The achievements of Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic riders in Paris have been celebrated at a ceremony hosted by The Queen.

Yesterday evening (22 January) riders, owners, grooms, support staff, and British Equestrian (BEF) representatives attended a reception at Clarence House, London.

The Queen met the eventing team’s Ros Canter and travelling reserve Yas Ingham, dressage travelling reserve Andrew Gould and para dressage riders Natasha Baker, Mari Durward-Akhurt, Sophie Wells and Georgia Wilson. BEF chief executive Jim Eyre, performance director Helen Nicholls, dressage performance manager Caroline Griffith and para dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples were also in attendance.

The Queen spent time talking to owners and grooms, “acknowledging the vital roles they played in the teams’ successes”.

Mr Eyre thanked The Queen for her hospitality, “enduring support for the equestrian community” and continued patronage of the federation.

“He also took the opportunity to thank the athletes for their hard work and determination during their performances at the Games. He paid tribute to the owners, who are the backbone of our sport, and the grooms who dedicate their lives to the wellbeing of their equine charges,” said a BEF spokesperson.

“He ended by recognising the ‘team behind the team’ – the support staff, the performance managers and the practitioners, who all work tirelessly to ensure the athletes and horses can perform to their best on the world stage.”

The Queen was presented with a commemorative book of photographs, which captured “key moments and the team spirit” from Paris.

“I’m so proud to be your patron and what you achieved in Paris made us all feel very proud to be British,” said The Queen.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there, but I was watching every bit of it on television and it really did bring tears to the eyes. Thank you to the whole team for everything you do.”

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Georgia Wilson and Sakura (“Suki”) have won a spectacular silver in the grade II freestyle on 79.37% at the Paris Paralympics – matching the personal best she set at last summer’s European Championships.

After the disappointment of finishing outside the medals in the team competition yesterday, the British riders have all been in fantastic form so far on freestyle day.

Sophie Wells and LJT Ebdegaards Samoa won bronze in the grade V this morning, before Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg later climbed three places from their individual test to win bronze in the grade I freestyle.

“It’s been amazing,” Georgia said. “I was nervous because of the long wait before my test but I knew we’ve done it before lots of times, and that if I tried my best we could get a good score, and I think we’ve done that.

“She tried her heart out and I can’t thank Suki enough. Mum and dad sold their motorhome – which was their retirement present – for Suki, but I don’t think they’ll miss the motorhome too much now!”

Georgia has won three bronze medals previously, so silver here was her best-ever finish at a Paralympics.

Like Mari earlier in the day, Georgia had to wait and watch the riders to come after her on the screens in the mixed zone.

Among them were the USA’s Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes and Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen on Goerklintgaards Quater, who both finished ahead of Georgia in the individual test.

Both were remarkable, big-moving horses – testament to the horsepower which has been brought into para dressage, and quite a contrast to the more compact Sakura. However, a mistake by Katrine in the medium trot meant she finished outside the podium places in fourth on 75.69%.

“I can’t describe the feeling,” Georgia said, once she’d realised she’d won silver. “It’s a dream come true – to break out of the bronzes and to bring a silver back home to Wales is incredible.

“All the training that goes into it and to pull it off when it’s most important doesn’t happen often, and I think we’ve all done ourselves proud so far – we’re still fighting and we’ll come back even stronger.”

Fiona won her third gold medal of the competition on 81.99% – which means all three of her medals have been won with personal best scores.

“The third day I always have to dig a little deep because by that point my muscles are definitely tired,” Fiona explained. “But I have such a great partner in Diamond Dunes, and he went out there and gave me everything and whatever the results had been, I would’ve been so proud of him.”

Natasha Baker and Dawn Chorus will be last-to-go for the Brits, who’ll be hoping the medals keep rolling in.

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The Paris Paralympics dressage times for Saturday’s (7 September) freestyle have now been released. The top eight from each grade in Tuesday (3 September) and Wednesday’s (4 September) individual tests qualified, meaning all the British combinations will have one more shot at a medal.

Following the disappointment of missing out on team medals, all the British riders were excited at the prospect of leaving Paris on a high note.

“The freestyle is my best test,” said Natasha Baker. “I get to ride to my amazing music and a floor plan I’ve choreographed to show her off at her best – I can’t wait.

“It’s going to be a Cher and Shania Twain mix. I’m going to get the party started in Versailles. It’s loud, it’s bold, it’s sassy, and it also tells a bit of a story about my comeback

“It’s been put together beautifully by Nicole Pendzich and she’s done an amazing job. All my freestyles in the past have been very much about the horse but this is very much about me.”

The grade IV riders will be the first to go tomorrow, with Belgium’s Manon Claeys (Katharina Sollenburg) getting things underway at 9.30am local time (8.30am British time).

• If you would like to watch your favourite riders compete in the dressage at the Paris Paralympic Games, find out how you can follow on TV from anywhere in the world with our comprehensive guide. 

When will the British riders go?

• Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa at 11.42am local time (10.42am British time) in grade V
• Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg at 12.57pm local time (11.57am British time) in grade I
• Georgia Wilson and Sakura at 2.42pm local time (1.42pm British time) in grade II
• Natasha Baker and Dawn Chorus at 4.09pm local time (3.09pm British time) in grade III

Who else should you look out for?

• France’s Vladimir Vinchon and Pegase Mayenne at 10.24 am local time (9.24am British time)
• The Netherlands’ Demi Haerkens and Daula at 10.33am local time (9.33am British time)
• Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance at 1.33pm local time (12.33pm British time) in grade I
• Australia’s Bridget Murphy and Penmain Promise at 2.06pm local time (1.06pm British time) in grade II
• The USA’s Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes at 3pm local time (2pm British time) in grade II

Paralympics dressage freestyle times – complete list of tests

• The full times are listed below.

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Britain has missed out on a Paralympic dressage team medal for the first time in the sport’s history, finishing in sixth on a team score of 219.562.

After winning their first-ever team medal in Tokyo, the USA put in a series of sensational performances to win gold with a record-breaking score of 235.567. Despite improving on their Tokyo team score, the Dutch team had to settle for silver on 223.751 while Germany took bronze on 223.751.

The well-backed Dutch team got off to a flying start in the grade IV. First, team veteran Sanne Voets and the decorated Demantur managed to improve on their score from the individual test to earn 76.57%. Then Demi Haerkens and Duala added to the team total, with a score of 78.22%.

Roxanne Trunnell was first to go for the USA in the grade I, achieving 77%. However, the real difference makers were Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes in grade II, who scored a massive personal best of 80% – the highest score of the competition so far.

“From the first halt to the last halt it was all highlights,” Fiona said. “What a feeling when you can just trust your horse, and he just kept giving and giving. At the end my muscles were getting really tired, and I said ‘Keep going buddy’, and he was like ‘I got you’ – he’s incredible.”

