time).

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The times riders will compete for team medals at the European Para Dressage Championships have been released.

The first day of the team round, where competitors will ride the grand prix B test, gets under way tomorrow (Friday, 5 September) at the National Equestrian Centre, in Ermelo, the Netherlands. Grade IV and V riders will do their test on Saturday (6 September).

Grade III will go first – beginning with Ireland’s Jessica McKenna and DCI Cerruti at 9am UK time (10am local time). Grade II will follow, Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing will kick off proceedings with Poesie 143 at 11.45 UK time (12.45pm local time). Grade I starts at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm local time) with Jens Lasse Dokkan and Aladdin for Norway.

When will the British riders go?

• Jemima Green and Fantabulous 11.53am UK time (12.53pm local time) on Friday (grade II)
• Gabby Blake and Strong Beau at 2.18pm UK time (3.18pm local time) on Friday (grade I)
• Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg at 2.42pm UK time (3.42pm local time) on Friday (grade I)
• Nicola Naylor and Humberto L 2.06pm UK time (3.06pm local time) on Saturday (grade IV)

View the full list of times

The individual competition has been tight in the first two days of action at the European Para Dressage Championships and the team event is expected to be no different. The Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Germany all look strong – and the Brits shouldn’t be discounted, with four superb rides and three bronze medals already in the bag.

The freestyle takes place on Sunday (7 September) where more individual medals are up for grabs. The top eight riders in each grade, based on their combined results from the A and B tests, will go through to the freestyle. To qualify, riders must average at least 60% across the two tests.

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Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Pramwaldhof’s Bayala won individual gold in an unbelievably tight grade V section at the European Para Dressage Championships.

Regine and the 10-year-old mare scored 73.18%, just keeping home-side combination Britney de John and Caramba NOP at bay in silver, on 73.15%. The battle for bronze also went down to the wire; Germany’s Isabel Nowak and Siracusa Old looked to have the job done, with 71.36%, until final combination Lena Malmstrom and Fabulous Fidelie snatched it from them for Sweden, on 71.64%.

Regine already has six medals behind her, achieved at seven championships with former ride Look At Me Now and her top ride Highlander Delights, but this is her first gold – and Pramwaldhof’s Bayala first championships.

“No words can describe this, it’s very special,” said Regine.

“I’m really happy, I didn’t expect this coming here. She’s my second horse, and next year I have two very, very nice horses for the World Championships, and then looking towards LA 2028.”

Regine had much to be proud of; Pramwaldhof Bayala looked at home in the arena, demonstrating her expressive paces for which she received 8s from three of the judges for the coefficient.

“The highlight was her walk work, and the canter on the long rein. She came forward and uphill, which was really nice,” said Regine, adding that she chose Pramwaldhof Bayala for the Europeans over Paris silver medallist Highlander to give the mare experience.

“Highlander has done so many competitions, he knows everything,” she said.

“We can do better”

The European Para Dressage Championships is Britney’s championship debut and the 24-year-old came agonisingly close to the gold with her partner of seven years, 18-year-old Caramba NOP.

“We’ve really grown from the youth classes. In the last four years we’ve been first reserve for the Netherlands, so this was our first really big competition,” she said.

“Overall it was a good test and we didn’t have any really big mistakes, but I think we can do a little bit better. His trot half-passes and simple changes were the best parts, but the walk needs to be better, it was a bit difficult today.

“We have a great partnership, he’s not that easy for everyone, so it makes it special that we can do what we can together.”

Attention turns to teams at the European Para Dressage Championships

Looking ahead to the team competition, which begins tomorrow with grade I, II, and III – and grades IV and V on Saturday – Regine believes it will be tight. The Netherlands, Italy and Denmark all look fierce – and Britain has got off to a brilliant start with three medals in the bag, including from team newcomers Nicola Naylor and Jemima Green.

“The others are strong – I think it will be close,” she said.

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How many medals are given, how do the grades work, and other often-asked para dressage Europeans questions answered

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Nicola Naylor and Humberto L delivered in the competitive grade IV section at the European Para Dressage Championships to claim individual bronze – Great Britain’s third medal of the week.

On the second day of action in Ermelo, the Netherlands, today (4 September) grades IV and V are riding the grand prix A test for individual medals.

Nicola and 13-year-old gelding Humberto L, owned by Nicola and Rosalind Emery Kay, scored on 71.39% to take bronze on the pair’s championship debut. Sweden’s Louise Etzner Jakobsson won gold with Goldstrike BJ on 72.92%, and Denmark’s Pia Wulff Jelstrup claimed silver with Zafia, on 72.22%.

“I’m stunned, shell-shocked and super-pleased,” said Nicola.

“I was sitting in the lorry with my trainer Sarah Millis and she told me I’d won bronze. We were ecstatic and jumped up and hugged one another.”

“The aim was to enjoy it”

Nicola rode a beautiful flowing test, Humberto L looking relaxed and happy in his work, highlighting their trust and partnership.

“It’s our first championships and to go in there and have a really solid test where he felt really happy, that was my goal,” said Nicola.

“We went in with the aim that we would really try and enjoy it. He’s a really sensitive horse, so he needed to have a harmonious round, and I’m really pleased that that’s what we got.”

Nicola noted Humberto L’s canter as a highlight of their test.

“His canter work is always breathtaking,” she said.

“I think the other highlight was that he stayed soft. It’s his first time in this environment, and it’s my first time. I don’t find getting around the arena the easiest, so I just didn’t want to over stress it.”

Nicola said it was “a massive thing” to be at the European Para Dressage Championships, thanking her groom and caller Julie Riches, trainer Sarah Millies and British Equestrian.

“It’s something that we’ve really worked hard for; me, the team, Humberto. And we have an amazing support team,” she said.

“The British Equestrian team is massive and hugely supportive, but not pressurising. Their message was very much: ‘Go and enjoy it’. And that’s what I did. I went into the arena and thought ‘Ok, take a moment to just smile and know you’re here’.

“Not everybody gets this moment, it’s special, and it was lovely to know that they were all behind me. I have felt very cared for.”

Brits make it three out of three at the European Para Dressage Championships

The Brits have won a bronze medal in each of the three individual grades they were represented in; Jemima Green and Fantabulous in grade I, Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg in grade II and Nicola Naylor and Humberto L in grade IV. Gabby Blake and Strong Beau finished just outside the medals, taking fifth in the grade I.

The team competition gets under way tomorrow (Friday 5 September). The times will be released later today.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Meet Nicola Naylor, the blind grand prix dressage rider on the verge of her European Championship debut for Britain

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships live, wherever you are

‘She’s going the best she ever has’: Mari Durward-Akhurst delivers Britain’s second medal at 2025 para dressage Europeans

‘I wasn’t expecting this’: Britain’s Jemima Green thrills at European Para Dressage Championships to claim individual medal

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The European Para Dressage Championships commentators are ready to bring the action to life as the continent’s top combinations go head-to-head in Ermelo, the Netherlands. Hosted at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre, this year’s championships promise high-stakes competition, with national pride, medals and Paralympic ambitions on the line – and fans can follow every moment live via the official livestream.

Where to watch the livestream

Every test from the championships will be livestreamed on FEI.TV via ClipMyHorse.TV, with full replays and rider clips available to watch back on demand.

• Subscriptions start from £17.33/month (annual plan).
• Highlights and selected content will also be available on the FEI YouTube channel.

A full guide to how to watch the European Para Dressage Championships can be found here.

Who are the commentators at the European Para Dressage Championships?

The English-language livestream commentary on ClipMyHorse.TV is led by Natasha Baker – six-time Paralympic gold medallist and seasoned broadcaster, bringing a rare blend of technical knowledge and personal insight.

Natasha has multiple grade III medals to her name from senior championships, with Paralympic titles across four Games. She made her championship debut back in 2011 and has gone on to enjoy major success with horses including Cabral, Mount St John Diva Dannebrog and Keystone Dawn Chorus.

More recently, she has turned her attention to commentary, where her calm delivery, technical knowledge and first-hand experience at the top level have made her a popular and respected voice on the livestream.

Inclusive audio commentary

For spectators attending in person, a new audio platform called Gazeti will provide free, live commentary streamed directly to smartphones – no downloads, accounts, or special equipment required.

Created by Dutch entrepreneur Richard Zwart and inspired by his visually impaired son’s desire to enjoy sport alongside friends and family, the service run from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 September. Follow the link here to listen along.

Live commentary will be available in English and Dutch, with insight from:

• Monique Peutz – international (para) judge and KNHS national coach
• Frank Hosmar – Paralympic medallist and team stalwart
• Nicole den Dulk – former elite para rider
• Robin Wubben – para sport journalist and commentator

With under half a second of delay, Gazeti’s system ensures every movement is described in near real time – making it easier than ever for all fans to engage with the action from any seat in the venue.

• H&H’s Becky Murray will be on site in Ermelo to bring you all the breaking news from this week’s European Dressage Championships (27-31 August), so subscribe to the Horse & Hound website for all the news as it happens.

You may also be interested in:

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships live, wherever you are

When the Brits will ride for individual medals at the European Para Dressage Championships

Visitors’ guide to Ermelo, the Netherlands – home to the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships

Horse & Hound’s ones to watch at the European Para Dressage Championships

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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

Home-side rider Rixt Van Der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP claimed individual gold on the opening day of the European Para Dressage Championships, in Ermelo, the Netherlands.

The superstar pair threw down the gauntlet as the first combination to go in the grade III class, posting a decisive 77.10%, and no one could do better. A valiant effort came from Tobias Thorning Joergensen and Jolene Hill, who scored 76.40%, but they had to settle for silver. The Netherlands enjoyed another podium place thanks to Tessa Baaijens-van de Vrie and Happy Grace who won bronze, with 73.00%.

Rixt and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP shone in Paris, and it was no different on home soil. Two of the five judges, at C and M, awarded the pair 78%, and they scored a nine from one judge for a serpentine, and another for a half-circle.

“I’m very happy with my first test here. It’s always a little exciting to be the first one into the arena,” said Rixt.

“Fonq was a little bit excited, but I think we did a proper test with no big mistakes, so I’m very happy. I had a really good feeling in the arena, which you can see in the results, it’s a really nice score to begin with. I think the picture was really harmonious. He settled in, and I liked the activity between the movements. I think it was really smooth and simple-looking”.

Pressure after Paris

The pair made their championship debut together at the Paris Paralympics, where they were part of the team that won silver, and won two individual silver medals.

“It’s really nice to be here at a championships on home soil, but I feel a bit of pressure after Paris,” said Rixt.

“We started together at the end of 2023, so it’s really a short time. We are still getting to know each other. I think he’s a very special horse. We clicked from the first moment I sat on him.

“He’s such a sweet boy, and he tries his best all the time. He’s really enjoying the work and being in the arena and getting all the attention. He knows when he needs to show up, and it’s really nice to work with him.”

Rixt is feeling positive about the coming days. She will ride the grand prix B test for the team on Friday (5 September).

“The B test is a little bit better for us, I get a better feeling when I ride it, so let’s see,” she said.

“Fonq gave me a really good feeling today in the arena and in the warm-up, so on Friday I hope we can step up the score for the Dutch team.”

European Para Dressage Championships Grade IV and V individual medals

Grades IV and V will be in action tomorrow (4 September) for individual medals. Britain’s grade IV rider Nicola Naylor (Humberto L) will ride at 9.27am UK time (10.27am local time).

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘She’s going the best she ever has’: Mari Durward-Akhurst delivers Britain’s second medal at 2025 para dressage Europeans

‘I wasn’t expecting this’: Britain’s Jemima Green thrills at European Para Dressage Championships to claim individual medal

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships live, wherever you are

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

British grade I combination Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg held their own on day one of the European Para Dressage Championships to claim individual bronze.

Mari and the 18-year-old mare, owned by Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine, posted a superb 75.96%. Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance have continued their phenomenal Paris form to win gold on 78.79%, and the silver was claimed by Italy’s Sara Morganti and Mariebelle with 77.42%.

Mari was thrilled with her test and the judges liked what they saw, scoring her 7.5s and 8s for the double-mark movements including the medium walk and serpentines, and a full suite of 8s for the mid-way halt.

“It was a really good test. She was just a bit ‘on’ – she was so forward, which was amazing, but if something had banged we might have taken off!” said Mari.

“But we had the right amount. I’m delighted with it, we went in and followed the process. I think I was accurate, I looked for my cones, and she loved it. And that’s what really matters.

“I think our halts were really good, we’ve been working really hard on them and I think they were in the right place, which is a big bonus. The suppleness, the flow around the circles, and our stretch was also pretty good.”

The medal is Mari and 18-year-old Athene Lindebjerg’s second together, having won individual bronze in the freestyle at the Paris Paralympics last summer. The pair have been a partnership since 2023 and Mari believes they have now solidified this.

“We’re in a different place to Paris”

“She’s going the best she ever has. It’s like we’re in a different place to Paris now, we’ve got her up and round and together, and I can almost just steer her. It’s like she’s grown again, she just absolutely loves it, and that’s what makes it so special. She goes in like ‘I’ve got this’. It’s so nice that she enjoys it so much,” said Mari.

“We’re an established partnership now. Paris was absolutely incredible, but it was almost a bit too soon for us as a partnership. Now we know each other inside out, and I think it takes quite a long time as a grade one to get there.”

Mari is delighted to be riding at another championship with Athene.

“She’s just such an incredible mare. And to be here, my first Europeans was in Rotterdam in 2019 with Sky O’Hara, so to be back in Holland and to get an individual medal is brilliant.”

A “boo boo” for Blake

Gabby Blake finished fifth in the grade A test with her own 16-year-old gelding Strong Beau with 72.38%, having made an unfortunate slip up resulting in the bell being run. Up until that point they had looked smooth and consistent, and on correction, the pair finished their test in harmony.

