Hayley Watson-Greaves has said a heartbroken farewell to her superstar Rubins Nite, her “dancing partner, teacher and best friend” for 19 years.

Rubin Royal son “Squeaks” suffered a bout of colic on Sunday (26 October) and could not be saved. The 21-year-old had been enjoying a happy retirement from competition for two years.

“He was the most incredible, special horse, my heart horse, who gave his all to me and to the world of dressage,” Hayley said. “He loved being in the limelight, dancing to his music, and he truly made me the rider and person I am today.

“We had the most special bond and partnership, one built on trust, respect, and love. Together we achieved things I could only ever have dreamed of.”

Hayley and Rubins Nite were national champions in 2017, represented Britain on teams, including winning the Compiegne Nations Cup in 2017, qualified for and competed at the World Cup Final and were reserves for the 2016 Olympics, as well as winning internationally across Europe.

Hayley bought Squeaks as a two-year-old from the field, for £3,000. She told H&H that at the time, she would buy youngsters, produce them and sell them on, but when she first saw Squeaks, she had just bought another horse so could not afford him.

“He was at a yard down the road to be sold and a couple of months later, the lady rang me and said I could have him for the amount of livery the owners owed, so I paid £3,000 and brought him home,” she said. “He must have loaded to go to that yard but the lady wasn’t sure he’d go in my trailer. I remember standing in his stable, blowing in his nose and giving him a scratch, then he just followed me on the trailer. And the rest is history.”

Hayley explained that Squeaks got his stable name as he would whinny whenever he saw her, and because he always kept his stable squeaky clean, exactly as he wanted it. She did all the groundwork and preparation, then when it came to backing him, there was a slight issue.

“He was such a mummy’s boy!” she said. “We’d formed a real relationship, and every time my dad took the lunge line and I went to lean over, Squeaks would run off. Then as soon as I jumped off, he’d do his little whinny and come over, as if to say ‘Oh, there you are, you’d disappeared’! I did think about advertising him but we’d formed such a strong bond.”

Hayley added that Squeaks was always a bit sharp and spooky, which was another reason not to sell him on. But she did not realise, early on, just how good he would become.

“My dream and goal was always to get to the top of my game – but I never dreamed it would be with him,” she said. “He wasn’t the biggest mover, but his work ethic, and our bond, were incredible.

“When he was six or seven, he could have been one who was pushed too much, too soon, as he learned so quickly; I remember when he was seven, I tried a couple of passage steps, just to see if he could do it, and he found the gear, and that was it. That’s where that big trot came from.”

Hayley said when Squeaks was five, Carl Hester said he “would make a nice horse for somebody”. When she took him back to Carl’s a couple of years later, he did not recognise him.

“He said ‘Who’s this?’” Hayley said. “I said ‘I brought him here a five-year-old and you thought he was all right’! And he said: ‘You need to get this horse on the World Class pathway’. So I did, and that started the route to our international career.”

Hayley and Squeaks contested their first international grand prix in 2014 at Addington, having competed at national grand prix locally that year.

“It was so exciting, to get my senior badge, especially with a horse I’d trained since he was two,” Hayley said. “But every time I rode him, even when it wasn’t such a good test, he made it fun, and I appreciated how far he’d come.”

Hayley said some of her highlights were being crowned national champions and the season she contested the World Cup series.

“We did pretty much all the qualifiers, and getting to the final was amazing,” she said. “Squeaks loved the limelight, he loved a crowd. He was quite a spooky horse so you might have thought he’d be terrified in those indoor arenas but he wasn’t. When people clapped him, he’d show off more, so those World Cup shows made him perform and show off; he seemed to love it.”

She added that although those moments, and of course representing Britain, were her highlights, Squeaks might have picked other favourites.

“He loved Olympia,” she said. “We competed there five or six times and of course the home crowd was behind him; he absolutely loved it, I’d swear that was his favourite show. He seemed to know when it was coming as he’d get his physio and chiropractor and vet checks, then we’d get out the 3.5t lorry because of the congestion charge in London – and he just knew, he’d be shouting and so excited.”

Squeaks also loved the sun and hot weather, Hayley said, so competing in Doha three times was a highlight for him – and he was always prone to a spook. Hayley shared a picture of him wearing a special “most dramatic spook” rosette, given to him by illustrator Emily Cole.

“Anything would make him jump, a camera clicking or a leaf falling,” she said. “He used to be a bit of a handful to lead round at shows, as he was so excited; he’d come in passaging and piaffing, probably saying ‘I’m here, everybody!’ You had to laugh, because that was just him. He loved the atmosphere, and the odd spook was fine.”

Squeaks was also known for his mascot, the stuffed Kevin the Carrot, who travelled the world with him and groom Sam Davis, often spotted sticking out of Sam’s rucksack.

“He loved carrots, to the point it was ridiculous,” Hayley said. “If he was in his stable, he’d whinny every time anyone went near the carrot fridge, so we decided Kevin would be an appropriate mascot. We had a big one I bought him one Christmas, and he had his own fridge, Superstar Squeaks’ Carrot Fridge, right next to his stable! He would share them with the others, but he got the most.”

Hayley made the decision to retire Squeaks aged 19; she said he would have enjoyed carrying on but she wanted him to bow out fit, happy and at the top of his game.

“His last show was Windsor and he was a bit spooky so it wasn’t his best score, but that didn’t matter,” Hayley said. “He’d done so much, and I knew the time was right, even if he didn’t think so.

“I still rode him but not as much, and Squeaks chose what he wanted to do. If he wanted to do some piaffe, that was fine, and if he wanted to tootle round being a giraffe, no problem. That was pretty much our relationship throughout his career; we knew each other inside out and sometimes the horse has to be able to choose.

“Then one day, I got on him and asked him to go into the arena and I felt him say ‘I’ve had enough’. I’d always said he’d tell me when he’d had enough, so I got off, hand-walked him for a bit and said ‘I think he’s ready to go in the field’.”

Hayley gradually extended the time Squeaks spent out, as he had never wanted to stay in the field all day, thinking he was missing out on something, until he was out all day with his friend Ryan the Shetland, and in, still as king of the yard, at night.

Then, last Sunday, Squeaks colicked and despite the vet’s best efforts, Hayley had to let him go.

“He made the decision for us,” she said. “You always know you don’t want them to feel sore or go lame, and then you have to decide but he did it for us. He chose a nice dry evening too. We always used to say he farted rainbows as 99.9% of the time, if it was raining, it would stop as soon as we went in for his test. He always managed to bring the sun out.”