Rixt van der Horst and Royal Fonq were next up for the Dutch and scored another massive score of 78.07% in the grade III. Last-to-go for the USA, Rebecca Hart and Floratina, entered the arena immediately after Rixt and had to score a personal best of plus 76% to win gold.

A tall order, but as soon as the combination got under way, it was never in doubt – their test was close to faultless, scoring 78.57%

“This one I dug deep for,” beamed Rebecca. “It’s always a bit intense being the closer for the team and knowing what your score needs to be in a pressure cooker situation.

“I was doing the math, and I managed to peak a look at the board for Rixt’s score and thought, ‘OK, lets go, game on!’

“I’m so proud of these girls and everyone behind the scenes, it wouldn’t have happened without each and everyone of us putting our best foot forward – it’s like a fairytale. This win will give us such a huge boost, so many times para sport isn’t highlighted as much as able-bodied sport.

“What I’m really, really hoping that this success and these medals bring for para is the recognition and the equality of the multiple disciplines within our federations, and realising we are valuable and we can deliver when we need to.”

No medals for Britain, but optimism for the future

Sophie Wells and the inexperienced LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (“Diana”) were first to go for the British team. Sophie thinks this mare will be “the best horse in the world at some point”, and they had moments of real quality in their test, with the shoulder-ins a particular highlight.

However, a break in the first extended trot and an expensive mistake in the first simple change after the half-pass to the centre line kept their score at 70.89%.

“I’m kicking myself if I’m absolutely frank,” said Sophie, who looked devastated but had to put on a brave face when she was waylaid on her way to the mixed zone after her test by Prince Edward, who’s a patron of the British Paralympic Association.

“She felt so good going in but I relaxed for a second in the extended trot, and then for the simple change, I just didn’t feel it coming. She surged out into the half-pass and I was like ‘Just be patient, get her back’.

“I got it back in the walk but then I clearly got my timing wrong, and you know she might be eight but I can still ride a simple change, and it’s a double coefficient which was really, really rubbish.

“I know I’ve got to keep her confidence, so once I tried to strike back off and didn’t get it, I just decided to stop asking.

“But it feels like time goes so quick in there, you take a breath for a second and it feels like 20 seconds – it’s hard having a mistake like that in front of everyone.

“We got it back, so I’m positive for tomorrow, but I feel like I haven’t quite done my part for the team and I feel bad for the guys coming after me because they’ve got a lot of work to do.

“The sport has come on so much it’s amazing. Other teams have overtaken us and that’s what sport should be, it shouldn’t be predictable. We’ve got to go home now, work hard and come back fighting.”

Georgia Wilson and Sakura (“Suki”), who were competing in their first team event at the Paralympics were the next British combination to go and scored 73.3%.

“I was pleased with Suki,” Georgia said. “She tripped over a few times at the start but we got there in the end, and produced some nice work. I was probably pushing a bit too much in the beginning, and I was a bit nervous so she probably picked that up.”

At that point, Britain were sitting behind Germany, France, Belgium and Italy, among the other teams who had one rider left to go.

Next to go for the Germans, Heidemarie Dresing – who, at 69, was the oldest competitor in the field – and Dooloop put in a solid test to score 72.9%.

That meant Natasha Baker, who was first to go in the grade III on Dawn Chorus, knew that to overhaul the German score and guarantee a medal for the team she needed an odds-defying 79.56%.

In the end, despite a free-flowing test and a personal best score since her return to competition six months ago, her 75.37% wasn’t enough to catch the Germans, but it was enough to close the margin on the teams ahead.

France and Italy’s grade III riders did enough to retake the lead over Britain, but that didn’t dampen Natasha’s spirits.

“I was thrilled with her, she just went in there and grew in confidence,” explained Natasha. “Her balance was much better and she stayed really relaxed – I just can’t wait for tomorrow now, I’m so excited.

“My aim coming here was to build each day, I wanted to give her a safe clear round in the first day and build on it as the days go on, and I feel I’ve done that today. I think tomorrow I can go in there and go for it.

“I’m so proud of my performance, but I’m also so proud of Sophie and Georgia. They both rode beautifully, and all you can do is come to a Games and ride your best and that’s exactly what the girls have done.

“Sophie rode an absolute masterclass this morning and gave Diana an amazing experience. We’ve also got to remember that’s her reserve horse, and it’s her first big Games in that type of atmosphere.

“I’m also on my comeback, Sophie’s on a new horse, Georgia’s the experienced one of us out here and she was an individual in Tokyo, so I think we should all be incredibly proud of ourselves.

“We knew we might not bring home a medal in the team, but it’s fine, we’ll live to tell another tale tomorrow and hopefully we can come back with some more medals.”

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ParalympicsGB and the British Dressage para selectors have announced the three combinations set to represent Great Britain in tomorrow’s (6 September) team competition at the Paris Paralympics.

Leading the charge for ParalympicsGB are seasoned Paralympians Natasha Baker (Dawn Chorus) and Sophie Wells (LJT Egebjerggards Samoa), who are both making their fourth consecutive Games appearance.

They will be joined by Georgia Wilson (Sakura), who, after making her Paralympic debut as an individual in Tokyo, will be competing in her first team event at the Paralympics.

That means world number ones Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg miss out – they have, however, qualified for Saturday’s (7 September) freestyle, so we will see them in action again.

All three selected combinations won bronze medals in the individual competitions; Georgia was the highest scorer on 73.41%, then Natasha on 73.17%, with Sophie scoring 72.26%.

According to the data, Britain is likely to be competing with Germany and Belgium for the bronze medal, with the USA and the Netherlands going for gold. But with no drop scores, and riding to a new test (grand prix B) anything is possible.

Sophie will be the first British rider to go, entering the arena at 12.13pm local time (11.13am British time). Georgia will ride next at 2.50pm local time (1.50pm British time), with Natasha last-to-go for the Brits at 4.03pm local time (3.03pm British time).

The competition starts at 9.30am local time (8.30am British time) with the grade IV riders first to go.

• To watch your favourite riders compete in the dressage team competition at the Paris Paralympic Games, find out how you can follow on TV from anywhere in the world with our comprehensive guide. 

Meet the British Paralympic dressage team:

Grade II

Georgia Wilson with 10-year-old Sakura

Owners: rider, and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: G Eilberg

Breeding: by Supertramp, out of a mare by Rockstar

Grade III

Natasha Baker with 13-year-old Dawn Chorus

Owners: Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, and Natasha’s parents Phil and Lorraine Baker

Breeder: S Lavendera

Breeding: by Dimaggio, out of a mare by Escudo

Grade V

Sophie Wells with eight-year-old LJT Egebjerggards Samoa 

Owner: The Lady Joseph Trust

Breeder: Anders Green Hansen

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

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Georgia Wilson and Sakura made it back-to-back medals for Team GB, winning bronze in the grade II individual competition on the opening day of equestrian competition at the Paris Paralympics.

Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes were the runaway winners, scoring 76.93% to claim the USA’s second gold in as many tests – it looks as though it’s going to be quite a contest between them and the Netherlands in the team competition on Friday (6 September).

However, there was very little separating Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater in second on 73.97%, Britain’s Georgia Wilson on 73.41%, and the oldest athlete in the competition, Germany’s 69-year-old Heidemarie Dresing with Dooloop, in fourth on 73.1%.

At points it looked as if Georgia and Sakura might not quite manage to overhaul Heidemarie, with the live scoring having her just below 73% as she rode down the final centre line.

But in the end, the collective mark for general impression helped seal it, bumping their score up to secure the bronze medal.

“I’m over the moon,” said Georgia, flashing her trademark smile. “I knew who I was competing against and I knew that if I was going to get a medal it’d take a lot of hard work.

“The competition in the grade II is so high, and the horse power is amazing, but that’s exciting.”

Georgia and Sakura were late call-ups to their last Games in Tokyo, where they also won individual bronze despite Sakura being the youngest horse in the competition at seven years old. In the years since then, their partnership has gone from strength to strength.

“We know each other inside out,” explained Georgia. “She loves an atmosphere and I had such confidence going into the arena with her – I think she knows when it’s competition time.

“But I was glad to not be riding in the rain from this morning. I came to watch Natasha [Baker] and then I dived back into the car!”

Georgia, like most of the riders through the mixed zone, was quick to credit her team for all their work.

“It was a massive team effort – I have an amazing trainer in Nicky Lickley, we go there every week and she helps me and tells me ‘come on, that could be better’ and all that training pays off.”

Sakura was her customary laid-back self during the medal ceremony, and while the crowd applauded, she was busy searching her groom Liz Geldard’s pockets for snacks.

As well as winning a medal, Georgia has comfortably qualified for Saturday’s (7 September) freestyle where she’ll ride to music by Ellie Goulding. But Georgia has even more to look forward to, because days after her selection for Paris was confirmed, she got engaged.

“I didn’t ride in my ring, I was too scared to break it,” said Georgia, “but it’s been a fab year, and hopefully there’s more to come.”

World number ones Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg will be the last British combination to go today, riding in the grade I at 4.35pm local time (3.35pm British time).

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Georgia Wilson and her British-bred mare Sakura (Supertramp x Rockstar) – or Suki, as she’s known at home – burst onto the scene at the Tokyo Paralympics, where they’d originally been selected as reserves.

However, the late, and heartbreaking, withdrawal of Sophie Christiansen and Innuendo III thrust the combination into the spotlight.

“I’m thrilled that Georgia will be taking my place,” Sophie said at the time.“For those of you who will miss seeing my smile, Georgia will similarly light up the arena in Tokyo! Becoming a Paralympian changed my life in a way that I hope Tokyo will do for her.”

And Georgia and Sakura certainly did light up the arena, belying their inexperience to win two grade II bronze medals.

Georgia Wilson and Sakura’s breakthrough

For Georgia, who was then just 25-years-old and grew up watching future teammates like Sophie Wells competing when she was still “tiny – on my little 14.2hh New Forest pony”, it was a watershed moment.

After scoring 76.75% to secure freestyle bonze, she reflected on what it meant to be competing alongside athletes she considered idols.

“To be here with them, I just can’t explain it,” she said, beaming, “I just want to do it again!”

Sophie Wells – who was coaching Georgia in Tokyo – recalled bursting into tears after the test.

“To have a horse right, to have the rider right, and to have it happen in the right place at the right time and do it in the arena in front of those judges, it doesn’t just happen like that and Georgia just bloody rode for every single mark,” she said.

At that point, Georgia and the then seven-year-old mare hadn’t even been a partnership for very long, and Sakura was one of the youngest horses at the competition.

“Suki came to me from the Eilbergs in 2020,” Georgia explained. “We tried her and said yes to her on the spot – she had such a nice big walk and really wanted to please.

“I liked her big nostrils as well. Michael [Eilberg’s] child was playing near the manège while his wife Maya was riding Suki as well, and she wasn’t at all bothered.

“She didn’t act like a seven-year-old, even though when we bought her she had only done one competition and only been in a horsebox once. We threw her in at the deep end and went off to qualify for the winter championships, but she wasn’t fazed by anything.”

Indeed, Sakura was actually Georgia’s second horse and it was her European gold medallist Midnight who’d been campaigned with Tokyo in mind. But after Midnight was ruled-out through injury, Sakura stepped up.

“I had a month of intense training with Sophie Wells before Tokyo, and in that month she changed so much.

“I had to work harder on my riding to catch up with her but I’ve had horses in the past who have been moody with the way my legs cling on when I ride, but Suki wasn’t bothered.

“She listens to me and was very good at learning voice commands.

“She took it all in her stride, and wasn’t bothered about anything. She’s very kind and always very relaxed, even on the plane she was busy eating and thinking about food.”

“She snores like an old grandad”

In fact, Sakura is almost as well-known for her love of food as her expressive paces.

“Suki’s two priorities in life are food and sleep,” explains Jade Lockwood, who was one of the travelling grooms in Tokyo.

“She was half asleep for the medal ceremonies in Tokyo as they were at about 11pm. I’ve also never known a horse to snore so loudly in my life. When she is fast asleep she snores like an old grandad – you can hear her from a stable block away!

“But she is very sweet and easy to look after, the textbook horse really. It was incredible to be on the kiss and cry stand in Tokyo, watching Georgia and Suki.

“They haven’t known each other long so we weren’t expecting anything, but they are perfectly matched. Before Georgia went in, I said, ‘Just enjoy yourself. Give you and the horse a good ride’. She did exactly that and it paid off.”

Since fortune – both bad and good – conspired to make Georgia and Sakura the breakout stars of the Tokyo Games, they’ve gone from strength-to-strength, establishing themselves as one of the leading combinations in para dressage.

In 2022, they travelled to the World Championships in Herning off the back of personal bests at Wellington and Hartpury CPEDI3*s that summer. Their hard work paid off as they returned with a bronze medal in the freestyle, riding to their emotive Love Me Like You Do routine.

Following their success in Herning, Georgia and Sakura have remained consistent, securing a podium finish in every international competition they’ve entered.

In 2023, they were selected to compete in the European Championship in Riesenbeck, where they added to their medal haul with a team bronze, an individual silver, and a freestyle silver.

Now, as they know prepare to ride down the centre line in Paris, their remarkable rise from unexpected reserves to consistent medal contenders serves as a testament to the magic that can happen when talent meets opportunity.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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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.”

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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

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.

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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.

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

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If ever there was a feel good story, then it had to be that from the Equissage Pulse Grade I para gold championship at the 2022 LeMieux national dressage championships where Di Green rode Jo Alderton’s 22-year-old The Scout to win. Two years ago, just before the nationals, Di, who has trauma-induced MS, smashed her pelvis in a fall and then last year went through gallbladder surgery.