Explaining what happened Gabby said: “I went wrong, I went completely blank”.

“It’s never happened before, so I don’t know what happened today. It’s one of those things, obviously, I’m human and things happen. But everything else, he gave me,” she said.

“Today he felt amazing, and the test felt absolutely incredible, until my little boo boo. All I wanted to do was to ride a confident test and give him confidence. And I did do that.”

Gabby will have another chance to impress the judges in the grand prix B test on Friday (5 September), for the team medals.

“It’s my second championship. I didn’t think I was going to get selected, it’s absolutely incredible being here,” said Gabby, who is trained by Sophie Wells.

“Sophie told me I’ve just got to carry on with my processes that I do at home. I used to struggle going from home to a competition and I’d change, but I’m now managing to get what I get at home at a competition venue.”

Two medals for Great Britain on day one of the European Para Dressage Championships.

Britain has got off to a superb start in the Netherlands, with Jemima Green and Fantabulous winning bronze in the grade II. Grade IV rider Nicola Naylor (Humberto L) will ride at 9.27am UK time (10.27am local time) on Thursday.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘I wasn’t expecting this’: Britain’s Jemima Green thrills at European Para Dressage Championships to claim individual medal

Horse & Hound’s ones to watch at the European Para Dressage Championships

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships live, wherever you are

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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

Britain’s Jemima Green and Fantabulous have made a dream championship debut, winning individual bronze on day one of the European Para Dressage Championships, in Ermelo, the Netherlands.

The competition opened today (3 September) with the grade II grand prix A test for individual medals. Veteran rider Hediemarie Dresing, 70, won gold on Poesie 143 with 77.28% for Germany and Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen posted 74.59% on Georklintgaards Quater for silver.

Jemima and her seven-year-old gelding Fantabulous were last to go in the grade II and scored 73% for the bronze position.

“I’m feeling a lot of joy. I’m very overwhelmed and surprised,” said Jemima.

“I wasn’t expecting this at our first championship. He is only seven so it was such a big ask for him, and he really tried for me. It’s a bit of a shock, you hope for these kinds of outcomes.”

Jemima and “Fanta” started strong, scoring 8s for their first medium walk. Their test remained fluent and Jemima kept Fanta’s confidence up, averaging 7s and 7.5s, and more 8s for their final centre line.

“He felt nervous, but he worked with me. It was the first time he’s ever heard applause and I thought ‘I hope he’s ok’,” said Jemima, who cited her medium trot work as a highlight of the test.

“We’ve struggled sometimes with the medium trot; for me it’s quite a hard movement to get him together and balanced. I felt like for the first time in a ring, especially where he’s a little bit shy today, he produced a really decent medium trot for me.”

“I hope I can show him off”

Jemima believes there’s plenty still to come from Fanta over the next few days.

“I think in the free walk we can show a better stretch, but in that atmosphere today, I still could let go and relax. He never felt like he was really unsettled, we had moments where it felt a bit ‘Oh’, but then he would come back into it,” said Jemima.

“That shows our partnership where I can trust him and he can trust me to go, ‘We’re a little bit nervous, but we’re ok’, and then continue back into our zone.

“I hope now he’s been in there and taken in the atmosphere, we can have a bit more relaxation and come into a few of the transitions a bit smoother. I hope I can just show him off that little bit more, but we’ll see. Every day is going to be a new day and a new challenge. The tests are different, and he’s got to keep his stamina up for it all as well.”

Jemima thanked her team, trainer/rider Georgie Nicholls and groom Maisie Hodge, for helping them on their journey.

“Georgie loves Fanta just as much as me. She really has an understanding of how he needs to go for me, she’s so invested and really thinks out of the box,” said Jemima.

“Maisie comes to all the shows and makes sure Fanta is priority number one. She looks after us and just takes the best care of Fanta, we have a really good girl bond.”

“We are here, we’ve made it”

Jemima said she was “very surprised” and “very privileged” to be selected for her first championships.

“I am trying to take every step and enjoy every moment of it, from the opening ceremony to just seeing all the other riders,” she said.

“I’m trying hard to think ‘We are here, we’ve made it’. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be on any other horse.”

European Para Dressage Championships Grade IV and V individual medals

Grades IV and V will be in action tomorrow (4 September) for individual medals. Britain’s grade IV rider Nicola Naylor (Humberto L) will ride at 9.27am UK time (10.27am local time).

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

When the Brits will ride for individual medals at the European Para Dressage Championships

Horse & Hound’s ones to watch at the European Para Dressage Championships

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships live, wherever you are

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

The 2025 European Para Dressage Championships are being held at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo, the Netherlands, with the continent’s top combinations going head-to-head for team and individual honours — and here’s everything you need to know to watch the European Para Dressage Championships live.

It promises to be a compelling week. The Netherlands look near-untouchable for team gold on home soil, while Italy and Denmark shape up as the main challengers. Britain arrive in transition with fresh faces and lowered pressure, and Ireland’s teenagers headline a bright new era.

Whether you’re travelling to Ermelo, tuning in via livestream, or just keeping tabs on results, Horse & Hound will be your go-to source. From breaking news and in-depth reports to expert analysis, interviews and photography, we’ll be covering it all as it happens.

If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ClipMyHorse like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships on TV

If you’re wondering how to watch the European Para Dressage Championships on TV, each day will be livestreamed on FEI.TV via ClipMyHorse.TV Subscriptions to this livestream service start from £17.33 per month when paying for an annual subscription (£207.99). All tests will also be available to watch back on demand, with rider clips available for purchase.

All the action will also be available to watch via the FEI YouTube channel.

Free audio coverage will be available via Gazeti, on Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday, as part of an initiative to make the sport more accessible for visually impaired fans.

If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ClipMyHorse.TV like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

Follow the European Dressage Championships with H&H

Online coverage

Alongside our full magazine report, the Horse & Hound will report direct from Ermelo every day, bringing you:

• Breaking news and multiple reports across the team and individual competitions
• Daily round-ups with results, facts and key talking points in one place
• Exclusive interviews with leading contenders, rising stars, British riders, and returning favourites

To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a H&H website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com/XHH-brandsite for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, you are eligible for free unlimited access to the website – click here to learn more.

In Horse & Hound magazine

11 September issue: don’t miss our in-depth 14-page special report from Ermelo, packed with exclusive interviews, analysis and standout photography.

How to watch the European Para Dressage Championships on TV from anywhere

Not in the UK right now? You don’t have to miss out on any of the action from the European Para Dressage Championships.

A Virtual Private Network will alter your device’s IP address to make it appear to be in a different country, allowing you to access your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world. It’s great for watching racing on the move, and it’s also handy even if you’re watching at home. VPNs are designed with internet security in mind, creating encrypted connections that keep your data safe from third parties and improve streaming speeds by preventing bandwidth ‘throttling’ from your internet service provider.

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, which is the best VPN in the world according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

European Para Dressage Championships 2025 timetable

All times shown in BST (local time in Ermelo is BST +1).

Wednesday 3 September

• 8.30am – Individual grand prix A: Grade II
• 10.00am – Individual grand prix A: Grade I
• 1.30pm – Individual grand prix A: Grade III

Thursday 4 September

• 8.00am – Individual grand prix A: Grade IV
• 11.30am – Individual grand prix A: Grade V

Friday 5 September

• 8.00am – Team grand prix B: Grade III
• 11.00am – Team grand prix B: Grade II
• 12.45pm – Team grand prix B: Grade I

Saturday 6 September

• 7:45am – Team grand prix B: Grade V
• 12.00pm – Team grand prix B: Grade IV

Sunday 7 September

• 7.30am – Freestyle to music: Grade III
• 9.00am – Freestyle to music: Grade II
• 10.00am – Freestyle to music: Grade I
• 12.30pm – Freestyle to music: Grade V
• 2pm – Freestyle to music: Grade IV

Freestyle qualification: Top eight athletes per grade (including ties for 8th) based on combined grand prix A + B results; riders must average ≥60% across both tests. 

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You may also be interested in:

New names and medallists carry Britain’s hopes at European Para Dressage Championships

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

The grand prix times for the European Para Dressage Championships have been released, as Brits vie for their first set of individual medals.

The first day of competition gets under way on Wednesday (3 September), at the National Equestrian Centre, in Ermelo, the Netherlands.

The individual medals will be decided by the grand prix A test; grades II, I, and III will ride on Wednesday (in that order) and be followed by the prize giving ceremony. Grades IV and V will ride on Thursday (4 September).

The first horse down the centre line on Wednesday will be Spain’s Félix Gómez González and Merlin (grade II) at 9am British time (10am local time).

When will the British riders go?

• Jemima Green and Fantabulous 9.54am British time (10.54am local time) on Wednesday (grade II)
• Gabby Blake and Strong Beau at 11.27am British time (12.27pm local time) on Wednesday (grade I)
• Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg at 12.30pm British time (1.30pm local time) on Wednesday (grade I)
• Nicola Naylor and Humberto L 9.27am British time (10.27am local time) on Thursday (grade IV)

Other names to look out for

Ireland’s grade III Katie Reilly and Natasha Baker’s former ride Keystone Dawn Chorus will take to the centre line at 1.39pm UK time (2.39pm local time) on Wednesday.

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143 (grade II) are at 9.45am British time (10.45 local time). Home-side rider Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP will ride at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm local time) and Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill are at 2.52pm UK time (3.52pm local time); both in the grade III.

• View the full times

The team medals will be decided on Friday and Saturday (5–6 September) by the grand prix B test. The top eight riders in each grade, based on their combined results from the A and B tests, will go through to the freestyle on Sunday (7 September). To qualify, riders must average at least 60% across the two tests.

The trot-up took place in Ermelo today where all bar one horse was passed by the ground jury. Spain’s Alejandro Nande Iglesias has been asked to represent his ride Brujo Car tomorrow morning.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Europeans and other major equestrian events, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Horse & Hound’s ones to watch at the European Para Dressage Championships

How many medals are given, how do the grades work, and other often-asked para dressage Europeans questions answered

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

As we look ahead to this week’s European Para Dressage Championships (3-7 September) at Ermelo in the Netherlands, Britain’s golden era in para dressage feels firmly in the past. Once untouchable, the Brits won every Paralympic team title until Paris, where the Americans claimed gold. On European soil, the Dutch have seized control, taking the last two continental titles while Britain slipped to fourth last time out.

It would take a major upset to stop the Netherlands making it three in a row on home turf. They are without Paralympic medallists Sanne Voets (Demantur RS2) – who is the reserve – and Demi Haerkens (EHL Daula), but their absence is unlikely to weaken the team significantly.

Newcomers Britney de Jong (Caramba NOP) and Tessa Baaijens-van de Vrie (Happy Grace) have both been scoring comfortably in the mid-70s, underlining the depth of Dutch talent. That depth is no accident; the Dutch Olympic Horse Foundation (NOP) has been pivotal in keeping world-class horses in the country by supporting owners financially.

Another NOP-backed pair, Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP, head into Ermelo as team anchors and hot favourites for grade III individual honours.

Behind them, expect a fierce fight for silver between Italy and Denmark.

Germany, bronze medallists in Paris and silver at the last Europeans, bring a team in transition. Heidemarie Dresing is likely to ride Horse24 Dooloop again, although she has left the door open for a switch to reserve horse Poesie 143. Either way, Germany lacks a proven big scorer to push them onto the podium this time.

In contrast, both Italy and Denmark boast star power. Sara Morganti and Mariebelle lead the Italian charge in grade I, while Denmark can rely on Tobias Thorning Jørgensen and Jolene Hill in grade III.

European Para Dressage Championships: H&H’s team medal predictions

How do we expect the Brits to fare?

The British squad is also undergoing a period of transition. Only Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg remain from the Paris squad – and neither rode in the team test there.

The absence of Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa raised eyebrows, while Georgia Wilson’s Sakura has not competed since Paris and therefore missed selection, while Natasha Baker is taking time out for her second child.

With LA 2028 qualification not starting until next year, the pressure is off and selectors have room to experiment.

Athene, at 18, is nearing the end of her career, giving Mari a chance to attract new owners for a future ride. The dependable Gabby Blake and Strong Beau gain further championship mileage, while Jemima Green’s seven-year-old Fantabulous is included with an eye on the future.

For debutante Nicola Naylor – who had to give up riding decades ago when her sight started failing, and since coming back has been reserve for the Europeans, worlds and Paralympics – Ermelo should feel cathartic. But she’s not just there for sentiment. Her scores with Humberto L have been consistently strong, and with big names absent from grade IV, they are genuine podium contenders.

While Britain’s star may be fading, it’s an exciting moment for Irish para dressage. Their team includes the world’s top two under-18 riders – 17-year-old Katie Reilly, partnered with Natasha Baker’s former ride Keystone Dawn Chorus, and 16-year-old Clodagh Walsh on her own Chantal. Ireland’s programme is still developing, but these young talents signal a bright future.

Key contenders for individual medal glory

Tobias Thorning Jøgensen

Danish superstar Tobias and his mare Jolene Hill are former grade III Paralympic champions and reigning World and European champions. But their chance to defend Paralympic gold in Paris 2024 was snatched away just days before the Games, when Jolene fell ill with travel sickness and they were forced to withdraw. Now fully recovered, Jolene has made one competitive return, narrowly beaten by Dutch rider Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP – setting up a tantalising grade III showdown.

Rixt Van Der Horst

The aforementioned Dutch pair have already proven their class, finishing runners-up in all three grade III tests in Paris to Rebecca Hart and Floratina, who were part of the record-breaking American team. Both partnerships stood head and shoulders above the rest. Since then, Rixt and Royal Fonq have remained unbeaten and now lead the charge for the hosts, coming in as favourites for a golden hat-trick.