Hayley added that she has been comforted by the number of messages and comments from Squeaks’ many fans.

“I’ve been up and down, on waves of grief, and I’ve been watching his videos and remembering what it felt to ride him,” she said. “He had so many supporters, and from them I can see how much he made his mark. It’s really heartwarming and I’m grateful to everyone who’s supported us on our journey.

“He had a great relationship with Sam; she called herself ‘Squeaks’ minion’ as he used to boss her around, he had a massive personality and was just the most incredible horse. There won’t be another like him, that’s for sure.”

Hayley paid tribute to Squeaks’ focus on the job and work ethic, as soon as he was inside the white boards.

“His focus, power, and presence were unmatched, he always rose to the occasion and gave me his whole heart,” she said. “Horses make you who you are, and Squeaks truly made me. He gave me memories, lessons, and moments I’ll carry for a lifetime.

“Thank you to Squeaks, for everything, for your spirit, the memories, for being my dance partner, my teacher, and my best friend. It has been the greatest honour and privilege to share my life with you. You will always be a part of me.”

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

You may also be interested in:

‘An absolute legend’: watch this 19-year-old international grand prix horse still thriving at top level

Dressage with a difference: hobby horses at the ready to help NHS

Entry is open to all, with 80% of the entry fee going to NHS Charities Together

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

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

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

Rubins Nite, the prolific grand prix horse and long-term partner of Hayley Watson-Greaves, has retired aged 19.

Hayley bought the Rubin Royal son, affectionately known as Squeaks at home, as a two-year-old. She backed him herself and brought him right the way up through the levels, with the pair making their grand prix debut at Addington CDI in 2014.

They have been competing consistently together at the highest level for almost a decade, and were still on top form this year, when they took third on 73.54%, which was, fittingly, also at Addington CDI.

“Squeaks is truly my horse of a lifetime and he has taken me places I could only ever dream of,” Hayley told H&H.

“He is a beautiful legend and gained lots of fans from around the world with his amazing presence and he wowed people with his incredible extended trot.

“He absolutely loves to perform and dance in front of the crowds, the bigger the better. Although we never did manage to get round a prizegiving unless he had won!

“We’ve had many career highlights, being crowned national champion, winning internationals, competing at the World Cup finals in Paris, competing at the London Internation Horse Show six times, being part of the British team on several occasions and being reserve for the Olympics in Rio, to name but a few.”

On his longevity and the prospect of retirement, Hayley told H&H in June this year: “It’s important to listen to your horse, which I’m doing with Rubins Nite. I think he’ll tell me when he doesn’t want to do it any more.”

Now, with Hayley in the process of redeveloping her yard and bringing on younger horses, the time seems to be right for superstar Squeaks.

“At 19 years old, I’m so lucky I can retire him fit and healthy and loving life and I’d like to thank everyone who has been a part of, and supported us on, our journey,” she said.

Squeaks will continue to be ridden and will feature in training videos and demonstrations.

There will be a retirement ceremony for him at the 2023 British Dressage National Convention (25 November).

You might also be interested in:

‘An absolute legend’: watch this 19-year-old international grand prix horse still thriving at top level

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

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

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

The age at which a horse is classed as a veteran has been investigated by researchers.

The team from the University of Kentucky have discussed their initial findings from a study; 122 US senior horses: When are they considered “old” and how does that affect their management? The research, in collaboration with Spillers, involved 2,717 US participants, who completed a survey about their horses’ age and management. Their horses were a mix of retired, semi-retired, and involved in competition or pleasure riding.

Findings included that 47.4% of respondents considered their horses “old”. 22.8% first considered their horses old at the age of 20 – 14.1% at 25 . The top reasons for considering horses older were their showing signs of reduced ability to exercise, age-related disease or disorders, and increased grey hair. Some 90.6% of participants made changes to their horses’ management when they considered them old, including changing their diet and/or adding supplements, exercising them less intensely and stopping exercise altogether.

Lead author Alisa Herbst told H&H the aim of the survey, which is part of a larger project, is to help improve the overall health and well-being of older horses by gaining a greater understanding of owners’ views and experiences.

“For some owners, seeing that ageing process will be a new experience, and they have to adjust their management accordingly. By knowing what others do and having support from experts, they can make the right management decisions,” she said, adding that further analysis of the data will be carried out and the team plans to publish the study in a scientific journal. An abstract has already been published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

“I understand the response that 20 is considered old, because that’s when we see a decline in exercise capacity – and the number one reason for considering the horse old was reduced ability to exercise. We know that there is a steep decline in exercise capacity between the ages 18 and 20, but it’s also important to consider that low muscle mass can affect the ability to exercise, which is something we also found.”

Dr Herbst added that it is important to consider the difference between reducing exercise intensity and stopping.

“Reducing intensity probably is a good thing to adjust to the horse’s capacity as they age, but stopping altogether may not be ideal. From human literature we know exercise in old age can have health benefits and slow down the progression of some diseases, and it’s very possible that’s also happening in horses. We currently have no studies on that so it would be good to look at this.”

In the UK, horses can join the Veteran Horse Society (VHS) aged 15. Founder Julianne Aston told H&H that the society based this age on the fact racehorses are generally considered old at 15.

“You get horses aged 18 going round Badminton, but these horses doing high-level work are obviously very fit and have a lot of stamina. I would question less experienced riders looking at their horses’ capabilities. For example, if you have an 18-year-old horse that hasn’t done much showjumping, then it’s suddenly taken to a showjumping competition, it might be a bit too much for their limbs. Not every horse at that age can achieve something like winning Badminton.”

Ms Aston added that sometimes owners can struggle to accept their horses are “veterans”.

“Some people can’t wait to join the society, and this year three quarters of our membership coming in are 16- to 17-year-olds,” she said.“But for others, accepting them as veterans is difficult, and they don’t want to think of them as old. To us at the society, 16 is a baby, but to the owner, 16 is a veteran, and that can be hard to get your head round.”

Grand prix dressage rider Hayley Watson-Greaves bought WG Rubins Nite as a two-year-old. He is now 19 and continues to compete at the top level.

“In terms of competing at an older age, it depends on the individual horse and how much they’ve done in their career. They’ve got to be fit, sound, healthy and happy. If they’re all those things, I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t be out enjoying them, if they are still happy to do so,” she told H&H.