“Jo very kindly let me ride Scout for therapy and to get me back into gear and here we are,” said Di, for whom this was a first national dressage championships Grade I para gold win. “He has just been amazing. He has big movement for a smaller horse, but he feels so safe.”

The horse originally came from the travelling community and is in fact a pacer. Jo, who runs the Hereford based Ride2Achieve, bought him after he came to her for reschooling with the aim of selling him on.

“He’s always had a good walk, which obviously is important, but he’s got the best brain,” said Jo. “He must have taught over 50 people to canter, he’s won the RDA showjumping with a blind rider – he is just the best.”

It was a blind rider, Nicola Naylor, who won the Grade IV riding Del Piero, known at home as PP. The combination was one of the reserves for the World Dressage Championships and Nicola has a spot at next year’s Europeans as her aim. But her Somerford win didn’t come without drama.

“I missed the buzzer to start my test and with being blind that put everything out slightly,” she explained. “I was off centre going down the centre line and it took me part of the trot work before I had time to focus on his frame and cadence, which is so important when you can’t see.”

Nicola, who trains with and is based with Sarah Millis, has had PP for three years.

“He had an eye injury and did very little from age seven through to 10 while he went through repeated eye surgeries,” she said. “When I went to see him I realised I’d tried him before, but turned him down because of the eye issue. This time I knew he was the right one straight away. We did our first show four weeks later and he’s hardly put a foot wrong since. He’d had plenty of training, but hadn’t competed and we’ve built on that. He’s just super with a super attitude and super talent – super everything!”

Georgia Wilson rode Midnight II, aka Midnight The Nightmare, to win the Grade II on a mark of 74.706%, the highest of the four para classes. Since 2019 the mare has been in and out of work with monotonous regularity having taken to posting sick notes with enthusiasm.

“Pulling shoes off along with part of the hoof wall is her favourite excuse. The trouble is she just likes messing around,” said Georgia.

Midnight has a busy few days at Somerford as Georgia’s sister Sophie has the 13-year-old qualified for both the elementary and medium silver classes.

“Sophie’s an eventer at heart really,” explained Georgia. “She’s always ridden as my support rider, but since she’s been competing her the mare feels stronger and Sophie gets her nice and forward; half halts have become much more important to me!”

Georgia was pleased with her test, particularly the walk: “I got the posh walk in there today, we missed out on the posh trot in the test, but the aim is to get that at the Keysoe International in October.”

Sophie Wells won the Grade V with her Tokyo team gold medallist Don Cara M. The 13-year-old Dutch-bred was having his first outing since scooping two silvers and a bronze at the World Championships in August.

“He had a couple of easy weeks and then switched him back on for here,” said Sophie. “I was really pleased with today, he’s quite an anxious horse so a close environment like the arena here is not an opportunity to miss. He’s felt very relaxed and confident today, I was particularly pleased with his extended canter back to collected as that has been a weakness but I was thrilled with that today and he got eights.”

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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

The Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships times have been released for the freestyle on the final day of competition in Herning.

The top eight riders across the five grades, using combined scores from their individual and team tests, have qualified to ride the freestyle for the final set of medals, and all four British riders are among those who will be in action on this final day.

The World Para Dressage Championships times for the four British riders are as follows:

• Georgia Wilson and Sakura (grade II): 10.53am (9.53am BST)
• Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer (grade II): 11.20am (10.20am BST
• Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus (grade III): 3pm (2pm BST)
• Sophie Wells and Don Cara M (grade IV): 4.21pm (3.21pm BST)

World Para Dressage Championships times: when do the other favourites ride?

Make sure you don’t miss these other riders, all of whom could end up on the podium:

• Rodolpho Riskalla and Don Henrico (BRA, grade IV): 9.54am (8.54am BST)
• Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 NOP (NED, grade IV): 10.03am (9.03am BST)
• Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater (DEN, grade II): 11.11am (10.11am BST)
• Pepo Puch and Sailor’s Blue (AUT, grade II): 11.38am (10.38am BST)
• Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance (LAT, grade I): 1.03pm (12.03pm BST)
• Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill (DEN, grade III): 3.18pm (2.18pm BST)
• Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP (NED, grade V): 4.39pm (3.39pm BST)
• Michele George and Best Of 8 (BEL, grade V): 4.48pm (3.48pm BST)

The team medals concluded yesterday, with the Netherlands taking gold ahead of Denmark in silver and the USA in bronze. Britain finished fourth, the first time they have finished off a championship podium in para dressage.

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The pressure is on for Britain’s final two riders to perform strongly on day two of the team competition at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark.

Britain currently sit in 14th on the team leaderboard, but the top nine teams have had more riders complete in the team competition, as only grades I, II and IV have taken place. Of the teams that have had two or fewer riders in action so far, Britain is lying fifth, behind the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Ireland.

Sir Lee Pearson and Georgia Wilson were in action for Britain today in the grade II division. Georgia and the eight-year-old Supertramp achieved a solid score of 72.91% to get the ball rolling for Britain, while Lee posted 73.53% on his home-bred Barcardi son Breezer.

It was a tricky test for Lee, and a score well below what he and the talented but sensitive Breezer are capable of – some unfortunately timed applause from the neighbouring jumping stadium upset Breezer just as he and Lee were about to enter the arena, and their performance suffered with some tension as a result.

“It’s a very difficult test with a hot horse in a big environment, and I would have liked to have earned a slightly higher score for the team, but I’m actually pleased we managed to put a score on the board at all, because there were moments when I had to work really hard to calm him down by sitting really deep in the saddle,” said Lee.

Britain’s current standings mean that it will take chunky scores from tomorrow’s riders, Sophie Wells and Natasha Baker, to lift the team onto the podium at the World Para Dressage Championships. But both riders are very experienced and will be looking to build on their individual silver medals from earlier in the week, with Sophie and Don Cara M having posted 75.28% in grade V, and Natasha Baker scoring 73.97% with Keystone Dawn Chorus for silver in grade III.

Britain’s main rivals coming into the championship were expected to be Denmark and the Netherlands, and both these teams have already posted vey high scores from their day one riders in the team contest, as they remain in the hunt for medals. Also in contention for a podium place at this stage are the USA and German teams, while Ireland have also enjoyed a very strong start, thanks to Rosemary Gaffney and Michael Murphy scoring well in grades IV and I.

Michael earned a mark of over 76% with the Vivaldi x Kennedy gelding Cleverboy, finishing third on the grade I leaderboard following his bronze in the individual.

“He was amazing and really took it up a level from two days ago,” said Michael. “As a team, we’re really progressing – give us a few more years and hopefully be able to challenge the top teams.”