Rihards Snikus

Part-time DJ Rihards Snikus and his 17-year-old Latvian warmblood, King Of The Dance, made history by winning Latvia’s first-ever equestrian gold at the 2022 World Championships, before adding another milestone with individual and freestyle Paralympic titles in Paris. His recent scores haven’t quite matched those peaks, but he has proved time and again that he delivers when it matters. He starts as the favourite for grade I individual honours, although Italy’s Sara Morganti and Mariebelle look set to push him hard.

Britney De Jong

It goes to show the remarkable strength-in-depth the Dutch have that they can call up championship debutants Britney, who used to ride in the able-bodied young rider division, and her long-time partner, 18-year-old Caramba NOP, who’d be the anchor on any of the other teams. At their warm-up show at Hagen in June, they finished well ahead of the field in all three grade V tests, and with reigning Paralympic, World and European champion Michèle George and Best Of 8 not competing in Ermelo, it could be Britney’s for the taking.

Heidemarie Dresing

The 70-year-old German fulfilled a lifelong dream in winning her first-ever medal at the last Europeans and is still going strong. She won two bronze medals in Paris and, with the grade II field looking a little depleted in Ermelo, she has a strong shot of adding to her tally.

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The dust has barely settled on the European Dressage Championships at Jiva Hill Stables in Crozet, France, and our focus has already turned to the European Para Dressage Championships at Ermelo in the Netherlands . The competition at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre kicks off on Wednesday 3 September and runs until Sunday 7 September.

If you’re not familiar with the world of elite para dressage competition, then here is a helpful guide to the grading system and how the medals will be decided, so you can be well informed to follow along as the action plays out. H&H’s senior news writer Becky Murray will be on site throughout the championship bringing you all the news as it happens.

European Para Dressage Championships format

How do the para dressage grades work?

Para riders are grouped into five grades according to how their impairment affects their riding.

Grade I is for the most severely impaired athletes (tests are ridden in walk), while grade V is for the least (walk, trot, canter and lateral work).

Grades II and III compete in walk and trot, and Grade IV includes all three paces plus lateral work. Riders in grades I-III compete in the short arena, while riders in grades IV and V ride in the long arena.

Nations can send either two individuals or one team of three or four. Every team must include at least one rider from grades I to III, and no more than two from the same grade.

Britain is sending a team of four riders to Ermelo: two Grade I (Gabriella Blake and Mari Durward-Akhurst), one Grade II (Jemima Green) and one Grade IV (Nicola Naylor)

How are the individual medals decided?

The championships open with the para grand prix A (individual test). Every rider competes in this round, and medals are awarded in each of the five grades.

How are the team medals decided?

Next comes the para grand prix B (team test). All team members ride, but only the best three scores count, and at least one of those must come from grades I to III. Team medals are based solely on this test – results from the individual don’t carry over.

What about the freestyle?

Finally, the freestyle is reserved for the top eight riders in each grade, based on their combined results from the grand prix A and B tests. To qualify, riders must average at least 60% across the two. Each grade has its own freestyle medals, bringing the overall tally to 11 sets of medals at the championships.

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New faces and a former British team horse are among those named on the Irish squad for the European Para Dressage Championships (3–7 September).

Horse Sport Ireland high performance para dressage manager Simone Hession has chosen “a blend of youth and experience” to travel to Ermelo, the Netherlands.

The team features the top two ranked riders in the under-18 world para dressage rankings; 17-year-old Katie Reilly who will bring forward Natasha Baker’s former top ride Keystone Dawn Chorus, and 16-year-old Clodagh Walsh, who rides her own Chantal.

Katie, Clodagh and Angela Lyons (Woodcroft Santa Cruz) are all making their championship debut. Jessica McKenna was on the Paris Paralympic team and rode at the 2023 Europeans, but will ride a new championships partner in D.C.I Cerruti.

Irish team for European Para Dressage Championships

The selected riders for the Irish team at the European Para Dressage Championships, in order of grades, is:

Grade I

Clodagh Walsh and 16-year-old mare Chantal

Owner: Alan Walsh

Breeder: Hans-Hermann Maack

Breeding: by Christ 3, out of a mare by Del Piero

Grade III

Jessica McKenna and 14-year-old gelding D.C.I Cerruti

Owners: Elder Klatzjo and Emma and Jessica McKenna

Breeder: Raimund Vorwerk

Breeding: by Christ 3, and out of Fariane

Katie Reilly and 14-year-old mare Keystone Dawn Chorus

Owners: Kathleen Heavey, John Norcross, and Brendan and Karen Reilly

Breeder: S Lavendera

Breeding: By Dimaggio, out of a mare by Escudo 19

Grade IV

Angela Lyons with 17-year-old gelding Woodcroft Santa Cruz

Owner: rider

Breeder: Karl-Heinz Flach

Breeding: By Sandro Hit, out of a mare by Airport

Non-travelling reserve:

Grade III

Kate Kerr-Horan with 10-year-old gelding Lykkebo’s Don Akino

Owner: Ted Horan, Pam and Kate Kerr-Horan, and Loui Porter

Breeder: Helle Muller

Breeding: By Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, out of a mare by Michellino

“With the athletes selected it gives us the opportunity to field a team of rising young talent, with Clodagh at her first major championships, Katie and Jessica both on new horses for the Europeans and Angela brings forward a depth of experience of being involved in the sport for so long,” said Simone Hession.

“I’d like to thank all the athletes’ teams, team vet Seamus Mc Sorley and Horse Sport Ireland for their continued support.”

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Medal winners and new faces on British short-list for European Para Dressage Championships

Places to stay if you’re heading to the European Para Dressage Championships in the Netherlands

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Medallists and senior championship first-timers have been named on the British squad for the para dressage Europeans in Ermelo, the Netherlands (3 to 7 September).

The riders on the team, in partnership with Agria, are Gabriella Blake (pictured, top), Mari Durward-Akhurst, Jemima Green and Nicola Naylor.

British Equestrian para dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples said that the squad is “an exciting group of athletes with a real blend of experience”.

“We have Mari and Gabby, who have both previously won championship medals for their country with Athene Lindebjerg and Strong Beau, and are eager to do so again,” she said.

“Nicola has been on superb form and delivered a consistently impressive campaign with Humberto L for her long-awaited championship debut, while newcomer Jemima has forged a strong partnership with her quality young horse, Fantabulous, and is on an upward trajectory to peak at the Europeans.

“I feel confident that all four combinations have the talent to deliver on the world stage.”

Ms Sharples added that it has been an exciting start to this Paralympic cycle “and one we hope will continue in Ermelo”.

“While our goals are as competitive as ever and we remain on the hunt for medals, this team line-up also gives us the opportunity to develop some exciting potential for the future as we build towards next year’s FEI World Championship at Aachen and the LA28 Paralympic Games,” she said.

British team for para dressage European Championships

Grade I

Gabriella Blake with 16-year-old gelding Strong Beau

Owners: Gavin and Estelle Blake and rider

Breeders: S Amos

Breeding: by Spinway Blackthorn, out of a Balda Beau mare

Mari Durward-Akhurst with 18-year-old mare Athene Lindebjerg

Owners: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine

Breeders: Ulla and Kristian Bech

Breeding: by Gribaldi, out of a mare by Diamant

Grade II

Jemima Green with seven-year-old gelding Fantabulous

Owner: rider

Breeder: Rainer and Angelika Ahlers

Breeding: by Foundation 2, out of a Furst Romancier mare

Grade IV

Nicola Naylor with 13-year-old gelding Humberto L

Owners: Rosalind Emery Kay and rider

Breeder: J Lamers

Breeding: by Cachet L, out of a Haarlem mare

The grooms’ names have not yet been confirmed. Selection decisions are subject to the athletes and horses maintaining fitness, and may be amended up to midnight on 20 August.

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Experienced combinations and riders hoping to make their squad debut are among the nominated entries for the British team for the para dressage European Championships.

Today (4 July) British Equestrian and the British Dressage para selectors have named the eight combinations bidding for a spot at Ermelo, the Netherlands (3–7 September). Jemima Green and Nicola Naylor come forward as championship debutants, while Mari Durward-Akhurst, Georgia Wilson and Sophie Wells were in action at the Paris Paralympics last summer. Lee Pearson returns to the mix, as does Gabriella Blake, who was part of the team for the 2023 Europeans.

The nominated entries for the British Equestrian para dressage squad, in partnership with Agria, are listed by classification grade and then in alphabetical order by athlete surname:

Grade I

Gabriella Blake with 16-year-old gelding Strong Beau

Owners: Gavin and Estelle Blake and rider

Breeders: S Amos

Breeding: by Spinway Blackthorn, out of a Balda Beau mare

Mari Durward-Akhurst with 18-year-old mare Athene Lindebjerg

Owners: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine

Breeders: Ulla and Kristian Bech

Breeding: by Gribaldi, out of a mare by Diamant

Grade II

Jemima Green with seven-year-old gelding Fantabulous

Owner: rider

Breeder: Rainer and Angelika Ahlers

Breeding: by Foundation 2, out of a Furst Romancier mare

Lee Pearson with 14-year-old gelding Breezer

Owners: Jensen Guest, David and Lynda Pearson and rider

Breeder: rider

Breeding: by Bacardi

Georgia Wilson with nine-year-old gelding Faside Got The Love

Owners: Geoff and Julie Wilson and rider

Breeder: V Sandison

Breeding: by Grey Flanell, out of a mare by San Amour

Grade IV

Nicola Naylor with 13-year-old gelding Humberto L

Owners: Rosalind Emery Kay and rider

Breeder: J Lamers

Breeding: by Cachet L, out of a Haarlem mare

Nicola Naylor with eight-year-old mare Moulin Rouge

Owner: rider

Breeder: P Buwalda

Breeding: By Ferdinand, out of a Dorado mare

Grade V

Sophie Wells with nine-year-old Egebjerggards Samoa

Owner: The Lady Joseph Trust

Breeder: Anders Green Hansen

Breeding: by St Schufo, out of a mare by IPS Gribaldi

Selection decisions are subject to riders and horses maintaining fitness and performance. The four combinations who will travel to Ermelo and their grooms, and the non-travelling reserve combinations, will be announced on or around 21 July.

“The funding that the British Equestrian World Class programme receives from the National Lottery and UK Sport is pivotal in preparing our teams for senior championships and supporting them on the ground,” said a British Equestrian spokesperson.

“British Equestrian is also extremely grateful for the support we enjoy from our partners – Agria, Bates Saddles, Dodson & Horrell, NAF, SEIB and Toggi – and team suppliers Equi-Trek and Lotus Romeo. We’re indebted for the year-round support they provide to the World Class programme and British teams, which helps us to best prepare for senior championships.”

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The European Para Dressage Championshipsis scheduled to take place 3–7 September at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo, the Netherlands. This is the first time the European Para Dressage Championships is being hosted in Ermelo, although it has previously hosted other major equestrian events.

If you’re planning a trip to the venue, check out these hotels near Ermelo and the Dutch National Equestrian Centre, plus guesthouses and holiday lets. Accommodation is listed in order of distance from the European Para Dressage Championships venue – jump down to…

• Hotels near Ermelo
• Apartments, B&B’s and holiday lets near Ermelo

Hotels near Ermelo, the Netherlands

Apartments, B&Bs and holiday lets near Ermelo, the Netherlands

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The 2025 European Para Dressage Championships (3–7 September) are not running concurrently with the Dressage Championships this year – the 2025 competition kicks off a few days after the European Dressage Championships (27–31 August) and will be held at Ermelo in the Netherlands. If you’d like to attend in person, here is the information you need about European Para Dressage Championships tickets.

Our senior news writer Becky Murray will be on the ground to bring you the results, news and views as they happen. She’ll be interviewing all the big-name riders and crafting daily reports summarising the action as Europe’s best para dressage athletes compete for titles. She will be supported by our experienced editorial team in the UK.

The venue is the Netherlands’ National Equestrian Centres (Nationaal Hippisch Centrum). It lies an hour east of Amsterdam and borders the Het Loo Crown Estate, home to a palace, park and forest land, as well as the Netherlands’ tallest tree.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is 60 miles away.

European Para Dressage Championships tickets

Buy your tickets now

Wednesday 3 September

What: Individual grand prix grade I-III

General admission: €7.50

Thursday 4 September

What: Individual grand prix grade IV and V

General admission: €7.50

Friday 5 September

What: Team grand prix grade I-III

General admission €7.50

Saturday 6 September

What: Team grand prix grade IV and V

General admission: €7.50

Sunday 7 September

What: Freestyle to music grades I-V

General admission: €10

Buy your tickets now

European Para Dressage Championships season tickets

You can buy a “passe partout”, which gives you access to all days of the European Para Dressage Championships for €12.50.

How many medals are up for grabs at the European Para Dressage Championships?

There are 11 sets of medals to be awarded, so 33 in total.

Competitors at the event will ride in up to three tests. On the first and second days, each rider will complete the individual test in their respective grade. Individual medals will be awarded in each grade.

Day three will bring the team competition. The team test will be ridden by all four members, with the top three scores across the four performances dictating the team medals.

Then, the best eight combinations from the individual test in each grade will qualify for the freestyle competition, which has its own set of medals.

British entries to the European Para Dressage Championships

Nominated entries have not yet been confirmed – check this page and the Horse & Hound website for updates.

Buy your tickets now

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Visitors’ guide to Ermelo, the Netherlands – home to the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships

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The FEI European Para Dressage Championships will be held at Ermelo, in the Netherlands, from 3 to 7 September. If you are planning to be there to watch the action in person, then we are here to help you plan your visit to the area.