“It’s important to listen to your horse, which I’m doing with Rubins Nite. I think he’ll tell me when he doesn’t want to do it any more. But equally I don’t want to run him to a point where he is not able to do it. I’d like him to retire from competition but still be in work, because I think that’s good for their mental health. I think for top horses there’s got to be that progression when you retire them, when they’ve been so used to and enjoyed competing.”

Hayley said she has not had to alter Rubins Nite’s management very much as he’s got older so far, but he does enjoy summer breaks between competitions and hacking.

“He knows all the grand prix movements, so I don’t need to do too much of those. It’s more about working on his fitness and suppleness as he’s got older, to be able to do the work without overloading his joints,” she said.

You might also be interested in:

‘An absolute legend’: watch this 19-year-old international grand prix horse still thriving at top level

‘She’s a force of nature’: no plans to retire 32-year-old mare who loves her job

‘I feel Chris would be proud of me for looking after her so well – and I know he’d be

‘He still feels like he wants to do nothing else’: 20-year-old Olympic stallion resumes winning ways

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

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

World silver medallists Gareth Hughes and Richard Davison are among the top dressage riders who have been announced as part of the line-up for the Defender CDI4* at Royal Windsor Horse Show next month (10-11 May). This is the first time international dressage has featured at Royal Windsor since 2019, and it is the highest-level dressage show to be held on British soil in 2023.

Gareth is set to bring his top mare, the 17-year-old Classic Briolinca, with whom he was a member of the silver-medal winning British team at the 2022 World Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark, also finishing fifth individually in the freestyle.

Gareth’s 2022 teammate Richard Davison is also Windsor-bound, with his championship horse, the 17-year-old Lingh gelding Bubblingh.

Olympic gold medallist Laura Tomlinson will join the field with the 13-year-old Vivaldi son Fallatijn, fresh from scoring a personal best in the freestyle at Hagen CDI4*, Germany, last week. Emile Faurie will also be in action at Windsor, aboard his London International Horse Show ride Bellevue, while Louise Bell will bring forward the experienced Into The Blue, Hayley Watson-Greaves will ride the evergreen Rubins Nite and Dan Watson will pilot Butterfly IV.

Making his Windsor debut will be up-and-coming British grand prix rider Lewis Carrier, who will ride his long-term partner and youth championship horse Diego.

Windsor dressage: notable absentees

For the first time in the history of international dressage competition at Royal Windsor, neither Carl Hester nor Charlotte Dujardin will feature in the line-up.

Charlotte, who rode Erlentanz to victory the last time Windsor hosted a CDI, in 2019, recently welcomed her first child, a daughter, and is enjoying a period away from competing. Meanwhile, twice Windsor winner Carl has opted to campaign his new grand prix ride, Fame, at the Hickstead CDI3* later the same week instead, and told H&H that he is allowing a little more time to bring his top horse, Olympic and European medallist En Vogue, back up to peak fitness.

“Vogue will start his international campaign at Wellington CDI in June,” he said.

Riders representing Ireland, China and Germany will complete the Royal Windsor dressage line-up for 2023. British-based Irish team rider Abi Lyle will make her Windsor debut aboard 12-year-old Farrell, with Kevin Acres (Ganesh) and Anne-Marie Rawlins (Etoile) in action for Ireland too.

Sarah Rao will ride Alfranco for China and Germany’s Kathleen Kröncke will present San Royal 3.

The grand prix takes place on Wednesday, 10 May, with a limited audience, and the grand prix freestyle will be on Thursday, 11 May.

You may also be interested in…

Carl Hester: Abuse towards officials must not be tolerated in any horse sport

‘Surrounded by immense love’: Charlotte Dujardin welcomes first child

‘An absolute legend’: watch this 19-year-old international grand prix horse still thriving at top level

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

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

Anyone wondering what an older grand prix dressage horse who loves his job looks like should check out Rubins Nite, the fabulous 19-year-old gelding who is still loving life at the top of the sport.

Rubins Nite, known at home as Squeaks, and his owner/rider of 17 years, Hayley Watson-Greaves, finished third in the grand prix freestyle at Addington CDI* last week.

Last to go in the class, which was won by Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos on 76.39%, Hayley and Squeaks produced a beautiful performance to spine-tingling music. They received 73.54%from the judges, to finish in third place behind Annabella in first and Greece’s Theodora Livanos (Robinvale) in second.

The judge at B, Mariano Santos Redondo, enjoyed Hayley’s beautifully choreographed test so much, he had she and Squeaks joint-first with Vamos Amigos.

“Squeaks danced his socks off last night,” said Hayley after the show. “I’m so proud of my boy and loved every minute riding our freestyle.

“I can’t tell you how much Squeaks means to me. Our partnership has spanned 17 years, he is just an absolute legend,” she added. “If anyone asks me if Squeaks still enjoys his job, I can categorically say yes!”

The pair scored highly for the canter work and the extended trot in their freestyle, which is always a highlight of their tests, but it was their harmony and Squeaks’ obvious zest for life that was most pleasing to witness.

It’s hardly surprising the pair have such a great relationship – Hayley bought the Rubin Royal son as a two-year-old and has backed and produced him up the levels, joking to H&H, “I feel as though we’re married”.

The pair have been competing at top level together for almost a decade, having made their international grand prix debut at this same show, Addington CDI, in March 2014.

In that time they have been crowned British national champions in 2017, finished 11th at the World Cup Final in 2018 and featured on numerous Nations Cup teams and championship team longlists, including being non-travelling reserves for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Quite a journey for this lovely horse, who clearly still loves his job as much as ever.

You might also be interested in:

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

‘A horse is an athlete’: grand prix rider Lara Butler on keeping older horses in top form

Hayley Watson-Greaves on returning to competition after giving birth: ‘I was shocked how unfit I was’

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

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

Former British national dressage champion Hayley Watson-Greaves had her first baby in April this year, when she and husband Paul Logan welcomed their daughter Elana to the world.

Hayley has recently returned to top-level competition, winning the grand prix freestyle at Keysoe International CDI last month with her long-term partner Rubins Nite. She talks about getting back to fitness and juggling motherhood with sport in an interview with H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan on this week’s Horse & Hound Podcast.

“After having a child, I’d definitely say take your time and let yourself heal,” says Hayley. “I was so desperate to get back on board. My groom actually banned me from the yard for a week because I was overdoing it, walking around going, ‘Right, I want to get back on’ and trying to get too involved when I wasn’t quite ready.”

Hayley says she was “shocked” how unfit she was when she returned to riding.

“I did keep up my Pilates when I was pregnant, just online doing it through Zoom, so that really helped me keep some of my core muscles. When I started getting back into it, I did some more Pilates myself at home, but I had to take it easy, and then for me, it was just riding. I think it helps I do quite a few stable chores as well.”