As well as medals, teams are hoping to secure valuable qualification for the Paris Paralympics in 2024. The top seven teams will win a slot at the Games, not including 2024 host nation Paris.

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Georgia Wilson put the first British team score on the board in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results, as the Brits open their campaign for a team medal in Herning.

Georgia produced a smart test with the eight-year-old Supertramp mare Sakura, posting 72.97% to sit third at the halfway stage of the grade II in the World Para Dressage Championships results. Despite her score being lower than some of those she has previously posted in this test, Georgia was very happy with her ride, and said that it felt better than in the individual competition.

“I felt like I didn’t just go in there and freeze – I actually rode her, rather than being a passenger,” said Georgia, who is competing at her first World Para Dressage Championships. Her test featured some lovely walk segments, including fluid leg yields with lovely crossing.

“She felt a bit more rideable, a bit calmer and was listening to me a bit more. I enjoyed it, even though it was boiling hot.”

Temperatures have risen to 32 degrees in Herning, with several riders commenting that it has felt hotter than at the Tokyo Paralympics last summer.

“It is a more intense heat here,” said Georgia. “In Tokyo we had a breeze which was nice.”

World Para Dressage Championships results: Danes set strong standard

Georgia was followed into the grade II arena by Austria’s Pepo Puch, who laid down a chunky 75.44% to go second in the World Para Dressage Championships results, behind Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater, who posted 77.18% to take the top spot in the grade II standings so far.

“I’m so thrilled, today was an amazing test. He was really with me, a bit more calm so I really had the time to show the different things in the test today and I was calm myself. I really tried to do my best,” said Katrine, who added that although her individual gold earlier in the week helped give her a lift, it also put on the pressure as she was so keen to do as well again. “My trainer said I should ride safely, but also try to improve some things from last time.”

“It would mean so much for Denmark just to get on the podium,” she added.

Britain’s Lee Pearson comes later in this same class, riding his home-bred gelding Breezer at 4.34pm local time (3.34pm BST). The other two members of the British team, Natasha Baker (grade III) and Sophie Wells (grade V) will be in action tomorrow, on the second day of team competition.

It was at the last para dressage World Championships in 2018 that Britain were pipped to team gold for the first time in para dressage history, with the Netherlands taking the top spot on the podium in Tryon. Britain did maintain their unbeaten Paralympic run of gold in Tokyo in 2021, however, and have come to Herning hoping that they can also claim gold here. But they will be pushed all the way by the Danish and Dutch teams in particular, who have looked very strong so far in the competition.

In a shake-up of the format this year, that sees riders performing the “team test” in the individual contests and the “individual test” in the team competition, the scores across both tests will be combined to determine the eight riders in each grade who will progress to the freestyle on Sunday, 14 August.

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British trailblazers Georgia Wilson and Sakura set the nation’s World Para Dressage Championships hopes alight with a +71% score in the individual contest. The pair’s performance put them provisional second in the grade II results at this early stage.

Sakura, an eight-year-old mare who Georgia piloted to double Tokyo Paralympic bronze last year, looked a little on her toes today (10 August) at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships, presented by Elsass Fonden.

“It was nice to get the first test out the way. I like coming out of a test and feeling happy, and I feel like I’ve achieved that,” said Georgia, who scored 71.46%.

This is Georgia’s first World Championships, but she is no stranger to the pressure of riding for medals. She won gold on her senior championship debut at the 2019 Europeans, riding Midnight, and dazzled at her first Paralympics with Sakura in Japan.

Her talent and cool head shone today, filling the Supertramp mare with confidence as the test progressed, ending with a super halt. Georgia’s trademark beaming smile lighting up the arena.

“Everything felt as smooth as I could get it and she liked the atmosphere,” said Georgia, musing she wishes they were riding in the main stadium at these championships.

“It’s taken a while to get her to flick her toes in the medium [trot], but I feel like she’s getting used to it.”

She added “Suki” has developed to become a much more forward horse and she now has to relax in the saddle to get her to slow down.

“The leg yield [was a highlight for me], that felt really nice and forward into the contact,” said Georgia, who co-owns Suki with her parents, Geoff and Julie Wilson.

The change of format for this year’s World Para Dressage Championships means riders perform the “team” test in this individual competition, with the results deciding individual medals and serving as the first qualifier for the freestyle.

US rider Beatrice de Lavalette holds provisional gold with championship debutant Sixth Sense on 71.76%, with Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and La Boum in bronze on 70.97%.

Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer will be the next British combination into the arena at 1.56pm local time (12.56pm UK time).

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The Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships get underway tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 August) in Herning, Denmark, and the British team are ready for action.

Representing Britain in Herning are the same quartet who travelled out to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, bringing home team gold and several individual medals. Sir Lee Pearson on Breezer, and Georgia Wilson with Sakura are due to compete in the grade II individual championship on Wednesday, the first day of action. Sophie Wells will ride Don Cara M in grade V on Thursday, while Natasha Baker will ride Keystone Dawn Chorus in grade III, also on Thursday.

The team competition starts on Friday, 12 August and runs over two days, with the freestyle taking place on Sunday, 14 August.

All four British horses passed the trot-up on Tuesday morning, and have since been enjoying an arena familiarisation session – with one or two other familiar faces dotted around the edge of the arena too. Check out some of the photos from the trot-up, and of Natasha, Lee and Sophie in action later – with Georgia having ridden separately to the others to allow her trainer Sophie to be with her.

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The British team for the para dressage World Championships (6-14 August) in Herning, Denmark, has been revealed.

The four combinations and three reserves chosen by British Equestrian and British Dressage selectors are:

Grade II

Sir Lee Pearson and 11-year-old gelding Breezer

Owner: Sir Lee

Breeder: Sir Lee

Breeding: by Bacardi

Georgia Wilson and eight-year-old mare Sakura

Owner: Georgia and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: G Eilberg

Grade III

Natasha Baker and 11-year-old mare Keystone Dawn Chorus

Owner: Natasha and Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, and Natasha’s parents Phil and Lorraine Baker

Breeder: S Lavendera

Breeding: by Dimaggio

Grade V

Sophie Wells and 13-year-old gelding Don Cara M

Owner: Rowland Kinch

Breeder: H M Melis

Breeding: by Don Jovi

Sophie has also been chosen with a direct reserve ride, eight-year-old gelding Jillz Geuzenhof, owned by Charlotte Hogg and bred by S Maakenschijn.

The reserve combinations for the British team at the para dressage World Championships, listed in order of selection, are:

Grade V

Charlotte Cundall with 12-year-old gelding FJ Veyron

Owner: The Veyron Partnership

Breeder: Active Equestrian

Breeding: by Vivaldi

Grade I

Gabriella Blake with 13-year-old gelding Strong Beau

Owner: Gabriella

Breeder: Ms S Amos

Breeding: by Spinway Blackthorn

Grade IV

Nicola Naylor with 10-year-old gelding Humberto LOwner: Einagriz Horses SRLBreeder: J LamersBreeding: by Cachet L, out of a mare by Haarlem

Beth Revill and Sue Keates Robinson will travel to the para dressage World Championships as grooms.