This will be the first time the para dressage Europeans are being held at Ermelo, which is home to the Dutch National Equestrian Centre, although the venue has hosted other international championships.

It is important to note that there is another Ermelo – nearly 9,000 miles away in South Africa – so when planning your visit, make sure you are going to the correct one.

How to get to Ermelo, the Netherlands

By plane: to Amsterdam (36 miles).

By train: to Ermelo railway station, which takes between 59min and 1hr 26min from Amsterdam, including one change. There are up to 40 trains a day. The station is eight miles from the equestrian centre.

By car ferry: either from Harwich to The Hague (one sailing a day or overnight), then at least 1hr 30min by car. Or from Dover to Calais (frequent sailings), then at least a 4hr drive.

By Eurotunnel: either via Calais by car or by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal, and on to Ermelo.

Where to stay near Ermelo, in the Netherlands

There are plenty of campsites, Airbnbs and hotels in the vicinity. Check out our helpful guide.

Things to do in the local area

Ermelo is known for its stunning forests, and is close to the Hoge Veluwe National Park, as well as the Veluwemeer lake for water fun.

How to follow the action

After an enjoyable day of watching the dressage, you won’t want to miss our interviews with the top riders, analysis of the action and beautiful photography capturing the highlights. To read without limits you’ll need to sign up for a Horse & Hound website subscription, which gives you instant access, wherever you are, from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now

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Want to get your hands on tickets to the European Para Dressage Championships? Here’s what you need to know

Places to stay if you’re heading to the European Para Dressage Championships in the Netherlands

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European Para Dressage Championships 2025

• Latest news
• Times
• How to Watch
• Dates
• Venue
• Judges
• Format

The European Para Dressage Championships are underway at Ermelo in the Netherlands. Europe’s best riders are competing for 11 sets of championships medals across five grades of competition.

Our expert reporters are bringing you all the headlines from the championships (3-7 September), as well as big name interviews, analysis of the action and beautiful photography throughout every day of action at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre.

A Horse & Hound website subscription gives you instant access, wherever you are, to all of our coverage with no limit on how much you can read, from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now

Horse & Hound’s full preview of the para dressage Europeans was published in Thursday 28 August issue of the magazine.

European Para Dressage medals 2025

Grade 1 individual

Gold – Rihards Snikus (LAT) and Lord of the Dance, 78.792%
Silver – Sara Morganti (ITA) and Mariebelle, 77.417%
Bronze – Mari Duward-Akhurst (GBR) and Athen Lindebjerg, 75.958%

Grade 2 individual

Gold – Heidemarie Dresing (GER) and Poesie 143, 77.276%
Silver – Katrine Kristensen (DEN) and Goerklintgaards Quarter, 74.586%
Bronze – Jemima Green (GBR) and Fantabulous, 73.000%

Grade 3 individual

Gold – Rixt van der Horst (NED) and Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P., 77.100%
Silver – Tobias Thorning Joergensen (DEN) and Jolene Hill, 76.400%
Bronze – Tessa Baaijens-van de Vrie (NED) and Happy Grace, 73.000%

Grade 4 individual

Gold – Louise Etzner Jakobsson and Goldstrike B.J. (SWE), 72.917%
Silver – Pia Wulff Jelstrup and Zafia (DEN), 72.222%
Bronze – Nicola Naylor and Humberto L (GBR), 71.389%

Grade 5 individual

Gold – Regine Mispelkamp and Pramwaldof’s Bayala (GER), 73.179%
Silver – Britney de Jong and Caramba N.O.P. (NED), 73.154%
Bronze – Lena Malmström and Fabulous Fidelie (SWE), 71.641%

Team

Gold – Germany (224.454)
Silver – Netherlands (223.362)
Bronze – Denmark (221.974)
4th – Britain (221.267)

European Para Dressage Championships dates

European Para Dressage Championships will be held from 3 to 7 September 2025.

Where are the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships?

The 2025 European Para Dressage Championships will be held at Ermelo in the Netherlands at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre. This will be the first time it has hosted the para dressage Europeans, but the venue has plenty of experience having hosted other international championships.

Who are the 2025 para dressage Europeans judges?

The para Europeans judging panel is Jeannette Wolfs (NED) as president, Marc Urban (BEL), Sarah Rodger (GBR), Dr Jan Holger Holtschmit (GER), Marjukka Manninen (FIN) and Pia Pedersen (DEN).

European Para Dressage Championship format

The European Para Dressage Championships is split into three tests. On day one, every rider will complete the grand prix A test in their respective grade, with individual medals awarded in each grade. Next comes the grand prix B test, which will be ridden by all members of the team, with the best three scores from this test only to determine the team medals.

The best eight riders from the individual grand prix A test in each grade will then go on to contest the freestyle competition, which has its own set of medals. There are 11 sets of medals up for grabs in total.

Each nation can enter either a maximum of two individuals, or one team of three or four. Every para rider is classified according to their disability and the degree to which it affects their riding. Grade I is for the most severely impaired athletes, and grade V is for the least. Every team must field at least one rider from grade I, II or III, and no more than two from the same grade.

Frank Hosmar and his “once-in-a-lifetime” horse Alphaville NOP added two individual silvers and a team gold at the European Para Dressage Championships (5–9 September) to their incredible tally of 27 medals, dating back to the London 2012 Paralympics.

Frank and his 18-year-old partner finished second behind Michèle George in the individual and freestyle tests, while their leading test in the team competition helped secure victory for the Netherlands.

“I don’t mind whatever colour the medal is,” says Frank. “Every day when I ride into the arena I try to do my best, and if it’s the best I can do, whatever the judges decide then for me it’s OK.”

Frank’s sentiment is all the more poignant given that in the winter of 2021/22, the outlook looked bleak for his Sandreo gelding. He was so sick it didn’t look like he would pull through, let alone return to championship form.

“It is amazing he is still here,” says Frank. “In November 2021 after Tokyo, he got sick, coughing a lot, and had 100,000 tests. We sent blood to America, did everything that’s possible, but they couldn’t find what was wrong.

“First they thought it was a fast-growing tumour in the throat, and then two vets said to put him down because he wouldn’t recover and he’d choke to death. But my feeling said ‘No, I don’t think he’s ready to go’. He couldn’t swallow, but when he wanted to drink, he’d put his head up so the water could slide down, and I thought ‘If you are doing this you want to survive’.”

Frank remembers staying up with his beloved horse until 1.30am, feeding him little titbits as that was all he could manage to eat.

“Then I had a second opinion from Utrecht for a scan, and they found out there was no tumour, but they still didn’t know what it was,” he says. “The vet said that thousands of horses come in every year, and for one or two they never find out what’s wrong – he’s one of them.”

In desperation, Frank consulted a natural healer, despite his initial cynicism.

“So I went to this healer, who did a bit of this and that with a few drops, and I was cynical,” he explains. “This guy came with a machine, and some headphones, and said, ‘Oh I can fix this!’ – I thought, ‘That’s big talk, but I’ll try anything!’ And he survived, and he’s back.”

“I keep him healthy in body and mind” says European Para Dressage Championships team gold medallist

Initially Frank thought Alphaville would live out a happy retirement in the field, but his appetite for work was such that he made the trip to Herning for the worlds (winning individual silver and team gold), and now the Europeans in Riesenbeck.

“He’s a competition horse and if you go round the stables here, he’s the only one who has his head out all day,” Frank says. “He loves going in the horsebox to competitions.”

Frank makes no special veteran allowances, despite the horse’s advancing years.

“I just act normal with him,” he says. “He doesn’t get any medicine, he goes in the field, and I ride at lot in the forest where I live. I keep him healthy and also in his head.

“I’m really pleased with how the horse is in Riesenbeck,” adds Frank. “At the last check the vet said it’s amazing how he was not even breathing [hard]; he was just a little bit sweaty, but that’s normal in this heat. To me that says, ‘Well done Frank, you brought a horse here in great condition’.”

And that has set him up perfectly for more medals in Paris, which would be his 12th championship.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

The para riders took centre stage today (9 September) in Riesenbeck, the venue of the European Dressage Championships. All five grades of para freestyle played out, again under the baking sunshine that has presided over the entire European Para Dressage Championships week.

There were yet more medals, a silver and a bronze, for British riders on young horses, while a couple of para superstars continued to show their rivals the way.

Watch a round-up summary of today’s action in the video below

• First up, Georgia Wilson added a second silver to her individual tally in the grade II.

Find out how Sakura was fired up to perform – and how team-mate Gabriella Blake got on today.

• Before Sophie Wells surpassed all her expectations with the youngest horse in the whole competition.

How Sophie’s ride came of age to take the podium alongside two titans of the grade V category

• The grade V winner Michèle George was on scintillating form – she loves to dance, “and so does my horse”.

How Michèle ensures her mare is 100% in body and mind

• British team newcomer Charlotte Cundall scored a personal best in all three of her tests, finishing fifth in today’s freestyle.

How the red collar of the British team jacket has spurred Charlotte on through the decades

• Meanwhile, the grade IV runners-up Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 NOP bagged their 19th medal together

Watch Sanne Voets describe how she has developed a new approach in her horsemanship.

• Tomorrow is the final day of the European Dressage Championships, with the freestyle deciding the final individual medals. Can anyone derail Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB?

Check out the timings for the freestyle

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‘I don’t like to keep horses in a cage’: European champion on listening to her dancing partner’s needs

‘I’m just happy I finished the test!’: genius riding earns freestyle bronze for British rider at Europeans

‘I had to change my dream’: how the red-collared jacket spurred on European medallist

‘Whirlwind spell’ for para rider making championship debut just months after giving birth

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Dutch dressage rider Sanne Voets and her long-standing ride Demantur RS2 NOP bagged their 19th medal as a combination at the European Para Dressage Championships with grade IV freestyle silver this afternoon (9 September).

Sanne has taken a new approach in her training recently, complementing the scientific and data focus she applies to her horsemanship with a focus on the connection she has with herself.

Watch an interview with Sanne Voets after the freestyle medal ceremony at the European Para Dressage Championships

This involves breathwork and meditation, alongside studying human and equine biomechanics and how the two interact.

“The essence of our sport is really the connection with your horse as a rider. And I feel that if you want to improve that connection, you first have to improve the connection with yourself,” Sanne told H&H.

“So that meant that over the last year or so, we have really invested time and effort in breathwork and meditation and also physical fitness – diving into studying biomechanics of the horse and of me and how we influence each other. It’s a case of trying to connect better with myself and trying to get to know my horse better.

“Before we enter the arena, we just have a few minutes in the stable where it’s just me and him and if he wants to come to me, it’s OK – if he doesn’t, it’s OK.

“I know as soon as he gets his braids in, he finds his own routine too and he gets in his own bubble. It’s OK if he wants to do that without me, but I just want to tell him I am here for you. Just let me know when you need me and when you can come to me, I’m ready.”

The pair have been at the top of the sport for seven years, with 14 gold medals from Paralympic, World and European Championships – including the Dutch team gold from Riesenbeck this week. They also head home from Germany with two grade IV silver medals, finishing just behind team-mate Demi Haerkens and EHL Daula NOP in the individual and freestyle.

“He means the world to me. I have had him in my stables for almost eight years now and I still feel that our connection is getting stronger,” said Sanne.

“This morning we had the vet check for the freestyle and he was on fire – he was still so happy and fresh. To me the colour of this medal doesn’t really matter. He is my gold.”

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

‘I don’t like to keep horses in a cage’: European champion on listening to her dancing partner’s needs

‘I’m just happy I finished the test!’: genius riding earns freestyle bronze for British rider at Europeans

Electric crowd lifts Brit to bring home European medal in dynamic freestyle

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Michèle George topped her class for the third time at the European Para Dressage Championships, winning the freestyle on Best of 8. The result may not be a huge surprise given the pair are the current Olympic and world champions, however this is their first international competition since the Belgian rider broke ribs in a fall just before Waregem CPEDI back in April.

“I love dancing and apparently she does as well so it’s two creatures inviting each other to dance,” says Michèle. “I am capable of keeping all my focus and to enjoy it. That’s the main goal for me and automatically the performance is there. But today I really loved her attitude; her willingness to work and show ‘I’m the queen’. I had an amazing feeling in the warm-up and you know the feeling when you go into the arena and they grow.”

Michèle’s score of 81.43% secured a comfortable win over Frank Hosmar (79.05%) and Sophie Wells (76.55%) in silver and bronze, and she described how she keeps her 13-year-old Bonifatius mare sweet.

“At home I try to do a lot of different things with her because she has a lot of thoroughbred blood and she’s not a horse who loves to spend all the time doing dressage work,” says Michèle, who has hemiplegia after an accident in 2008 when a horse she was lungeing bolted and she broke her leg severely. 

“Where I am based, I ride around showjumpers, there’s a little bit of eventing, there’s a racetrack. So I might have to train with a sulky next to me. There are a lot of things going on and the horses need that because if you put me behind my desk at my computer all day long, I would go mad! I don’t like to put animals in a cage.”

European Para Championships: “Paris, just wait!”

This all helps with the mental aspect, while on the technical side, Michèle focuses on the basics.

“That’s the most important thing because if something goes wrong you have to question why. I always try to look in the mirror and train, train, train,” she says. “During training I try to detect what she loves doing most – a lot of riders try what they like, but I always try to listen to my horse to what she likes.”

Their How to Train your Dragon routine had a high degree of difficulty, something Michèle has ramped up of late.

“When I bought the mare in 2019, we didn’t go to the last Europeans with much experience,” adds the 49-year-old, who took freestyle bronze back in the 2019 Europeans. “Tokyo was a year late, so I had an extra year to train, but she was still very complicated even if it looks simple. Today I managed to do a little more complicated lines because my test had become too simple for her. In the beginning I just wanted to give her trust that with Mama in the ring everything is fine, and now I start having the feeling that she starts dancing and that’s only the start because Paris, just wait!”