Although in general after a break Hayley Watson-Greaves recommends setting a particular competition as a goal and working back from it, she acknowledges that after having a baby, you do have to take your time.

She says: “I think it was about eight weeks after I had Elana that I went out to my first competition and I kind of wish I hadn’t because afterwards I felt I’d overdone it, I was out of breath.

“I was adamant that I wanted to get back in the saddle, but although I was getting frustrated and wanting to rush back to riding, it wasn’t a competition. I didn’t think to myself, ‘I need to be back in the saddle by then because I need to be out competing’, because you just never know what’s going to happen to your body. So I just had to rein that bit in and think, ‘I’ve just got to take my time with this and keep up with fitness as much as I possibly can’.”

Hayley explains that she and her husband Paul decided this was the right time to have a baby because of the enforced break from competition due to Covid-19. They planned in advance that Hayley’s parents would help with childcare.

“I’m really lucky,” she acknowledges. “I rent the yard from my parents so they live on the yard and they are very, very keen grandparents.

“I didn’t want to give up my career and they’ve been extraordinary helping. That has enabled me to go back to work because being self-employed, the horses don’t pay for themselves, so you have to go to work, and my clients are aiming for championships so they obviously wanted help.

“Because I’m very routine orientated – I think that’s horsey people in general – I was thinking, ‘Right, this is the time I get up and then I’ll feed the baby and she can sit at the side of the arena while I ride’. That worked for a time because she’d sleep in the morning and then she’d go to my mother for a couple of hours so I could go off and teach a couple of lessons to build myself back into it.

“But since Elana has got a bit older, that’s all fallen apart a little bit so I’m having to lean on my Mum a little bit more. Elana loves watching Hector, my small tour horse, so if you park her outside his stable she finds him hilarious, but obviously I can’t look after her and be riding while she’s awake, so I have to ask my Mum and Dad to help out.”

Hear more on Hayley Watson-Greaves’ return after having her baby Alana on episode 75 of the Horse & Hound Podcast – listen here or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

You might also be interested in:

Top British grand prix rider announces first pregnancy

Hayley and husband Paul are expecting a baby girl next spring

Competing mums: 9 top tips to make it work

It’s small wonder many mothers don’t have the energy to combine sport with parenthood. Each is all consuming, arguably incompatible.

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

Who is Annabella Pidgley? Find out more about the rider set to partner Charlotte Dujardin’s Olympic ride Gio

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

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

In our 75th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan talks to grand prix dressage rider Hayley Watson-Greaves about returning to riding after a break to have a baby. H&H editor Pippa Roome then catches up with the H&H news team to discuss Pau Horse Trials, the Olympic format, horses working on different surfaces and fireworks. Finally, equestrian psychology coach Charlie Unwin, gives his insight into what makes a great coach. Let us know what you think

Episode 75 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service available every Thursday morning for our H&H digital subscribers is now live.

Each episode is available for all H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app 24hrs after its early release to our H&H digital subscribers. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode. This will allow more listeners to make The Horse & Hound Podcast an essential part of their week on Friday morning.

• View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

In our 75th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan talks to grand prix dressage rider Hayley Watson-Greaves about returning to riding after a break to have a baby.

H&H editor Pippa Roome then chats to H&H’s Lucy Elder about Pau Horse Trials.

Pippa is then joined by the H&H news team to discuss the Olympic format, horses working on different surfaces and fireworks.

Finally, equestrian psychology coach coach Charlie Unwin, gives his insight into what makes a great coach.

• We would love to hear your feedback on all our podcasts, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

H&H Plus podcast: episode 75

.

.

Listen now to other recent episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast…

The Horse & Hound Podcast 74: Izzy Taylor | GCT final leg | Success & failure | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast 73: SEIB Search for a Star winner | Maryland review | Managing competition nerves | News update

The Horse & Hound Podcast 72: John Whitaker | HOYS review | Tackling nerves | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast 71: Emile Faurie | Nations Cup showjumping final | Identity & drive in riders | News round-up

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

Olympia and Liverpool may not be running this year but dressage fans can still get their festive fix this month.

The riders and horses due to take part in the LeMieux National Grand Prix Championships (21-22 December) at Hartpury have been announced. The line-up of Britain’s best riders features six previous national champions as well as partnerships aiming for team places and rising stars of the future.

“The final countdown is on to an extraordinary conclusion to what has been an extraordinary year,” said a British Dressage spokesman.

“The championships will be a celebration for us all to bring a difficult and challenging year to an end, as 30 of Britain’s best combinations battle it out for the coveted LeMieux national champion accolade. We’re really excited to unwrap an early present for you… the rider list!”

Riders and horses in alphabetical order:

• Lucy Amy with her own Rudy (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 11yrs)
• Nikki Barker with her own and Viv Gleave’s Durable (bay, stallion, 17.2hh, 12yrs, s. Spielberg)
• Nicola Buchanan with her own Half Moon Dark Magic (black, gelding, 17.1hh, 11yrs, s. Dimaggio)
• Lara Butler with Ursula Bechtolsheimer and Laura Tomlinson’s Rubin Al Asad (bay, gelding, 17.1hh, 18yrs, Rubin Royal x Wanderbursch II)
• Lewis Carrier with his own Diego V (dark bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 12yrs, s. Spielberg)
• Kate Cowell with Audrey Lawrence and Christine Richards’ Samba Dancer (chestnut, gelding, 16.1hh, 14yrs, s. Samba Hit II)
• Steph Croxford with her own Mr Benn II (black, gelding, 16.1hh, 11yrs)
• Liz Dieguits with her own Saskia Hit (bay, mare, 16.3hh, 15yrs, Sandro Hit x Akzent I)
• Charlotte Dujardin with Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle (bay, mare, 16.2hh, 11yrs, Fidermark x Donnerhall) and her own Gio (chestnut, gelding, 16hh, 9ys, Apache x Tango)
• Emile Faurie with Theodora Livanos’ Dono di Maggio (chestnut, gelding, 16.2hh, 13yrs, Dimaggio x Santander H)
• Paul Friday with Christine Trendell’s Winston Bond (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 17yrs, s. OOSeven)
• Dan Greenwood with Julie Leighton’s Chevalier O (bay, gelding, 16.3hh, 13yrs, Lord Letherdale x Negro)
• Alexander Harrison with his own Diamond Hill (chestnut, gelding, 15.2hh, 9yrs, s. Don Diamond)
• Carl Hester with Charlotte Dujardin’s En Vogue (dark bay, gelding, 17hh, 11yrs, s. Jazz)
• Megan Ingham with Coral Ingham’s Wanadoo (chestnut, gelding, 16.2hh, 19yrs, Wolkenstein II x Cavalier)
• Nathalie Kayal with her own DHI Homerun (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 15yrs, Hochadel x Mooiman)
• Lisa Marriott with her own Valucio (bay, gelding, 16hh, 11yrs, s. Va-vite)
• Becky Moody with her own and Julie Lockey’s Carinsio (black, gelding, 16.3hh, 13yrs, Painted Black X Beaujolais) and her own Famke PF (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 10yrs)
• Sonnar Murray-Brown with his own Erlentanz (dark brown, gelding, 16.2hh, 13yrs, s. Latimer)
• Alice Oppenheimer with Sarah Oppenheimer’s Headmore Davina (chestnut, mare, 16.3hh, 10yrs, Dimaggio x Rubinstein) and Headmore Dirubinio (chestnut, gelding, 17hh, 11yrs, Dimaggio x Rubinstein)
• Keith Robertson with his own Boheme Af Sulstead (chestnut, gelding, 17hh, 16yrs, s. Bernstein)
• Sadie Smith with her own Keystone Dynamite (chestnut, gelding, 16hh, 13yrs, Dimaggio x Escudo)
• Laura Tomlinson with Ursula Bechtolsheimer and her own DSP Rose of Bavaria (black, mare, 16.3hh, 10yrs, Bordeaux x Florestan I)
• Hayley Watson-Greaves with her own WG Rubins Night (black, gelding, 16.3hh, 16yrs, Rubin Royal x Limbo)
• Amy Woodhead with Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Kom Fairytale (chestnut, mare, 16.2hh, 14yrs, Furst Heinrich x Weltmeyer)
• Two more combinations will be announced in the near future.

“The scene is set for this festive extravaganza, and the atmospheric Hartpury international arena will feature Christmas decorations aplenty – but sadly no spectators, as the event will be taking place behind closed doors in accordance with our elite sport protocols,” the BD spokesman said, adding that all the action will be live-streamed free on Horse & Country.”

The Lemieux grand prix takes place on Monday, 21 December from noon, and fans will be able to compare their scores to the experts’ thanks to the Spectator Judging app.

The 15 highest-scoring combinations will take part in the Horse Health freestyle the next day. Coverage starts at 10.45am and the first horse will be in just after 11am. The combination with the highest combined score from the two tests will be named national champion.

Continues below…

Dust off your legwarmers: Disco Dressage has arrived

“I think there’s an opportunity for the industry, to offer coaching that’s vibrant and dynamic, and helps people enjoy their

Carl Hester wins 10th national champion title: ‘double figures on Nip Tuck is the icing on the cake’

‘He deserves his national title, he’s never had one before and he deserved that for what he has done for

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

“Can Carl secure his 11th title, will it be win number four for Laura, a third crown for Emile or will Charlotte get her name on the role of honour for a second time?” said the spokesman. “Will it be a repeat performance for Hayley Watson-Greaves or Lara Butler? Or maybe a completely new name will find a place in the history books in this unique year. Watch with us for two days of world-class dressage performances to find out!”

LeMieux is also offering prizes worth £1,000 to spectators, in a competition to predict the winning percentage score in the freestyle.

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 to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens 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

British international grand prix rider Hayley Watson-Greaves has announced she is expecting her first child with her husband, Paul Logan. Hayley and Paul, who are based in south Gloucestershire, are expecting a baby girl in mid-April 2021.

Hayley was crowned British national champion in 2017 with her top horse Rubins Nite, known as Squeaks, and the pair also represented Britain at the World Cup Final in Paris in 2018, finishing 11th.

Hayley and Squeaks are set to compete at the British Dressage National Grand Prix Championships at Hartpury this month.

“I’m currently still riding, but only my top horses: Squeaks and Hezzel, who is my small tour horse,” Hayley, 37, told H&H.

“I handed over the reins of my young horses a couple of months ago to one of my students, Kayleigh Poole. However, they are still based with me and I oversee their training on a daily basis and do ground work with them in between their ridden sessions.”

“I will continue riding and teaching until I feel I am no longer able to,” added Hayley. “My top horses will be kept in training as I plan to get straight back training and out competing as soon as possible after I have had the baby, all being well.”

Continues below…

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

Dressage with a difference: hobby horses at the ready to help NHS

Entry is open to all, with 80% of the entry fee going to NHS Charities Together

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

Hayley is a frequent member of Nations Cup teams and the grand prix circuit both in Britain and abroad, finishing fourth at Olympia in 2018 with almost 78%.

A freak accident after finishing seventh at the Doha CDI5* in early 2019 put the Rubin Royal son Squeaks out of action for several months, but the pair returned to the arena later in the year to finish third at both Hartpury CDI and the Hickstead Nations Cup, which was their most recent international outing.

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 to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens 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

Top dressage rider Hayley Watson-Greaves advises on the key to correct dressage training — that your horse works through from behind

Hayley is an international grand prix dressage rider who has represented Britain on countless occasions. She was a reserve for the Rio Olympics and, with Rubins Nite, is the current British national dressage champion.

Training the stars

Some horses naturally start off quite tense and benefit from exercises to encourage them to work over their backs and relax. For instance, as a young horse, Rubins Nite was fairly tight over the back. Instead of stretching, I would work onto the bit, doing lots of transitions to focus his attention on me.

Tackling the issue

1. Firstly, make sure that the horse is in front of your leg, accepting a light leg aid and responding instantly. This starts from the stretching phase: the horse should be stretching towards the contact, actively pushing from the hindlegs, reaching out towards the hand and not falling behind the vertical.

2. Always aim for a light but consistent contact. Make sure the horse doesn’t drop behind the contact, which will make it impossible for him to use his back end. A good exercise to encourage the horse to take the contact while stretching is to ride spiralling circles. Start on a 20-metre circle, then spiral down to a 12-metre circle, flexing him to the inside. Leg-yield back out and repeat. Keep the inside flexion throughout.

3. The horse needs to be relaxed and in balance so he does not rush. Some horses will need to start in a slower rhythm in order to be able to stretch and become softer over the back. Once you pick him up in a competition frame, the horse still needs to be pushing from behind, remaining supple and soft. If he starts tensing and does not push forward, relax the contact and ride a circle.