Selection decisions are subject to the rider and horse maintaining fitness and performance, and the list may be amended up until 25 July.

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Britain’s Lee Pearson confirmed his place as king of the Paralympics dressage at the Tokyo Games when he completed a trio of gold medals by taking top spot in the grade II freestyle today. This brings Lee’s total of Paralympic gold medals won across team and individual competitions to an incredible 14.

Piloting his home-bred bay gelding Breezer in a double bridle, Lee put in a test that was notably for its brilliant lift and cadence in the trot and scored 82.447%. The rider admitted he had mixed expectations ahead of the class as the horse became upset in his last freestyle at Hartpury and Lee had to retire.

He explained: “Deep down, I thought we’d perhaps be leaving the arena retired, but then a little bit deeper down, when you dig really deep, I just thought he has brilliant power, he has brilliant paces. And if I don’t muck up then I thought he had a chance of a gold.

“But that was underneath believing that we may have to retire tonight, and speaking to my team and saying, ‘If I do retire tonight, I still love him and he still is amazing’. That’s the horseman in me, it still overrides the desire to win a gold medal, I was still really proud of him. But I’m a little bit more proud of him now he’s won a gold medal and helped me win a gold medal.”

Lee has won medals at every Paralympics stretching back to 2000 and said this was one of the least likely honours: “Breezer can’t help being sensitive, I can’t help being disabled, but we’ve done as much as we possibly can to get him in different environments. You can’t just have a button to say, ‘Don’t be more sensitive but do be more powerful’ – he was like a baby lion in there.”

Lee, who rode to Kung Fu Panda music, said the horse was actually more relaxed than in his previous tests in Japan.

“I’m twice over the moon – I actually didn’t care if I won a medal, that horse gave me his heart in there. He was braver than the team test, braver even than the individual test a few days ago.

“He still was nervous in there and we had a tiny little spook before I entered and I just half halted to say, ‘Daddy’s here’ and just kind of said, ‘Come on, we can do this’. Then halfway through the test I nearly started enjoying it and then I remembered I needed to get to the end before I enjoy it – he was amazing.”

Paralympics dressage freestyle: bronze for Britain’s Georgia Wilson

The results in this Paralympics dressage grade exactly mimicked the individual test earlier in the Games – Lee was chased home by the Austrian former event rider Pepo Puch on Sailor’s Blue (81.007%), with Britain’s Georgia Wilson landing bronze on Sakura with 76.754%. Georgia is trained by team-mate Sophie Wells.

“I used to compete on my little 14.2hh New Forest pony when Soph was on [Rio medallist] Valerius and Lee was on [triple gold Paralympic medal winner] Blue Circle Boy and I was tiny – to be here with them, I just can’t explain what it’s like,” said Georgia.

“I couldn’t do it without Sophie. She calms me down a lot and the training is just invaluable. To be on the podium with Lee and have an incredible athlete like him in my grade, it’s so special.

“I just can’t thank everybody enough for their help and all the team around us and the people that play National Lottery [which funds the World Class programme].”

Georgia was called up from the reserve bench to ride at these Games with her own and her parents Geoff and Julia’s chestnut mare Sakura, who is only seven years old, and the pair put in an active, accurate, neat test today. Sakura came from the Eilbergs less than a year ago.

She said: “So it hasn’t been very long and she’s the kindest mare ever. I could take her anywhere. She could probably come into a hotel and sleep next to me.”

The final Tokyo Paralympics dressage competition, the grade I freestyle, is now underway. There are no British riders in this grade at the Games. The Team GB para dressage medal tally is therefore complete and the Brits go home with incredible eight medals, including team gold.

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The opening day of dressage action at the Tokyo Paralympic Games had it all – medals, emotion, excitement and a whole heap of inspirational horses and riders. Find out how day one unfolded in the Equestrian Park...

Sir Lee Pearson scooped his 12th Paralympic gold medal with the home-bred Breezer in the grade II individual at the Tokyo Paralympics, with an international personal best for the combination in all para tests

• Find out why this win meant so much to Lee

And what a start for Paralympic debutantes Georgia Wilson and the seven-year-old Sakural. The pair’s talent, cool heads and maturity beyond their years was rewarded with a bronze medal in the grade II individual

• Read more about the eye-catching chestnut mare Sakura – who shares a name with Japan’s iconic cherry blossom – and what Georgia was most please about in their performance

Sophie Wells and Don Cara M capped the day with an emotional silver, rounding off a full-house of medals from the three Brits in action on day one in the Equestrian Park

• Learn what the key has been to this “Ferrari” of a horse and what the win meant to Sophie

Meanwhile, Belgium’s Michele George and Best Of 8 posted an impressive score of 76.52% to secure grade V gold at the Tokyo Paralympics

• Hear what Michele felt was the “most important thing” about her performance today

Reigning grade IV world and European champions Sanne Voets and Demantur added their first Paralympic title to their glittering collection, with individual gold

• Read what Sanne had to say about the pair’s sparkling performance

H&H’s Tokyo horse of the day is US rider Kate Shoemaker’s equine partner, Solitaer 40

• Read more about this pair’s amazing journey, their special bond and why people should never tell them that they “can’t”

Ahead of the action, H&H caught up with team groom Jade Lockwood, to chat about careers, life in the ParalympicsGB camp and how she got into grooming

• Find out more about Jade’s experiences of her first Paralympic Games and life behind the scenes at Tokyo’s Equestrian Park

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Paralympic dressage legend Lee Pearson has taken individual gold on the first day of equestrian action at the Tokyo Games.

Six-time Paralympian Lee rode a stunning test in the grade II individual competition to claim a “very emotional” gold medal – his 12th Paralympic gold and eighth individual Paralympic gold. Aboard his home-bred 10-year-old gelding Breezer, Lee scored 76.26% to finish almost 3% ahead of silver medallist, Austria’s Pepo Puch with Sailor’s Blue.

Britain’s Georgia Wilson, who took an early lead aboard the seven-year-old Supertramp mare Sakura, secured a brilliant individual bronze at her first Paralympic Games, after scoring 72.76% with a lovely test.

Lee and Breezer’s score was an international personal best for the pair across all three tests, and it was richly deserved. The Bacardi x Metall gelding, who was born in Lee’s parents’ field, is a super classy horse, and he displayed his beautifully loose, flowing paces with impressive overtrack in the walk and plenty of expression in the trotwork. Their test sheet was littered with eights, and they also pulled in nines for their circles, lengthened walk and Lee’s riding.