You may also enjoy reading…

‘I’m just happy I finished the test!’: genius riding earns freestyle bronze for British rider at Europeans

Back in business: bronze for Britain in nail-biting conclusion to para Europeans teams

Electric crowd lifts Brit to bring home European medal in dynamic freestyle

‘I had to change my dream’: how the red-collared jacket spurred on European medallist

‘Whirlwind spell’ for para rider making championship debut just months after giving birth

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Sophie Wells added yet another medal to Britain’s tally at the European Para Dressage Championships, winning a fabulous bronze in the grade V freestyle.

Sophie finished behind Belgium’s Michèle George (Best Of 8), who claimed her second individual gold of the week, and the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar (Alphaville NOP) in silver.

Sophie’s ride for this championship – her 14th in para dressage – is the seven-year-old St Schufro x Gribaldi mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana), who brims with talent and power but is also still green and hot. This week, though, Diana has truly come of age, getting visibly more settled with every test and showing just how excited everyone should be about her future prospects.

Having finished sixth in the grand prix A to start their Europeans campaign, Sophie and Diana were neck-and-neck with Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp (Highlander’s Delight) in the grand prix B, finishing equal third. And it was Regine who would prove their biggest competitor again today, as they battled it out for individual freestyle bronze. Ultimately, it was a big spook and subsequent resistance from Highlander’s Delight that cost Regine, as she finished fractionally behind Sophie.

As first drawn from the final block of four riders, Sophie earned 76.55% for her highly skilful, spine-tingling routine with this exquisite young mare.

The fact that Diana kept it together in this atmosphere was a huge win for Sophie, who has struggled to keep her settled in previous freestyle tests. And that they were able to show so much beautiful work is testament to how patient and refined Sophie is as a rider, able to guide Diana through her work, asking enough but never too much so as to lose the harmony and the connection.

“I’m so proud of her, and so happy that I finished the test – which was not a given!” said Sophie. “She was a bit tired today so before I went in I just walked her for a bit. She’s had a huge week.

“It’s definitely been a positive experience for her to end on today, and she will come away from here with a lot of confidence. The minute she is confident and balanced enough for me to push, she will be amazing.”

Sophie rode to entrancing music from Romeo and Juliet, put together by her friend, fellow top para dressage rider and live stream commentator for the Europeans, Erin Orford. This music was actually used by Sophie as background music for her team test with her former top para horse C Fatal Attraction (Jorge), and it was a late decision to swap out Diana’s previous high-energy music, and transform the Romeo and Juliet score into a slightly more serene score for her.

“I have a Titanium mix for Diana, which is amazing to ride to – we used it at Hartpury CPEDI – but it’s too much for her in the arena at the moment. But she is so elegant and bouncy that she enhances the Romeo and Juliet music; it suits her really well and doesn’t feel background-y. When I rode to it in the team test on Jorge I thought I must make it into a freestyle,” said Sophie, who rides wearing a bracelet containing strands of Jorge’s tail in a tribute to her 2018 world champion, at home but no longer competing after illness last year.

“As cheesy as it sounds, it is the end of his career but the start of something new,” added Sophie. “Jorge taught me so much – like how to ride a horse like Diana.”

European Para Dressage Championships freestyle: battle of the titans

Frank Hosmar’s ride, the highly experienced Alphaville NOP, made his team debut at the 2012 Paralympics and is more than two-and-a-half times Diana’s age, at 18 years old. And it showed in their dynamic floorplan which carried a high degree of difficulty, really boosting their choreography mark.

Frank and Alphaville’s score of 79.04% meant that Sophie’s stint at the top of the leaderboard was short-lived, but Frank’s lead too was far from confirmed. For yet to come was the Belgian big guns, Michèle and Best Of 8, the 13-year-old Bonifatius mare who was found for Michèle by her trainer, Isabell Werth.

Their freestyle was big, bold and full of difficulty and drama. It was rewarded with 81.27%, not quite a personal best for this pair, but nearly.

“I really love dancing and apparently she does as well. It felt great,” said Michèle of her technical programme, which underwent some recent tweaks to make it more complicated to reflect how their partnership has developed. “During training I try to detect what she loves most. A lot of riders do what they like [in a freestyle], but I try to listen to my horse about what she likes. We decided a few weeks ago to change some lines and this is the result.”

Charlotte Cundall rounded out her first European Para Dressage Championships in super style, with a high-energy freestyle aboard the 13-year-old Vivaldi gelding FJ Veyron. Having already helped Britain to team bronze this week, they finished in fifth with 74.91%.

The pair caught the eye from the very first move-off, starting their programme in canter to Queen’s foot-tapping I want it all. They showed bold extensions – starting bravely with extended canter towards the judge, into a pirouette – as well as obedient half-passes and plenty for fluency as they flowed from movement to movement. The scopey chestnut has a lovely ground-covering walk, which they showed off to Toto’s Africa, followed by smart, balanced trotwork to Michael Jackson’s Beat It.

“That was new music this year, I wanted something quite impactful and to make an entrance. Lottie Fry was the influence behind that; she comes in to Queen in her freetsyle, so I thought if one Charlotte could do it I would copy her,” joked Charlotte. “He’s a big horse, so I wanted something to match him.”

‘Riding her gives me goosebumps’

In the grade IV freestyle, it was Demi Haerkens who once again saw off the defending champion, her Dutch compatriot Sanne Voets. The pair battled it out in the individual competition earlier in the way, with Demi coming out on top with her expressive Jazz mare EHL Daula NOP. And the result was repeated in the freestyle, with Demi claiming gold on 82.07%, and Sanne settling for silver on 81.6%.

“It is still a little bit unreal for me, but we did it,” said Demi, who made her championship debut last year with this 15-year-old mare. “Daula did an amazing job in this heat, everyday pushing it, becoming better, more quality; the exercises were good. She can be hot sometimes, but this time she stayed with me. She is one of a kind.

“When you sit on her it is like you dance together and it is so light footed, and it feels amazing. It is really giving me goosebumps when I am riding her.”

Manon Claeys took grade IV bronze for Belgium riding Katharina Sollenburg to 78.03%.

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[collction]

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

The freestyle yielded another silver medal for Britain’s Georgia Wilson at the European Para Dressage Championships, bringing her tally in Riesenbeck to two silvers and a team bronze.

Georgia and her chestnut mare Sakura had already won individual silver here, and today they pushed the unbeaten home favourites Heidemarie Dresing and Horse24 Dooloop to the wire, scoring a huge personal best of 79.34%. In fact, the Swedish H judge Eva Andersson put Georgia in the gold-medal position, and this grade II rider is closing the gap ahead of next year’s Paralympics.

“It’s a good end to the week, to get 79 at a Europeans. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone who has helped me get up to that percentage,” she said.

As Heidemarie came out of the ring, scoring her own massive personal best of 80.35%, the crowd erupted. Horse24 Dooloop, who was competing in prix st georges last year, showed off his excellent ability to piaffe, which also sent the crowd wild. The atmosphere was still electric as Sakura walked in – a concern for many riders, but not Georgia, who says the clapping helps lift Sakura’s trot.

“‘Suki’ liked the crowd,” said Georgia of the nine-year-old Supertramp mare, who was bred by Geri Eilberg. “She did get excited as I came round because everyone was clapping, so I had to calm her down but I felt her take a breath and started. The atmosphere was really good today.”

Georgia added that while she enjoys her downtime, her success is making her hungrier than ever as she inches towards another individual gold; she won the freestyle gold on Midnight in 2019.

“I do like a cup of tea in a cafe, but I would definitely be bored without this,” she said. “When you get higher percentages it makes you want to do even better, it’s the buzz.”

But Heidemarie and Dooloop are on an upward curve.

“My dream was to ride 80%, but after the ride I was not sure I reached that goal until I heard it over the speakers,” sHeidemarie said. “I think my music supports the programme and the horse, so it becomes an artistic expression, and today that all came together perfectly.”

The battle for bronze was even closer, between Norway’s Ann Cathrin Lübbe and Austria’s Pepo Puch. The former prevailed with her 12-year-old Sir Lancelot gelding La Costs Majlund, finishing 0.09% ahead.

European Para Dressage Championships: grade I freestyle

The complexion of this contest changed when the reigning world champion Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance, who had already won the individual gold earlier in the week, did not line up after failing the vet check.

With her main rival out of the picture, Italy’s Sara Morganti stepped up to take gold in her specialist event on 81.64%. However, after a major hiccup starting her individual test left her down in 11th, her participation in the freestyle was in doubt.

“This is wonderful because after the first day I didn’t even know if I would qualify for the final,” she said. “The second day the competition went very very well, apart from the fact that our team came fourth by a tiny bit, but I got my access to the final. This was a new start, I had to forget what had happened on that first day.

“She was a little shy in there today maybe, but she really listened to me and did her best. She is still unexperienced but with more experience she will get more confident in the arena hopefully.”

Ireland produced their sole medal across the para and European Dressage Championships when Michael Murphy steered Cleverboy into silver. It hadn’t gone quite Michael’s way so far this championships, missing out on a podium position by 0.04% in the individual test.

“The freestyle is an opportunity to show what he’s capable of,” said Michael. “We put together a challenging floorplan, and if it goes wrong it goes badly wrong, but it went well today. Stringing together a lot of movements in difficult places together is the challenge; there’s no room to breathe or get the horse back on track if you make a mistake. The main one today was the eights (volte) in the middle. Tt’s really difficult to ride them to show the judge you can ride two eights back to back, to show suppleness; it’s really obvious if you make a mistake, but I think we did that nicely.”

Michael’s music featured a Call of Duty soundtrack, and uses some of the same songs his trainer Elder Klatzo uses in her own grand prix freestyle.

“It works really well with his walk. The walk test is really difficult to make the music interesting so I try to stay away from having one track all the way through, and try – like the able-bodied grand prix – to mix it up as the test changes.”

Dream debut for Gabriella Blake

Gabriella Blake’s dream championship debut didn’t quite end with a third medal, after she was pipped to bronze by 0.3% by Germany’s Martina Benzinger and the adorable Nautika, a 17-year-old grey with a speckled nose.

Gabby’s bold display to a Beyoncé medley had a brilliant vibe and suited this punchy part-Connemara, who pulled off a daring serpentine across the arena en route to a PB.

“It’s not music I would have chosen, but I was told the music I did in Waregem was very boring, so I had to change it,” she said. “It goes perfectly with him. He felt like he has all week, he’s given everything. For his first championship, he’s like a pro, like he’s been doing it his whole life. He’s never been in this atmosphere before, but he’s actually better when there’s a lot going on.

“I never expected anything like this, I couldn’t ask for more.”

You may also enjoy reading…

Dreams fulfilled as sights set on Paris: Britain’s para riders show their potential at Europeans

Medals for Britain, the Olympic champion on peerless form and Paris fever: the stories you mustn’t miss from day three of the dressage Euros

‘Whirlwind spell’ for para rider making championship debut just months after giving birth

‘I hear them doing the Grand National at night!’ Carl Hester on the joys (and worries) of top horses living out

A rider ‘in shock’ and a sparkling silver: Brits in the medals at para dressage Europeans

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

As a teenager, Charlotte Cundall was on the cusp of making the youth British teams in eventing, competing up to four-star (formerly three-star) on her advanced horse What If. But after breaking her back for the second time left her with nerve damage, she was forced to rethink her plan. This week she made her debut at the European Para Dressage Championships, and absolutely smashed her personal bests to win team gold on the 17.2hh FJ Veyron.

Embroidered inside her new British red collar on her jacket are the words, “I had a dream”.

“It’s been a really long journey to get here,” says the grade V rider. “This red collar is so symbolic in British equestrian and it was always my dream doing ponies and juniors, young riders in eventing, to get the red collar. The turn of events meant I could no longer event, so I had to change my dream, and ended up with the red collar, so embroidered inside are the words, ‘I had a dream’.

“I never thought that when I had to focus purely on dressage that I’d get the adrenaline rush that I did eventing and point-to-pointing but I absolutely do, and things happen for a reason sometimes, so you change your dream or go down another path.

“[The two disciplines] are different but for a lot of the fundamentals of being able to prepare and campaign and hopefully ride in an environment, that’s similar. I wish I knew now what I knew in dressage when I was eventing, because I would have got some better marks! But there are similarities in being able to cope and give it your all.”

And so it showed. Charlotte brought the boldness and bravery of her former career into the dressage arena, flying down the long sides in medium canter to earn a string of eights.

“Why not!” she smiles. “You’re in there two movements from the end, the second medium canter and I just thought go for it, try to get as high a mark as possible. It’s one of his strengths and I used to be able to gallop when I was eventing so it’s just the same really!

“What a horse, he gave me everything and more in there, I am the luckiest girl in the world to be riding him.”

Surpassing expectations at the European Para Dressage Championships

Charlotte was ecstatic about her individual test, which put her fifth in a strong grade V field on 72.3%, but surpassed that in the team test to log 73.37%.

“Today I felt a bit more like I belonged, yesterday in the first championship test you wonder if you should be there, and today I was more confident to go in and leave nothing in there,” the 33-year-old said after her second test. “I had a little private goal beforehand – we always long for 70%, but as it was a championships I wouldn’t have been disappointed with 69. It is a dream to come true just to be in there.”

Charlotte’s nerve damage means she has a weakness down her left side, and she says it “takes a lot of work from a lot of people” to make it look seamless.

“Horses are incredible in the way they adjust to you being crooked and having weakness in the aids,” she says. “I work closely with my coach Ian Woodhead and they adjust.”