4. Transition work is also useful. The transitions can be upwards and downwards as well as within the pace, making sure the horse doesn’t resist the contact and come up in front. For a trot to walk transition, it can be a good idea to stay in a smaller trot until the horse relaxes, so he accepts that he needs to wait for you instead of tightening through the neck. Use your seat to make the transition and slow the trot down by rising more and more slowly until he walks. Aim to keep him forward through the transition.

5. For some horses, stretching over raised poles — either raised at one end and alternated, or straight across — is good to engage the horse’s core muscles, while also encouraging him to stretch over the back and maintain balance.

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

#SundaySchool: How do I develop my horse’s throughness?

Using cavaletti to improve the horse’s canter and balance

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

Consider this…

Hayley’s out-of-the-saddle tips to give your horse the best chance of starting his training sessions supple and relaxed in his body:

• Turnout: “They’re horses, and it’s so good for them, both mentally and physically, to be able to keep moving.”
• Pre-riding exercises: “Before I get on any of my horses, I do carrot stretches in between the front legs, and then to the side, both ways: low down first and then higher up. I also run a finger under the belly to encourage them to lift their back. Ask your physio for tailored stretches that will benefit your horse.”

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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

Top dressage riders have dusted off their tailcoats to take part in a grand prix with a twist.

Dressage Anywhere is running online hobby horse classes, with 80% of the entry fee going to NHS Charities Together’s Covid-19 fund.

Classes are being held at novice and grand prix, along with Pony Club and Riding for the Disabled Association tests.

The test will be judged by Stephen Clarke, Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Sara-Jane Lanning, with Alice Oppenheimer giving helpful hints to children.

Alice also kicked-off the grand prix competition as the first rider into the arena aboard Legless. Although Legless showed a little head tilt in the early trot-work, the pair performed a smart test, with the flying changes a particular highlight.

Hayley Watson-Greaves was next into her lockdown arena aboard Pinkie Pie. A musical mix-up meant the combination found themselves performing to Rubins Nite’s magical soundtrack. Luckily the music fitted perfectly to the pair’s freestyle and although Pinkie Pie had a couple of little spooks, these did not take away from the expressive performance.

Both have provided a critical commentary of their own tests, to help others looking to boost their marks in these classes.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Horses, but not as we know them: hobbyhorse craze goes global

The venue for the 2018 World Equestrian Games will be hosting an equine series with a difference this summer

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

Trot-ups and cross-country stops: virtual on-foot event brings grounded riders together

‘This is a dreadful thing that’s happening but we’re all in it together, we’re all in the same boat’

Competition is open to all and horses can be bought ready made — there are no pre-qualification rules to worry about and the Olympic nationality transfer deadline does not apply — or can be created at home. Tests can be carried out in arenas of any size and any surface, including gardens, living rooms and kitchens.

Competition dress is not compulsory, but extra marks will be awarded for turnout.

Entry costs £10 per test, with £8 of that going to the charity. All entries will also be entered into a prize draw.

For more information and to enter, visit: https://www.dressageanywhere.com/Competitor/EnterCompetition/557

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

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

Charlotte Dujardin took the roof off at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage CDI3* as she and Mount St John Freestyle finally rode their much-anticipated kür.

Having been denied the chance to ride her new music routine at the World Equestrian Games in September last year, this opportunity has been a long time coming, but Charlotte and the 10-year-old Fidermark mare made the most of it in the Superflex grand prix freestyle with a huge score of 87.6%. No judge had her below 86%, with two marking as high as 89%.

“That was my first time riding to that music,” admitted Charlotte, who also dedicated her ride to Roy Burek, the late chairman of Charles Owen, whose memorial service was held the same day.

Emma and Jill Blundell’s lovely mare was on top form, pulling off beautiful changes and super pirouettes — of which Charlotte rode two sets of doubles and two singles. They concluded the performance with a dramatic extended trot down the centre line as their Frozen-inspired music reached its crescendo.

“I’m absolutely thrilled because the degree of difficulty is immense; it is one thing another another and there is no room for error at all. On the last centre line I really didn’t know if I was going to stop — was was still raring to go,” laughed Charlotte.

“I don’t know what it is about that horse but she makes me cry every time, and that music feels so magical to ride to.”

Hayley Watson-Greaves took second after posting an international personal best score of 77.96% with her 15-year-old Rubin Royal gelding Rubins Nite. The pair produced a beautiful routine, and their highlights included smooth changes, rhythmic passage and their trademark extended trot.

Also achieving a personal best was the KK Woodstock, the ride of Gareth Hughes, who finished third on 75.93%. The elegant 13-year-old danced through the floorplan with just a mistake in their one-time changes pulling their marks down.

Lara Butler slotted into fourth with Kristjan, posting 72.99%.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

‘She makes me emotional’: Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle smash personal best to win Hartpury grand prix

What does Charlotte Dujardin do while schooling at home? We find out…

Learn more about how Charlotte trains her horses at home

Carl and Charlotte do Mr and Mrs: ‘we’ll know when Carl’s grown up because he’ll stop calling people names’

We go behind the scenes and play a quick game of Mr and Mrs with British dressage’s most loved pair,

Earlier in the evening, Jayne Turney rode Shirley Rixon’s nine-year-old Starnberg gelding Penhaligon’s Jupiter to victory in the hotly-contested Elite Stallions young horse prix st georges championship.

“Neither of us have ever done anything this big, so I’m speechless,” said Jayne, who has trained this horse since he was a five-year-old, and is still fairly new to the level herself. “He went in and thought it was a bit scary, but even when he feels like that I can still put my leg on, and he lets me help him.”

Don’t miss the 11 July issue of H&H for the full report from Hartpury CDI3* and Premier League.

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

Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle provided the perfect conclusion to the CDI3* grand prix at Hartpury, Glos, as they pulled a huge new personal best score out of the bag to top an extremely hot class.

Charlotte rode a fluent, powerful test with Emma and Jill Blundell’s 10-year-old Fidermark mare to earn 81.89%, with the individual judges’ scores ranging from 79.78% to 84.67%.

The only real blip in their stunning performance was a late change at the end of their huge extended canter, which Charlotte admitted was a “pat the horse, slap the rider” moment.

“She’s getting so much stronger and more confident in the arena, and letting me help her a bit more. She still over-tries but I’m so happy with everything. My changes felt great and all my piaffe-passage felt much better too,” said Charlotte, who plans to unveil her long-awaited kür with this mare on Saturday evening. “She makes me feel so emotional when I ride her.”