“I’m very happy; I cried at my second halt at X in the arena. It’s been a long journey, and Breezer is a home-bred horse,” said Lee, who has ridden at every Paralympic Games since Sydney 2000.

Success here was not a foregone conclusion for Lee, though, who was forced to retire Breezer at the final selection trial at Hartpury CPEDI in July after the gelding was upset by something in the arena.

“This is even more special because he’s very sensitive to environments, and at Hartpury I did not complete because of something in the environment there. So that added to the emotion,” said Lee.

“He knew this was a special day and a different day.

“When I heard everybody cheer within the British contingent [after the test], I thought, ‘Is that a cheer for a gold, or a great score, or just because I survived the test’,” he laughed.

“I wanted him to be soft, harmonious yet as powerful as I could make it. I’m really lucky that even though my disability when I walk is very obvious, when I’m in the saddle, I’m lucky that I have brilliant feel and suppleness in my lower back.”

Bronze medallist Georgia described finishing on the podium alongside Lee as “one of these amazing things that not many people can say they have done”.

“I kind of secretly wanted to take a medal home, but I didn’t tell anybody. And I didn’t go into it thinking it would happen,” laughed Paralympic first-timer Georgia, who was a late call-up to the British squad.

Having got off to the ideal start in the Paralympic dressage out in Tokyo, Britain has the potential to add another medal to the collection later today, with defending Paralympic grade V individual champion Sophie Wells in action at 10.20pm (2.20pm UK time) riding Roland Kinch’s Don Cara M.

Britain’s Natasha Baker, also a gold medallist from Rio, and London, will take to the arena in the grade III championship tomorrow riding Joanna Jenson, Christian Landolt and her family’s Keystone Dawn Chorus.

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

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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

The Paralympic dressage kicked off in Tokyo today (26 August), with Britain’s Georgia Wilson going into the lead during the early stages of the grade II individual championship at the Tokyo Games.

Paralympic dressage debutante Georgia scored 72.76% to sit in the provisional gold medal position aboard the seven-year-old mare Sakura. They pulled off a very smart test in sweltering conditions, with the Supertramp mare demonstrating active paces and a lovely frame, and Georgia, who is trained by Sophie Wells, riding an accurate and flowing test at the Baji Koen Equestrian Park.

They received at least one seven for every single movement, with the highlights being their square halts, purposeful medium walk and balanced eight-metre circles.

“I just focused on my key points and it all came off. Sophie told me to get my turns right and not do too sharp turns,” said a delighted Georgia. “I’m glad I got two good halts, that’s my main [highlight], but also just to go in there and ride a really nice test, and put into practice what we’ve been practising over the year – and to get it in the arena.

“Suki takes this all in her stride, and isn’t bothered about anything. She’s very kind and always very relaxed, even on the plane she was busy eating and thinking about food.”

The pair were a late call-up for the team, after the sad withdrawal of Sophie Christiansen and Innuendo III the week before the squad travelled to Tokyo. Georgia is the reigning grade II freestyle European champion with her more experienced mare Midnight, but this is Sakura’s first championship, the pair having teamed up in September 2020.

“I was reserve so I always had to prepare as if I was going, so if the call-up came I was ready,” explained Georgia. “I was very sad for Sophie Christiansen, but I was really pleased to have the call-up and to come to my first Paralympics. I hope I can follow in Sophie’s footsteps.”

Britain’s Lee Pearson will also be in action in the grade II individual, entering the arena with his home-bred gelding Breezer at 5.20pm (9.20am UK time). Sophie Wells will also stake her claim to defend her individual Paralympic title in the grade V, riding Don Cara M at 10.20pm (2.20pm UK time).

The fourth member of the British squad, grade III rider Natasha Baker, will compete in her individual championship tomorrow with Keystone Dawn Chorus.

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Britain’s Paralympic dressage squad have undertaken their final pre-competition familiarisation session in Tokyo’s spectacular main arena, as the final countdown to the equestrian competition begins in earnest.

Horses and riders have been able to spend some time in the main arena before tonight (Wednesday, 25 August), but this was the last time they were allowed to ride in there ahead of the competition.

A total of 77 combinations are on the Tokyo Paralympic dressage start list. Action in the Equestrian Park at Baji Koen starts with the individual medal competition, which runs over two days (Thursday, 26 August and Friday, 27 August).

Three members of the British squad will start their Tokyo campaigns tomorrow. These are: Georgia Wilson (Sakura), Sir Lee Pearson (Breezer) and Sophie Wells (Don Cara M), while Natasha Baker (Keystone Dawn Chorus) will get underway on Friday.

Paralympic dressage horses in Tokyo: the British squad

Georgia Wilson and Sakura, who she co-owns with Geoff and Julie Wilson

Georgia and “Sukie” will be the first of the Brits into the main arena, in the grade II contest at 4.16pm (8.16am BST) tomorrow (Thursday)

Sophie Wells aboard Don Cara M, owned by Roland Kinch

Sophie and “Don” will the last of the British trio to compete on the opening day, entering the arena at 10.20pm (2.20pm BST)

Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer

The pair start their grade II individual test at 5.20pm (9.20am BST) on Thursday

Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus, who she co-owns with Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, and her parents Phil and Lorraine Baker

Natasha and “Lottie” will be the sole British combination to compete on Friday, going for glory in the grade III individual competition

• All images courtesy of British Equestrian/Jon Stroud Media

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All four British horses have made it safely through the first Tokyo Paralympics trot-up today (25 August) ahead of the opening day of para dressage tomorrow, while one combination on the 77-strong entries list faces an anxious overnight wait.

Two horses were sent to the holding box – Laurentio II, the ride of Russian Paralympic Committee’s Vladislay Kolosov was passed on re-inspection. Sterngreifer, the ride of Czech Republic individual competitor Anastasia Vistalova, was sent to the holding box, before being re-presented. But the ground jury has asked to see the 15-year-old son of Souvenir again tomorrow morning (Thursday, 26 August).

The British side sailed through without a hitch. Sir Lee Pearson’s elegant 10-year-old homebred Breezer (Bacardi x Metall), presented by Jane Leese, was the first to come forward from the squad, looking relaxed and happy

Next came Georgia Wilson’s ride Sakura, who fittingly shares her name with the famous Japanese cherry blossom. Nina Venables presented the seven-year-old chestnut mare, owned by Georgia and parents Geoff and Julie Wilson, who was accepted with a nod.

Sakura was followed by Natasha Baker’s ride Keystone Dawn Chorus, owned by Joanna Jensen and Christian Landlolt along with Natasha and her parents, Phil and Lorraine Baker. Claire Gallimore presented the 10-year-old Dimaggio mare, who gleamed in the morning sun in Tokyo’s Equestrian Park at Baji Koen.

Last to come forward was Don Cara M, owned by Roland Kinch and ridden by Sophie Wells. The 12-year-old Don Jovi gelding appeared delighted to be out, with one excitable moment as he trotted back towards the ground jury, before going to join his teammates.