What makes the team test particularly tricky is that the rein-back and simple changes are positioned on the centre line, exposing any straightness issues out in the middle of the arena.

“They are double-mark movements so they are really costly if they don’t go well, so I’ve been focusing on them training,” Charlotte explains. “It’s fundamentally a medium test, but the placement of the movements is so exposing of the training, so it’s working on the basics and having everything really secure so you can deliver when it matters.”

And deliver she did, on para’s biggest stage.

You may also enjoy reading…

Dreams fulfilled as sights set on Paris: Britain’s para riders show their potential at Europeans

Back in business: bronze for Britain in nail-biting conclusion to para Europeans teams

‘Whirlwind spell’ for para rider making championship debut just months after giving birth

Medals for Britain, the Olympic champion on peerless form and Paris fever: the stories you mustn’t miss from day three of the dressage Euros

Defending champion grabs individual gold at Europeans – with a Brit on the podium too

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

It was another sweltering day at the European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany. Today (8 September), was the turn of the grand prix special, while in the European Para Dressage Championships, the team medals were decided after two days of competition.

There were a few surprises, plenty of British success – and a lot of anticipation ahead of next year’s Olympics. Here are all the stories to bring you up to date with today’s action.

Watch a round-up of today’s action in the video below

Gareth Hughes got the ball rolling for Great Britain in the grand prix special, taking the lead midway through the afternoon.

• Why would Gareth would be happy even if this was his final ride?

And he also shared sage words of advice for younger riders – and why you shouldn’t believe everything you see on social media

• Read Gareth’s words of wisdom on horsemanship and chasing dreams

The special built up to a dramatic conclusion as riders jostled for the lead, with the Olympic and defending champion reigning supreme.

• How is TSF Dalera BB still improving at the age of 16? 

Britain had three riders in the top five, with Charlotte Dujardin faring best in the bronze medal position.

• How much is there still to come from young Imhotep?

And there was more British success in the para team competition, with another team medal

• Find out how the team competition went to the wire and where Britain ended up

But it wasn’t jubilation for everyone. Ireland sadly didn’t have any riders qualified for the special.

• Find out why it’s been a disappointing few days for the team from the Emerald Isle

However, over in the paras, one Irish rider was enjoying her championship debut.

• What made Sarah Slattery’s achievement all the more remarkable?

Tomorrow, the dressage riders take a break from the competition arena. Meanwhile the para riders will go head to head in the freestyle, their final class, with more medals set to be decided.

You may also enjoy reading…

The end of an 11-year wait for team gold, dressage megastars go head-to-head, and Carl Hester extols turnout: 10 unmissable stories from the dressage Euros

The superstar keeping Carl Hester keen, dark horses and team standings: 9 stories not to miss from the European Dressage Championships

‘I hear them doing the Grand National at night!’ Carl Hester on the joys (and worries) of top horses living out

Back in business: bronze for Britain in nail-biting conclusion to para Europeans teams

‘The handbrake is still on’: why Imhotep’s European bronze is precursor to even greater things

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

The British para team showed last year’s no-medal showing at the World Championships was just a temporary blip, landing the bronze in an exceptionally tight finish to the team competition at the European Para Dressage Championships.

Following Gabriella Blake and Georgia Wilson’s heroic efforts yesterday in the grades I and II, where they both scored plus-74%, Britain found themselves in the mix for the medals, despite a new-look team.

The Netherlands, as at the last world championships, won gold, while Germany exceeded expectations to take silver. On predicted scores, it looked to come down to a three-way battle between Denmark, Belgium and Britain for the final medal slot.

How the final medals standings played out at European Para Dressage Championships

The grade V riders rode first, and both Brits scored huge personal bests to strengthen the team’s assault on the podium. Charlotte Cundall started well and improved as the test went on, visibly growing in confidence on the 17.2hh FJ Veyron, who was foot-perfect to put 73.37%, a huge personal best for the pair.

“What a horse, he gave me everything and more in there, I am the luckiest girl in the world to be riding him,” she said. “Today I felt a bit more like I belonged in the arena. For the first championship test you wonder if you should be there, while today I was more confident to go in and leave nothing in there.”

And so it showed. She nailed the double-mark movements of the rein-back and simple changes on a centre line, which she has been focusing on. And her more extended work in all paces scored high marks, with the last medium canter a bold final flourish.

“You’re two movements from the end and I just thought, ‘Go for it. Try to get as high a mark as possible’,” she said. “That’s one of his strengths, and I used to be able to gallop when I was eventing so it’s just the same really.”

‘When I can let the accelerator off, she’ll be phenomenal’

Sophie Wells was riding under the customary pressure that goes with being the final rider, and she delivered a beautiful test on her seven-year-old mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa for 74.08%.

Their test was outstanding from the outset, but tension crept into the half-passes. Sophie explained that the mare is so genuine she almost tries too hard, and looked for a moment as if she might rocket across the diagonal in the canter half-pass.

“That half-pass is our bogey move,” said Sophie.

“That was one of the hardest tests I’ve ever ridden. We had a couple of heart-in-mouth moments, but just for a couple steps and we got it back. She’s on 30% [power] and I’m saying ‘less, less, less, less’. The day when I can put my accelerator on and go, she’s going to be phenomenal.

“I always feel the pressure of going last on the team – waiting is so hard!” added Sophie, who does breathing exercises to help the mare stay cool before the test. “But Charlotte had done a phenomenal job, so that made my life easier. It took the pressure off, so I could just get my horse round for a good ride. We nailed the bits we need to and there’s lots to improve. She’s only seven!”

Sophie finished joint third, and Charlotte fifth in the individual standings, with Dutchman Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP out in front on 76.44%.

As the grade Vs completed their team tests before the grade IVs (no British representatives), Britain faced a nervous afternoon while the final Belgian and Danish riders performed. Both Belgium’s Manon Claeys and Denmark’s Renee Igelski would have had to post personal bests to overtake Britain.

Renee went first, scoring a below-par 70.54% and leaving Denmark – down to three riders after the withdrawal of Nicole Johnsen and Moromax after the individual – down the order.

Manon produced a lovely test, but she needed 75% to push Belgium ahead of Britain in bronze, and could only manage 73.7%. Italy managed to hold on to fourth, just 0.6% behind Britain, with Belgium fifth and Denmark sixth.

You may also enjoy reading…

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‘He’s never given me a ride like that’: para debutante overwhelmed by part-Connie in pursuit of team medal

Dreams fulfilled as sights set on Paris: Britain’s para riders show their potential at Europeans

The end of an 11-year wait for team gold, dressage megastars go head-to-head, and Carl Hester extols turnout: 10 unmissable stories from the dressage Euros

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Not content with making her championship debut at the European Para Dressage Championships, Ireland’s Sarah Slattery managed to do so just five months after giving birth. She was riding Savona, a San Amour I x Expose 5 mare, who competed briefly at prix st georges level for Finland back in 2018.

Sarah is a grade V rider and while she didn’t trouble the leaders with 66.39% in her first test – after making an impromptu flying change in the counter canter – she’s on a steep learning curve. Sarah is fairly new to para dressage, having started competing internationally in 2021, and this horse is a new ride since the birth of her second child.

“We’ve only been together three and a half months,” Sarah, 33, explains. “I didn’t even try her as I was seven months pregnant, so my mum and aunt went to see her. Then she arrived, I had the baby, and five weeks later I was out on her.

“It’s been a whirlwind, but I didn’t have any complications, so that made it easier to get back in the saddle. I tried to stay fit but in the last few months it’s difficult, so the minute I had my baby, I was walking, walking, walking. And we took it easy when I first got on her, no mad stuff. We started in walk and trot, while I built up my core.

“Savona is a proper queen; she wants it her way or no way – when she finished her test here, she was going back to the stables and said, ‘Don’t even try to stop me!’” Sarah says of the 15-year-old mare.

“This is only our third international and the bond will build and we’ll get more gelled. At the moment, we’re a new partnership and I’m new to para, but she’s quite forgiving of my mistakes. She’ll say, ‘Sarah, that was wrong you know? But I’m going to forgive you and we’ll move on. But I might remember it.’ She’s definitely a queen, but a very loving and forgiving queen.”

European Para Dressage Championships: Sarah Slattery’s story

Sarah has been riding from a young age – her father Tom Slattery is a five-time national showjumping champion who has won multiple Nations Cups and grands prix for Ireland. However, at the age of eight Sarah developed a cancerous tumour in her left arm, which had to be removed.

“They had to remove a lot of the muscles and tendons and ligaments in the arm, but thankfully I had a very good doctor, because it was 50/50 whether I would lose the arm when I went into surgery,” she says.

“Amazingly, he was able to replace the tendons and ligaments that he took out of the arm with tendons and ligaments from my legs. Because of that, my bicep is very short, so I don’t have a lot of strength in it. I can’t make a full fist and I can’t straighten out my fingers. So I use looped reins, ride with my legs and hope for the best.”

You may also enjoy reading…

A rider ‘in shock’ and a sparkling silver: Brits in the medals at para dressage Europeans

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‘He’s never given me a ride like that’: para debutante overwhelmed by part-Connie in pursuit of team medal

It’s a glorious GOLD for Britain at the European Dressage Championships

‘I hear them doing the Grand National at night!’ Carl Hester on the joys (and worries) of top horses living out

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

It’s the midway stage of the European Dressage Championships and European Para Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany. The team dressage tests are now over, while the paras are locked in a battle to decide the winning nation, with the grades IV and V due to complete tomorrow (8 September).

The dressage team contest crescendoed into a dramatic conclusion as the final rotations of riders featured a glut of personal bests from the world’s top combinations, but it was an action-packed day from the outset. Here are 10 stories to bring you up to date with everything that happened.

Watch a round-up of how the team medals unfolded in the video below

• Britain’s third rider, Charlotte Dujardin, was also one of the favourites for individual glory, riding Imhotep.

Find out how Charlotte fared…

…and what did this mean for Great Britain?

• Meanwhile, Charlotte’s groom is enjoying the challenge of her first dressage championship.

Who does Francesa Gorni have on speed-dial to help her ace her job?

• Carl Hester’s day one lead lasted right until his compatriot and stablemate Charlotte Dujardin took over.

If you want to relive Carl Hester’s test from the first day, sit back and enjoy the performance

• After Jessica von Bredow-Werndl took over the lead close to the end, it was left to Lottie Fry to secure gold for Britain.

How Britain nailed their first team championship since London 2012

• Lottie rode a fabulous test under pressure to score a personal best with Glamourdale.

How many 10s did Lottie rack up?

• Jessica’s huge score was not quite enough to lift Germany above Britain in the team rankings.

Watch Jessica describe the gift of riding her magical mare

• The para team competition is delicately poised in the middle of the two-day competition.

Find out how the two Brits got on in the grades I and II team tests

• Away from the competition analysis, Carl Hester flew the flag for elite horses enjoying turnout.

How does Carl weigh up the risk and benefits of field time?

• And an Armenian rider puts a new slant on the human-horse relationship

Carrie Schopf explains why slamming doors is not the answer – and the difference between mares and geldings

• Tomorrow (8 September) is the grand prix special. Here are the timings for the Brits and other major contenders.

You may also enjoy reading…

The superstar keeping Carl Hester keen, dark horses and team standings: 9 stories not to miss from the European Dressage Championships

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‘It means so much’: Irish rider marks second championship start in as many years with another stable star

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Today (7 September) was the turn of the grades I, II and III team tests at the European Para Dressage Championships. This was not an individual competition, but a contest to decide the team medals and, for those competing as individuals, to qualify for the freestyle. At this stage, with the grades IV and V riders to compete tomorrow, it’s unclear which nation is in the lead, due to the different allocation of team riders across the grades – meaning some nations have logged more scores than others.

It was a repeat of the individual placings in the grade II championship, where Britain’s Georgia Wilson once again took second on nine-year-old Sakura behind Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing (Horse24 Dooloop) despite gaining nearly 2%.

“Suki is feeling great and really wanting to work for me out there,” she said. “She’s quite level-headed and she was up for the job today, it was more my legs that were misbehaving but she helped me through it. She’s a really kind mare and I can trust her completely.”

Some horses seemed a bit sluggish in the 30ºC temperatures, but not Georgia’s chestnut mare, who also excelled in the heat at the Tokyo Paralympics.

“I live in Wales, and when it’s raining she doesn’t come out as she doesn’t like it, she’s not a winter horse.

“The team is getting along really well. We’re rooting for Sophie and Charlotte tomorrow but it’s nice to have a good score down for the team today.”

Heidimarie was extending her unbeaten record with Dooloop to 17 from 17 starts together. Norway’s Ann-Cathrin Lubbe took bronze on La Costa Majlund, as she did in the individual.

European Para Dressage Championships: Gabby Blake impresses again

In the grade I team test, Britain’s Gabby Blake was overwhelmed by the performance of her bonny 15hh part-Connemara, Strong Beau. His free and active walk remained purposeful and he maintained a lovely attitude and outline throughout, despite the stifling temperatures. They scored 74.5% for fourth place.

“It was amazing, I don’t think he’s ever given me a ride like that. He gave me everything! Things that I’ve always struggled with he nailed today.”

They had the tiniest of errors in their halt.

“I think he wanted to correct himself, it was just a little blip,” said Gabby. “I’m excited for the freestyle now.”

Italy’s Sara Morganti turned the tables on Tuesday’s winner Rihards Snikus. Rihards was only competing anyway for a qualifying slot, and Sara boosted Italy’s chances – the nation is now third behind Spain and Germany of those who have three riders to complete. Sara’s team-mate Francesca Salvade was fourth in the competitive grade III section with Escari on 72.23%.