Carl Hester took second with the 11-year-old Diamond Hit son Hawtins Delicato. His 76.54% score also featured a sizeable discrepancy between judges, with marks from 73.27% up to 79.57%.

His test had some super highlights, with fantastic pirouettes and scores of nine for two of his piaffes.

“I’m really pleased with him — we nailed the pirouettes today; they were some of the best we’ve done, and the first piaffe was lovely. In the second the contact got a bit funny but then we picked it up again and that shows maturity. He was balanced and staying really forward in the test,” assessed Carl.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

What does Charlotte Dujardin do while schooling at home? We find out…

Learn more about how Charlotte trains her horses at home

Carl and Charlotte do Mr and Mrs: ‘we’ll know when Carl’s grown up because he’ll stop calling people names’

We go behind the scenes and play a quick game of Mr and Mrs with British dressage’s most loved pair,

H&H’s dressage editor Polly Bryan: The fight is really hotting up now *H&H VIP*

H&H’s dressage editor on the build-up to the Europeans and lunch with the best

Gareth Hughes was breathing down Carl’s heels, taking third with 75.7%. He and Classic Briolinca have enjoyed a stellar season so far and looked secure and relaxed here, with lovely changes and clockwork passage.

Richard Davison and Bubblingh claimed fourth, scoring 72.55% for a solid round, while Hayley Watson-Greaves slotted into fifth with her own Rubins Nite, the combination’s first outing since the Rubin Royal son took fright and bolted at Doha in April.

The grand prix freestyle takes place this evening, with Charlotte riding at 9.40pm.

Don’t miss the 11 July issue of H&H for a full report from Hartpury CDI3* and Premier League

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

Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester head the strong British line-up at Hartpury Festival of Dressage (3 to 7 July).

The pair are joined by numerous other stars of Team GBR’s dressage and para dressage squads as selection for this summer’s European Championships looms.

Charlotte brings forwards her 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) individual and team bronze medal-winning ride Mount St John Freestyle in the big tour, with whom she scored a grand prix special personal best at Bolesworth this month.

Carl also has his WEG team medallist in the mix, Hawtins Delicato, and their Tryon team-mate Emile Faurie rides the 10-year-old mare Café’s Caletta.

Across the rest of the show, Charlotte has four other rides — River Rise Nisa, Mount St John Valencia, Gio and Hawtins San Floriana — while Carl also has the rising star mare Brioso in the small tour classes.

London 2012 team gold medallist Laura Tomlinson is entered in the big tour with the talented stallion Duval Capri Sonne. Lara Butler has two rides — 2018 British Dressage national champion Rubin Al Asad and Kristjan, and four-time Olympian Richard Davison contests his consistent home-bred Bubblingh.

Continues below…

‘She’s such a trier’: clean sweep for Charlotte Dujardin at Bolesworth

Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle achieve an international grand prix personal best at Bolesworth

Tales from Rio: ‘Paralympic Games are like potato chips’

Meet South Africa's Philippa Johnson-Dwyer, who is as excited about her fourth Paralympics as she was her first, and sings

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

The popular combination of Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite are also among the 21-strong big tour entry, which also features Rebecca Hughes (Rubini Royale), Georgia Stokes (Talented Mr Ripley) and Tom Goode (Dior).

Sophie Wells, who brings her multiple World gold medal-winning partner C Fatal Attraction as well as her grand prix mare Diadeem, will be one to watch in the CPEDI.

Sir Lee Pearson is entered with B Grandeur and Breezer, with other para dressage stars Suzanna Hext (Abira) and Erin Orford (Dior and LJT Diamond Crusador) also among those competing.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

Top British dressage horse Rubins Nite has been given the “all-clear” to return to work after a freak accident while competing abroad.

“Squeaks” was standing quietly in the warm-up at Doha CDI in Al Shaqab (8 to 10 March) while rider Hayley Watson-Greaves was being interviewed in the main arena.

He shook his head, dislodging his fly veil, and panicked, resulting in the bridle and fly veil coming off and he bolted.

The 15-year-old gelding fell on the rubber matting, before he came back to Hayley and they were able to catch him.

“It could have been a hell of a lot worse and I’m just thankful that he is ok,” Hayley told H&H.

“He was ok to travel home, thank goodness, he just had quite bad skin burns where he fell over on the rubber matting and where he fell he had swellings from the bruising on his body.

“The vet has been out to check him and has been brilliant. He is sound, which is good, and has been having a whale of a time out in the field. He is pretty keen to be back and I’ve got on him a couple of times, just to give him a walk in the school to keep his mind occupied.”

She added the bridle was fitted to him and this has not happened before, but “accidents happen”.

“People have been asking why he isn’t going to Windsor and when is the next show, he has quite a following!” she said.

“It is just a shame and we are trying to aim for the European Championships later this year, but his health and fitness comes first.

“I didn’t want to push him for Windsor and it would have been hard to get him fit — it is all about what’s best for him.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

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

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

Carl Hester to continue Rio medal-winner’s comeback at Royal Windsor

Hayley and Squeaks are one of Britain’s most consistent top dressage combinations and have been competing together at international grands prix since 2014.

Their results include a multitude of top-10s across the world and they are a hugely popular pair at major competitions on home soil, with top results at Windsor, Hickstead, Olympia and Hartpury.

They were selected as non-travelling reserve for the 2016 Olympics and are stalwarts of the Nations Cup teams.

In 2017, the pair were also crowned British Dressage national champions at Stoneleigh and the following year were the sole British representatives at the 2018 World Cup finals, where they posted an impressive score of 75.35% in the freestyle.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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

Charlotte Dujardin has re-entered the top 10 on the world dressage rankings for the first time since 2016 with Valegro.

Charlotte and her current top horse, Emma Blundell’s nine-year-old Fidermark mare Mount St John Freestyle, rocketed from 69^th up to 10^th position in the latest rankings update on 1 August.

Freestyle is in just her first year at grand prix but is currently unbeaten at the level, raking in points from her CDI wins in Joosland, The Netherlands, in April, Windsor in May, Bolesworth in June and her most recent outing to Hartpury in July. There, she posted 77.44% to top the grand prix, and 80.51% for victory in the mare’s second ever grand prix special.

Charlotte is no stranger to the top of the world rankings — she occupied the top spot from 2012 until 2015 with Valegro, until the Negro gelding was retired from competition in 2016.