The quartet of immaculately turned-out Irish horses were all also accepted. Michael Murphy’s ride Cleverboy, who he co-owns with Bronte Watson, Elder Klatzko and Sue and John Murphy, opened proceedings for the squad and was given the wave of approval.

There was a slight nervous moment for the Irish side as the ground jury asked to see both Serafina T, the ride of Kate Kerr-Horan, and Werona, ridden by Rosemary Jane Gaffney, trot again. But connections didn’t have long to wait before heaving a sigh of relief as both were accepted.

Tamsin Addison’s own Fahrenheit was the final Irish horse to come forward, and passed without incident.

US world number one Roxanne Trunnell’s record-breaking equine partner Dolton was in a spicy mood, on his toes with his tail in the air. The nine-year-old gelding was one of several feeling the excitement of the occasion that were asked to be trotted up again, before being waved through.

Squads opted for a mix of sporty and more formal outfits. The Brits went for tracksuits and hard hats, for those leading up. The Danes looked particularly smart in white dresses and red blazers, or a full red outfit. While Ireland’s equine turn-out was particularly eye-catching, with Werona sporting a shamrock quartermark and Serafina T donning some subtle diamante on her bridle number.

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Eight-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen is out of the British Paralympic squad for the Tokyo Games following the withdrawal of her ride Innuendo III from selection owing to a “minor veterinary issue”.

Sophie has competed at every Paralympics since her debut at Athens 2004. Tokyo would have been her fifth Games and a first senior championship appearance for the 14-year-old Last Minute gelding.

This is a blow to both Sophie, who would have been looking to add more medals to her glittering collection, and to the British squad to lose a rider with such a strong history of championship experience and achievements. But it is testament to the strength of British para dressage that the European gold medal winner Georgia Wilson has been called up to fill Sophie’s place, aboard the seven-year-old mare Sakura.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken to announce that Louie and I will not be going to Tokyo,” said Sophie.

“There’s always that risk with equestrian sport and unfortunately it was decided Louie wouldn’t have been able to give his best due to a minor veterinary issue.

“I’m thrilled that Georgia will be taking my place. For those of you who will miss seeing my smile, Georgia will similarly light up the arena in Tokyo! Becoming a Paralympian changed my life, in a way that I hope Tokyo will do for her.”

Sophie added she is “truly gutted” for her team, who “worked tirelessly” to aid her selection, and everyone who helped with her fundraising.

“Anna Miller and Georgie Poulter made such sacrifices. It says a lot about the team that I have created that I am instantly looking on to Paris 2024, whereas in 2016 I was so miserable even with my success that I was contemplating retiring.

“I’m so glad that the conversation around athlete mental health has opened up as it is so important that we feel we can talk about it and speak up, rather than push it down, out of sight, so it isn’t seen as a black mark for team selection.

“I hope that the spotlight on the Paralympics will help showcase the standard of horses and coaching we now need in Great Britain, especially for the lower grades.

“Finding the right horse this cycle has been incredibly tough, and in order to get back on top and also help the next generation, we need owners, horse scouts and better coach training. I hope that the equestrian community will feel informed enough that they can support para dressage riders more, just as they do for the able-bodied teams.

“If you have my Paris horse sitting in your field, or would like to join the journey as an owner, or would like to help the other talented young para riders I mentor, hit me up! Sadly our ParalympicsGB kit must now be returned… Here’s to Paris 2024!”

British Equestrian performance director, Dickie Waygood, added the news will be a “personal disappointment to Sophie, who has worked so hard for a chance to represent her country at her fifth consecutive Games”.

“However, with the experience of Natasha, Lee and Sophie Wells now joined by Georgia, who, having tasted medal success in 2019, is ready for more, the British quartet will pose a strong challenge on the Paralympic stage,” he said.

Grade II rider Georgia, 25, won freestyle gold, individual silver and also helped the British team to silver at the 2019 European Championships with Midnight. Tokyo will be Georgia’s first Paralympic appearance and a first senior championships for Sakura, who she owns with Geoff and Julie Wilson.

The pair have two international shows as a combination under their belt and have never scored below 70% in national or international competition. Their recent results include 76.05% in the freestyle at Hartpury CPEDI in July, and 72.30% and 71.21% in the team tests at Hartpury and Kronenberg respectively.

All four riders on the British squad will compete in Japan and the team of three that will take part in the team competition will be announced after the individual contest.

Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB chef de mission at Tokyo 2020 said: “This is clearly desperately disappointing news for Sophie who is an incredible athlete, ambassador and advocate for the Paralympic movement.

“She has set the standard at recent Games and we were looking forward to seeing her compete in Tokyo.

“An injury to either rider or horse so close to the Games is very unfortunate and we will work with the British Equestrian to ensure Sophie has the support she needs.

“Georgia’s selection clearly demonstrates the strength in depth in British para dressage and we are excited to see her make her Paralympics debut in Tokyo.”

The para dressage horses are currently in quarantine and will fly to Tokyo on 18 August.

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Championship first-timer Georgia Wilson has won silver for Britain at the European Para Dressage Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The 23-year-old kept her cool in the grade II individual championship to score 73.47% with the 10-year-old mare Midnight, and finish in silver medal position behind the multi-medalled Austrian Pepo Puch, who took gold aboard his double world silver medallist Sailor’s Blue.

“Wow — I came here with the aim of just getting through to the freestyle,” said Georgia after her silver medal was confirmed.

“It was nerve-racking, but I told myself just to breathe and it would be fine. Midnight gives me confidence; she doesn’t spook or anything, and she just loves to flick her toes.”

The expressive mare by Hilkens Black Delight looked to be thoroughly enjoying herself in the arena, producing an active, fluid round that earned plenty of 7.5s and eights from the judges.

“It’s so nice to be here representing my country at a major championship — thank you to World Class, and of course to Sophie,” added Georgia, who trains with teammate Sophie Wells., for whom this is a first championship acting as a trainer as well riding.

The Netherlands’ Nicole den Dulk took bronze with Wallace NOP. She and the 16-year-old KWPN gelding posted 73.25% to finish just a fraction behind Georgia.

Article continues below…

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Britain’s Mari Durward-Akhurst was also in action on the first day of the para dressage in Rotterdam. She and the 20-year-old gelding Sky O’Hara finished seventh in the grade I at their first championship, with more than 70%.

“He was a bit on his toes in there but it was great to have him so up in my hand,” said Mari, who has qualified for the freestyle on Sunday.

It was tight at the top of the grade I championship, with Norway’s Jens-Lasse Dokkan and Aladdin winning on collectives from Italy’s Sara Morganti with Royal Delight. Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance claimed bronze.

Don’t miss next week’s issue of H&H for extensive coverage from the European Dressage, Para Dressage and Showjumping Championships, out 29 August.

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