Grade III features familiar faces

At the top of Francesca’s class, Denmark’s grade III superstar Tobias Thorning Joergensen continued where he left off in the individual test, winning by a comfortable 3.5% margin on 77.43%. The silver and bronze positions flip-flopped with Germany’s Melanie Wieland and Lemony’s Loverboy leapfrogging ahead of France’s Chiara Zanati and Swing Royal IFCE. Tobias’ lovely grey mare Jolene yet again produced a soft and consistent test to earn virtually the same as Tuesday’s mark.

“Today was even better; it was more elastic, better trot, better frame, so I’m not sure why the marks don’t reflect that,” said Tobias. “But I am super satisfied with my ride, it’s just the percentage which annoys me a little bit, but that’s how it is sometimes.”

There were no British representatives in this grade. Ireland’s Jessica McKenna, 22, laid down a solid mark of 68.63% on Davidoff 188 as part of her nation’s bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics. This is Jessica’s first year competing in international para classes.

“It’s my first championships, so I am just happy with how it went,” she said. “I felt like we improved from Tuesday to today – we’ve only been together just over a year.”

Sadly Jessica’s compatriot Katie Reilly, a 15-year-old debutante, retired mid-test on Impulz W.

You may also enjoy reading…

A rider ‘in shock’ and a sparkling silver: Brits in the medals at para dressage Europeans

Dreams fulfilled as sights set on Paris: Britain’s para riders show their potential at Europeans

It’s a glorious GOLD for Britain at the European Dressage Championships

‘On fire – but slightly distracted’: battle royal between three superstars as Lottie Fry conjures moments of pure brilliance

The superstar keeping Carl Hester keen, dark horses and team standings: 9 stories not to miss from the European Dressage Championships

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Britain’s two grade V riders at the European Para Dressage Championships may not quite have brought home medals in the individual contest, but showed plenty of promise ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Charlotte Cundall, riding in her first para championships, impressed to score 72.31% with FJ Veyron and finished fifth, with Sophie Wells just behind riding her very green seven-year-old LJT Egebjerggards Samoa. Belgium’s Michèle George (Best of 8) won gold on 76.31%, Frank Hosmar and the 18-year-old Alphaville NOP took silver for the Netherlands, with Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s collected the bronze.

While the mark was just shy of Charlotte’s personal best with the 13-year-old Vivaldi gelding, she said she “absolutely smashed” her pre-test expectations.

“I had a little private goal beforehand – we always long for 70%, but as it was a championships I wouldn’t have been disappointed with 69,” she said. “It is a dream to come true just to be in there.

“I enjoyed the warm-up but I just wanted to get started, and as soon as I came in I felt him lift, and I knew he was ready,” said Charlotte, paying tribute to UK Sport, the Lottery, World Class – and her mother – for their support. “When I was eventing my mum and I used to have a phrase that once you’re in the startbox, you’re on the rollercoaster, and so once I came up the centre line, I settled down and thought ‘off we go’. His extensions are his party piece, so I tried to go for the maximum.

“And it’s a dream to be here with Sophie Wells. She’s been an inspiration from the moment I started in paras, and we had a dream to get two grade Vs to a championships.”

Para team vet Rob Oulton also played his part – 14 years ago he inseminated FJ Veyron’s dam, with Charlotte’s ride the resulting offspring.

Sophie Wells’ newcomer catches the eye at European Para Dressage Championships

Charlotte’s mentor Sophie Wells might be used to being among the medals, yet she was ecstatic about LJT Egebjerggards Samoa’s sixth-placed performance. The dainty St Schufro mare is only seven, and Sophie grinned, “I love the bones of her!”

“Diana” was Sophie’s reserve after her top horse Don Cara M was withdrawn due to injury, and produced a mixed test full of potential. There were threes, and there were eights, but the overall score of 71.85% was good enough for sixth. They started extremely well, but broke in the medium trot early on and took a few movements to get back the marks trending back above 70%.

“She has such amazing ability, but she can be really hot – and she kept a lid on it,” Sophie said. “She made that mistake but then we got it back. She isn’t world-beating at the moment, but I love riding her and this was just about giving her the most positive experience so she could grow and be happy. It wasn’t her best test at all, but it is a massive step in the right direction – she is the type of horse who can lose the plot and I’ve had to retire her in some tests.

“There is loads more to come. It’s not all about winning medals, and I had no intention of doing that this year without my top horse. But she is very, very talented and has enough motivation for the entire British team. She’s like, ‘I can’t wait, I’ve got stuff to do, come on, we’re busy!’ She’s never naughty just over-trying.

“She’ll only be eight next year [for Paris] but I have complete faith in her; she’s already a different horse from last year and will be different again next year. And she will be amazing once she’s 10 and doing grand prix!”

New mum enjoys her debut

Ireland’s Sarah Slattery made an encouraging championship debut on Savona, just five months after giving birth to her second baby. They scored 66.39%, which while not enough to trouble the leaders, stamped the quality of this new partnership.

“We’ve only been together three and a half months,” said Sarah. “We had a mistake in our counter canter, when she did a little flying change, but other than that I was super happy – she held it together and I held it together well.”

“She’s a proper queen who wants it her way or no way, but she’s also forgiving of my mistakes and will move on.”

Sarah has limited strength in her left arm due to having cancer as a child, which required her arm to be rebuilt, so she rides effectively one-handed with looped reins.

European para golds go to Belgium and Netherlands

Today’s European individual gold medallist in grade V, Michèle George, may already have medals in her cabinet as the reigning world champion, but she said “every championship is different”.

“I try to get better every time and to have fun, because people often forget, horses should be fun,” she said. “I have a special relationship with my horse, it’s a moment of bonding together. She’s sensitive, very special and a princess – we make a perfect couple!”

There was a new face at the top of the grade IV competition in the form of Dutch rider Demi Haerkens on EHL Daula NOP, who scored 77.56%.

Her compatriot Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 NOP had not been beaten at a championships since 2017, but were slightly below their best to take the silver on 75.92%. Conversely, Demi conjured a personal best from her 15-year-old Gribaldi mare, to take the win.

“I was looking for the perfect horse for a year and a half,” said Demi. “She is very, very good on the aids and is very sensitive, which is ideal because I am not that strong.”

You may also enjoy reading…

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Britain’s two riders to compete on the first day at the European Para Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, each secured a medal in the individual grades I and II tests. In the latter, Georgia Wilson, riding her nine-year-old Supertramp mare Sakura, scored 72.97% to win silver behind Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing on Horse24 Dooloop.

British team debutante Gabriella Blake produced a personal best of 74.58% with her part-bred Connemara, Strong Beau, to take bronze in the Grade I.

Georgia already had a clutch of bronze medals from previous championships outings, but this was her first silver.

“I’ve always got a bronze on ‘Suki’ so it’s nice to finally get a silver and hopefully I can carry on the week how I’ve started,” said Georgia. “I was very pleased with my test, but there were some bits I can improve on. I want to polish up my halts and then I’ll be over the moon.”

Georgia, who has cerebral palsy, had been working on gaining more expression in Suki’s trot.

“The good crowd helped me with the trot,” she said. “I need more clapping.”

Gabby Blake makes stunning debut at European Para Dressage Championships

Gabby Blake was almost speechless after her scintillating championship debut. The 14-year-old grey Strong Beau – who leads racehorses up the gallops at home – produced a soft and settled performance. While he may not be as flashy as other grade I horses with his more pony-ish walk, he was loose, supple and foot-perfect, deservedly scoring high marks. Just the long-rein walk saw the marks drop.

Gabby narrowly missed out on the silver, with Germany’s Martina Benzinger edging ahead by 0.3%. The reigning world champion Rihards Snikus won gold, on King Of The Dance, scoring 75.25% despite forgetting his test midway through.

“I’ve never forgotten my test before,” said Rihards, who rides for Latvia. “I felt lost and the horse was confused, but the judge was very nice to explain what to do, but it was difficult, in English. Anyway, the horse has fantastic movement, fantastic walk, and he’s great in his mind. He wasn’t always easy; he used to go round with his neck up, but we’ve worked together for eight years now and he is a happy horse.”

Gabby can take encouragement from her bronze medal – Rihards was the reigning European bronze medallist, and has pretty much swept the board with gold medals since.

“I’m in shock,” Gabby said. “It’s the best test I’ve ever ridden and he went absolutely beautifully today. He loved it. He couldn’t have done any more. [Beforehand] I would have liked to have got a medal, but I just wanted to come and have a confident ride. I was very nervous this morning – but I kept my cool.”

Gabby lives with a condition called Mucolipidosis Type III. This is an inherited metabolic glycol protein storage disease that affects all her joints. She started riding at a very young age, and got her first pony, Silver, when she was six.

Runaway winner in grade III category

There were no British representatives in the grade III individual test, which also took place on the first day of the European Para Dressage Championships (Tuesday, 5 September).

Denmark’s Tobias Thørning Joergensen scored an easy win on his grey mare Jolene Hill, by Blue Hors Schufro Hit, to post 77.76%. They were in a league of their own with their soft, expressive and consistent work, reaping 8.4 and 8.3 for the serpentine and medium trot.

It was a tussle for the remaining medals, with second to fourth bunched within 0.4%. France’s Chiara Zenatti, who was born with limited movement on her right side and rides one-handed, took silver on 72.9%, riding Swing Royal IFCE. Germany’s Melanie Wieland (Lemony’s Loverboy) had a mixed test with some big highlights to take bronze.

The final two British team riders are Sophie Wells and Charlotte Cundall, both in grade V, who will perform their first tests on Wednesday.

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

You may also be interested in…

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Carl Hester: ‘The most exciting British championship team since Valegro’

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Whether you’re glued to the European Dressage Championships action already, or excited to tune in later this week, you might well be wondering who the European Dressage Championships commentators are on the live stream.

Full coverage of the championships, held in Riesenbeck, Germany from 5-10 September, is available with English commentary is available on ClipMyHorse.TV, and if you’re struggling to place the voices accompanying the action, we have the answers.

The commentators for the European Dressage Championships are the well-known and highly experienced equestrian commentator John Kyle alongside Paralympic gold medallist Natasha Baker – who also has her four-month-old son Joshua joining her in Riesenbeck.

Over at the para dressage arena, it’s world and European medallist Erin Orford offering up her expert insight as Europe’s best para dressage riders take to the stage.

The European Para Dressage Championships get underway today (Tuesday, 5 September), with individual medals set to be awarded in grades I, II and III. The individual competition continues in Riesenbeck tomorrow with the grades IV and V, with the team competition taking place on Thursday and Friday, and the freestyle for all grades happening on Saturday.

The European Dressage Championships will kick off on Wednesday, 6 September, with the grand prix, which runs across two days and determines the team medals. This will be followed by the grand prix special for the first set of individual dressage medals on Friday, and the freestyle, for the second set of individual medals, on Sunday.

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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Carl Hester: ‘The most exciting British championship team since Valegro’

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The European Dressage Championships trot-up has been completed for both the dressage and para dressage horses in Riesenbeck, Germany.

All eight British horses across both teams safely passed the trot-up and are ready for action. However, two dressage horses – including one from the Irish team – were not passed, and will have be re-presented tomorrow ahead of the start of the grand prix.

The British para dressage team of Sophie Wells (LJT Egebjerggards Samoa), Georgia Wilson (Sakura), Gabriella Blake (Strong Beau) and Charlotte Cundall (FJ Veyron) had their horse inspection yesterday (Monday, 4 September), with all four horses sailing through successfully ahead of the individual para dressage competition starting today (Tuesday, 5 September).

This morning, it was the turn of the British dressage quartet. As a stallion, Lottie Fry’s reigning world champion Glamourdale was the first of the British horses to take to the European Dressage Championships trot-up track, presented by Niek Haarlink, who has previously fulfilled this role.

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep were the next British combination to present, followed by Carl Hester with Fame and Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca. All four horses were passed without incident.

Four horses were sent to the holding box; Alejandro Sanchez Del Barco’s ride for Spain, Quincallo De Indalo, and Trude Hestengen’s Norwegian team horse Christianslund Furstino were subsequently passed.

Two of these were not accepted, and will have to be re-presented tomorrow morning before the grand prix. These are the 15-year-old Ultrablue De Massa, the ride of Poland’s Marta Sobierajska, and Turbo, the the 10-year-old Totilas son ridden by Ireland’s Sorrell Klatzko.

The British dressage team will have arena familiarisation later this afternoon, where they can work their horses in the main Riesenbeck arena. The competition will kick off with the grand prix, taking place on Wednesday and Thursday this week to determine the team medals.

This is followed by the grand prix special on Friday for the top 30 combinations from the grand prix, from which the first set of individual medals will be decided.

The European Dressage Championships concludes with the grand prix freestyle on Sunday, open to the top 15 from the special, and from which the second set of individual medals will be decided.

• Check out team lists for every nation at the European Dressage Championships

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

Last year, Britain finished off the podium for the first time in the history of modern para dressage, despite heroic efforts. But sometimes, positives are borne out of low moments. With Paris Paralympic qualification safely in the bag, Britain’s para team heads to the European Para Dressage Championships without the pressure that has accompanied every previous British side. And in the absence of pressure, we could see an exciting nod to the future.

Britain’s fortunes were no doubt dealt a major blow with the withdrawal of Sophie Wells’ Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Don Cara M, due to a minor injury. But it has also provided the perfect opportunity for Sophie to further develop her green yet talented mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, with Paris only round the corner.

Joining Sophie Wells in grade V ranks will be Charlotte Cundall, who has been knocking on the door of team selection for a while and fully deserves her call-up.

Georgia Wilson and Sakura have gone from the rookies of the 2021 Tokyo team to the most experienced combination this year, while Gabriella Blake and the part-bred Connemara, Strong Beau, make for an exciting addition to the squad.

Make no mistake – if they can bring their best form, these four women are capable of bringing home a medal for Britain and ensuring 2022 remains but a blip on an otherwise sparkling record.

Netherlands or Denmark for gold?

Gold for Britain, though, would be a big stretch, with the same crack Dutch side that claimed a euphoric victory in Herning returning for more at this year’s European Para Dressage Championships.

All four Dutch combinations have competed sparingly this year – likely in light of the fact that the youngest of their horses is 15 – but don’t bet against them adding another gold to their record in Riesenbeck. As the world order of para dressage has shifted in recent years, it’s the Netherlands that have emerged as leaders.

They won’t have it easy, though. Denmark won’t have forgotten the pain of being so narrowly beaten to the top spot on home soil last summer, and with big-scoring Tobias Thorning Jørgensen at the helm, they will be battling for gold. That said, the absence of double world gold medallist Katrine Kristensen from this year’s Danish side could offer up a window of opportunity for the Netherlands – and possibly other teams – to slip ahead.

Britain’s biggest rival for bronze is likely to be Belgium, with whom they were neck and neck for fourth last year, although Germany can’t be discounted and the young Irish contingent could do well, too.

This championship is set to be very exciting – not just in its own right, but in what it could suggest for the future.

European Para Dressage Championships: individual medal favourites

Tobias Thorning Jørgensen

This 23-year-old Dane and his grey mare Jolene Hill (above) are yet to be beaten individually at any major championship, with double gold at the Europeans, worlds and Paralympics. In fact, the only time they have been beaten in international grade III competition was earlier this year – by Tobias himself on Blue Hors Zackorado, his new ride who is his direct reserve for the Europeans. Tobias rides with great finesse and it adds to the graceful, harmonious picture this pair seem able to produce in the arena time after time. Expect to see them back in the medals this year.

Sara Morganti

Italy’s Sara Morganti has been a force to be reckoned with in grade I ranks for some time, with 14 individual medals to her name. This year, she won}t partner the evergreen 18-year-old mare Royal Delight – who hasn’t competed internationally since winning freestyle gold at the worlds last summer – but will instead ride the younger Mariebelle. The European Para Dressage Championships are 11-year-old Mariebelle’s first championship, but the pair have been together for several years, and have exceeded 81% twice this year.

Michèle George

Top grade V honours have long been a three-way battle between Britain’s Sophie Wells, Belgium’s Michèle George and the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar. In the past two years, it has been Michèle who has risen to the fore, thanks to her partnership with the very talented mare Best Of 8, who was found for Michèle by her trainer, Isabell Werth. They had a setback earlier this year, when Michèle broke her ribs in a fall while training, and although they started the Waregem CPEDI3* a week later, were forced to withdraw after a spook in their first test worsened the injury. Michèle has since reported that the pair are “back on track”, and she’ll be gunning to add European gold to the Paralympic and world titles she has already won with this mare.

Sanne Voets 

Sanne has been the undisputed grade IV queen since clinching her first individual gold with Demantur Rs2 NOP (above) at the Rio Paralympics in 2016. Since then, the Dutch pair have added nine more individual golds to their record, as well as leading the Netherlands to three team golds. Demantur is 15 now, and Sanne says her focus has shifted in recent years, away from medals and more towards horsemanship, welfare and the journey – though she remains as competitive as ever. It bodes well for yet more success.

Michael Murphy 

Michael bagged Ireland’s first World Championship para dressage medals in 2022, when he won double bronze with Cleverboy. Riesenbeck will be their first European Championship as a combination and now that grade I rider Michael has had a taste for medals, you can bet he’ll be hungry for more. They’ve been on good form this year with plus-80% on their last outing – higher than the score that won him bronze in Herning.

Sophie Wells

In her first full season, Sophie’s young mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa has already shown her talent in the international arena. Winning an individual medal at her first championship would be a huge ask, but not beyond the realm of possibility with a rider as experienced and skilful as Sophie. She’ll need to be more settled in the ring than she has been to produce her best, but will benefit enormously from this experience whatever the result.

Georgia Wilson

Having been team rookies just two years ago, Georgia and Sakura (above) are now Britain’s most experienced combination, and they’ll be in with a good chance to adding more medals to their growing collection. A recent freestyle personal best bodes well for their medal chances, and as the reigning European grade II freestyle champion, Georgia will be hungry to retain her title.

Frank Hosmar

Frank Hosmar’s faithful campaigner Alphaville NOP is lucky to be here, having survived a near-fatal illness 18 months ago. He made an almost unbelievable recovery in time to win team gold and individual silver for the Netherlands at the worlds last August, and although he’s 18 this year, still appears capable of big scores. Could easily add to his medal tally in Riesenbeck.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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

The four combinations who will make up the British team at the European Para Dressage Championships have been announced.

Among the British team for the para dressage Europeans at Riesenbeck, Germany (4-10 September), are two riders making their championship debuts, riding alongside two experienced Paralympic and world championship medallists. Three of the selected horses will be competing at their first ever championship.

The British definite entries for the European Para Dressage Championships, plus one direct reserve, are:

Grade I

Gabriella Blake with 14-year-old gelding Strong Beau

Owner: rider

Breeder: S Amos (GBR)

Breeding: by Spinway Blackthorn

Grade II

Georgia Wilson with nine-year-old mare Sakura

Owner: rider and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: Geri Eilberg (GBR)

Breeding: by Supertramp out of a mare by Woodlander Rockstar

Georgia Wilson with seven-year-old gelding Faside Got The Love (direct reserve)

Owner: rider and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: V Sandison (GBR)

Breeding: by Grey Flanell out of a mare by San Amour

Grade V

Charlotte Cundall with 13-year-old gelding FJ Veyron

Owner: The Veyron Partnership

Breeder: Active Equestrian (GBR)

Breeding: by Vivaldi

Sophie Wells with seven-year-old mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa

Owner: The Lady Joseph Trust

Breeder: Anders Green Hansen (DEN)

Breeding: by St Schufro out of a mare by Gribaldi

Travelling grooms: Liz Geldard and Beth Revill.

Riesenbeck will be a first championship for both Gabriella and Charlotte, while Georgia and Sophie won medals at the Europeans in 2019, Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 and the World Championships in 2022.

Georgia is the reigning grade II freestyle European champion, while for Sophie, this will be her 14th consecutive major championship riding for Britain.

Sophie suffered a blow this week when it was announced that she had to withdraw her top horse and world silver and bronze medallist Don Cara M from contention for a place on the British team at the European Para Dressage Championships. She has instead been selected on her young mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana), for whom this will be a first championship appearance.

Three reserve combinations have also been chosen. As a result of Sophie’s withdrawal of Don Cara, the selectors added Erin Orford and Dragon’s Fire to the nominated list. The reserves are:

Grade III

Erin Orford with seven-year-old gelding Dragon’s Fire

Owner: Neil and Jackie Walker, and Sophie Wells

Breeder: unknown

Breeding: by De Niro, out of a mare by Hohenstein

Grade IV

Nicola Naylor with 11-year-old gelding Humberto LOwner: rider and Rosaline Emery KayBreeder: J Lamers (NED)Breeding: by Cachet L out of a mare by Haarlem

Izzy Palmer with nine-year-old mare Je Suis AdivaOwner: Catherine AustinBreeder: C Wood (NED)Breeding: by Negro out of a mare by Fabriano

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Sophie Wells said she is “gutted” to have to withdraw her Tokyo gold medallist and current top ride Don Cara M from contention for the European Para Dressage Championships in September.

Sophie and “Don” were the most experienced of eight combinations that were announced last week as Britain’s nominated entries for the championships, which run alongside the European Dressage Championships at Riesenbeck, Germany.

The grade V pair were favourites for team selection and among Britain’s chief medal hopes for the Europeans, having picked up individual bronze and silver medals at last year’s World Para Dressage Championships in Herning.

Sophie and Rowland Kinch’s 14-year-old Don Jovi gelding made a super start to their 2023 international campaign, with wins at Hickstead, Kronenberg and Hartpury CPEDIs. They were on particularly strong form at Hartpury in early July, but Sophie explained that “Don knocked himself after getting 76% on the second day of Hartpury, and it’s now clear it will take a little more time to heal and be fit than first hoped”.

“Gutted doesn’t quite cover it,” she said.

Following Don’s injury at Hartpury, Sophie rode her younger mare, the seven-year-old LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana) in the final day’s freestyle, winning the class with 74.84%. Diana, who is still in her first season of international competition, remains on the list of British nominated entries for the Europeans.

Don has grown in strength and confidence over his time at top level, and Sophie said that it “felt like we could start to push this year and his confidence has grown so much the last few years, we were just about ready to go for it”.

“I’m so sorry for Don, and for Rowland, as it takes so much time, effort and investment to get any horse to that point – a huge team effort from a small number of important people – and particularly the timing to peak at one competition. Thank you as always to my team and sponsors,” said Sophie.

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Eight combinations have been confirmed as the British entries for the European Para Dressage Championships, which will take place in Riesenbeck, Germany, on 5-10 September.

The team of four that will travel to Germany, which must include at least one rider from grades I, II or III, will be announced in August.

Four of the nominated riders – Gabriella Blake, Nicola Naylor, Izzy Palmer and Charlotte Cundall – would be making their championship debut if selected for the team. This means that Riesenbeck will be a first championship for a minimum of two team members.

The nominated combinations that make up the British entries for the para dressage European Championships are:

Grade I

Gabriella Blake with 14-year-old gelding Strong Beau

Owner: rider

Breeder: S Amos (GBR)

Breeding: by Spinway Blackthorn

Grade II

Georgia Wilson with nine-year-old mare Sakura 

Owner: rider and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: Geri Eilberg (GBR)

Breeding: by Supertramp out of a mare by Woodlander Rockstar

Georgia Wilson with seven-year-old gelding Faside Got The Love

Owner: rider and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: V Sandison (GBR)

Breeding: by Grey Flanell out of a mare by San Amour

Grade IV

Nicola Naylor with 11-year-old gelding Humberto L

Owner: rider and Rosaline Emery Kay

Breeder: J Lamers (NED)

Breeding: by Cachet L out of a mare by Haarlem

Izzy Palmer with nine-year-old mare Je Suis Adiva

Owner: Catherine Austin

Breeder: C Wood (NED)

Breeding: by Negro out of a mare by Fabriano

Grade V

Charlotte Cundall with 13-year-old gelding FJ VeyronOwner: The Veyron PartnershipBreeder: Active Equestrian (GBR)Breeding: by Vivaldi

Sophie Wells with 14-year-old gelding Don Cara M

Owner: Rowland Kinch

Breeder: HM Melis (NED)

Breeding: by Don Jovi out of a mare by Rafurstinels

Sophie Wells with seven-year-old mare LJT Egebjerggards SamoaOwner: The Lady Joseph TrustBreeder: Anders Green Hansen (DEN)Breeding: by St Schufro out of a mare by Gribaldi

The names of the travelling grooms have not yet been confirmed, but will be included in the final team announcement.

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The triple European para gold medallist and British young rider team dressage horse Abira has died, aged 20.

The Danish-bred gelding by Dom Perignon x Dolomit was owned by Pammy Hutton and competed successfully by her son Charlie and daughter Pippa on international youth teams and at small tour, going on to win medals with para dressage rider Suzanna Hext.

“He had already had a double colic and we knew that they wouldn’t be able to operate on him a third time,” Pammy told H&H.

“Three or four months ago he had a bad colic day and settled down, but he didn’t deserve to ever be in agony again, and I knew it was time. We have to be fair to our older horses and it’s better to say goodbye a week too early than a day too late.”

The Huttons bought Abira as a three-year-old, without initially realising he was out of the same mare, Mie, as Pammy’s grand prix ride Belmondo.

With Charlie, he went to the junior European championships in 2006 and 2007, and the young rider European championships in 2008 and 2010. The pair competed successfully at small tour on the national circuit, and were crowned national winter inter I freestyle champions in 2010.

“Thank you Abira for teaching me so much. Your grit and strength will never be forgotten,” said Charlie.

Dressage horse Abira went on to compete briefly with Pippa Hutton in international young rider ranks in 2012, before teaming up with para rider Suzanna Hext in 2015, three years after the devastating riding accident that left the former eventer paralysed.

The pair went on to record numerous international wins in the grade III category, culminating in winning three gold medals at the European Para Dressage Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2017.

“I’ll never forget the first day I sat on Abira. I felt like I was floating, it was like nothing else mattered any more,” Suzanna told H&H.

“Every time I was with Abira he never failed to put a smile on my face no matter what. He took away the challenges I face in daily life. The bond and partnership I had with Abira was my anchor. His zest for life and everything he did was infectious.

“At the Gothenburg Europeans all my dreams came true and more,” she added. “I never necessarily thought I’d enjoy my life after my accident, to the same extent as before. However, Abira gave me a reason to fight hard, even through the tough times.

“He went through the archway at the Europeans and grew a hand! He said to me, ‘Let’s do this’, and on the final day when my body was in pieces he took over the reins and showed me the way.”

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Suz continued: “The freedom Abira gave me was like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. He’s one in a million, a horse of a lifetime, and a true legend. I honestly can’t thank Abira, Pammy and Charlie enough for giving me my life back, and helping me to believe in myself again after my accident. The opportunity they gave me to compete their special boy means the absolute world to me. He’s been my lifeline.”

As a much-loved schoolmaster at the Huttons’ Talland School of Equitation, Abira “taught so many so much”.

“He never said no. He was the most incredibly kind horse, and sometimes I thought he was almost human,” said Pammy.

“Letting him go was so hard – he was truly part of the family at Talland.”

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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