Germany’s Isabell Werth remains at the top of the 2018 rankings with just six weeks to go until the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA (11-23 September). She holds the top spot with her triple gold medallist from the 2017 European Championships, Weihegold OLD, but has moved into the second spot with Emilio 107, with whom she won both the grand prix special and the freestyle at Aachen CHIO5* last month, and eighth with Don Johnson FRH.

It is, however, Bella Rose 2, ranked number 268, who is Isabell’s first choice of ride for WEG. The 14-year-old Belissimo mare returned to competition in July after nearly four years out, and is unbeaten so far on her comeback.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Medal contenders announced for World Equestrian Games

Most major players for WEG have now announced their teams

Who will make the British dressage team for WEG? H&H’s dressage editor predicts…

Our dressage editor is finding it difficult to predict who will make the British team for Tryon

British WEG team confirmed: riders aim for more golden glory

The four riders who will attempt to continue Britain's golden para dressage record have been selected

The second-highest ranked Brit is Emile Faurie with Delatio; they have risen three places to 27^th after a successful Aachen. Lara Butler, who also performed well in Aachen, has risen to 33^rd with Rubin Al Asad, with Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite sitting just behind in 36th. Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato occupy number 128 after just six international tests together.

Completing the top 10 are the USA’s Laura Graves and Verdades (third), Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy (fourth), Germany’s Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr (fifth) and Helen Langehanenberg with Damsey FRH (sixth), Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Deja (eighth) and Holland’s Edward Gal with Glock’s Zonik (ninth).

Don’t miss our full preview of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, on sale Thursday 30 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

Additional reporting by Selene Scarsi

Isabell Werth’s 2014 World Equestrian Games ride Bella Rose has made her long-awaited return to competition, after almost four years out. The chestnut mare, whom Isabell referred to in 2017 as “the best horse of my life”, won the grand prix for special with 77.52% at the Fritzens-Schindlof CDI4* in Austria, before topping the special with 80.17%.

The elegant Belissimo M daughter, now aged 14, was last seen in action in November 2014, having been withdrawn from the 2014 WEG in Caen after scoring 81.53% for Germany in the grand prix, finishing second behind Valegro. Details were released stating that Bella Rose developed signs of an acute inflammation in the sole of her hoof.

She and Isabell returned to competition later that year, delivering an 81.94% grand prix special in Stuttgart, but it was to be the last time the mare was seen in action, as she sustained a knee injury.

“This was one of the most beautiful days of my horsey life,” Isabell told H&H after her highly emotional grand prix performance. “It was a dream come true that she came back [from injury]. It wasn’t perfect, but it was very good already so I’m very very happy.”

Continued below…

WEG dressage: Isabell Werth’s Bella Rose withdrawn

Germany's best horse from the grand prix at the World Equestrian Games is withdrawn

Top dressage horses out of Olympic contention

The multiple Olympic medal-winning rider has revealed which horses are out of contention and who she is aiming for this

Isabell Werth beats Anky van Grunsven to gold

Isabell Werth beats Anky van Grunsven to the gold medal as a new dressage star blossoms in Aachen

It was an excellent weekend for Britain’s Emile Faurie and Hayley Watson-Greaves, too. Emile’s 11-year-old gelding Dono Di Maggio (below) scored two international personal bests of 74.02% and 75.6% to finish third in the grand prix for special and second in the special behind Isabell and Bella Rose. Emile has long tipped the Dimaggio son as the best of his current grand prix string, and is aiming him for WEG selection this year.

Hayley and her 14-year-old Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite had a disappointing grand prix, finishing seventh, but were back on top form for the freestyle, scoring 75.75% to fill third place behind Isabell Werth and Emilio and Dorothee Schneider with Rock N Rose.

Don’t miss this week’s issue of H&H for the full report from Fritzens, on sale Thursday 5 July.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

Charlotte Dujardin beat Carl Hester to victory in the Al Shira’aa grand prix at Royal Windsor Horse Show this evening (10 May). The last to go of 13 competitors, Charlotte scored 78.58% to shoot straight to the top of the leaderboard with Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle.

This is only the nine-year-old mare’s second international, and third competitive grand prix, but she oozed quality throughout and made no major mistakes, with every judge having her in front, and Peter Storr at E awarding the pair 81.52%.

“I’m chuffed to bits with her, seeing as we’ve really done next to nothing,” said Charlotte of the Fidermark daughter. “It doesn’t matter how much you train at home, it’s not until you go in there that you really know where you are.

“It didn’t feel quite as sharp and crisp as it has done and there were little blips going into the piaffe and the transitions out, and the passage was not as regular as it has been, but she’s only nine.

“She’s actually just come into season so has been feeling a little tight in her back, but it’s a mare thing — what can you do!”

Carl posted 75.72% to take second in what was his first international grand prix with the 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato. Carl still has to hold ‘Del’s’ hand slightly during tests, but the Diamond Hit gelding presents a very impressive picture, with a piaffe to die for. They had a mistake in the one-time changes, and the pirouettes could have been tidier, but nonetheless Del is an exciting team prospect for Carl this year.

“He has so much presence and is lovely to sit on when he’s going; when I give him something to do he puts a lot of effort into it,”said Carl. “I’m thinking about the World Equestrian Games and trying to give him some nice rides. For a horse in his first year of grand prix, how lucky am I!”

Richard Davison rounded out the top three with the impressive Lingh son Bubblingh, scoring 70.83% to place him just ahead of Gareth Hughes and Don Carissimo, who were fourth with 70.73%. Hayley Watson-Greaves completed an all-British top five, posting 69.04% with Rubins Nite.

All 13 combinations go forward to tomorrow evening’s grand prix freestyle, which begins at 6.30pm.

Don’t miss the full report from Windsor in next week’s Horse & Hound, out 17 May.

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

Germany’s Isabell Werth beat the USA’s Laura Graves to the FEI World Cup title this afternoon (Saturday, 14 April) in Paris, in an incredibly tense showdown.

Laura’s score of 89.082% with her own and her boyfriend Curt Maes’ Verdades was a personal best by 3.886%, rewarding a flawless test with a high degree of difficulty.

“My horse has been terrific all week, I’m super-proud and impressed with how our training is going and how he was in that environment. Perhaps I could have done more to help him and then maybe we would have hit 90%. But we’re so close and that’s exciting,” said Laura.

But Isabell came back fighting after being beaten by Laura in the grand prix yesterday and matched her error-free performance with one of her own on Christine Arns-Krogmann’s black mare Weihegold OLD. She scored 90.657%.

“Today my horse was really perfect and that was one of our best freestyles, perhaps the best,” said Isabell. “I was sure Laura would get a high mark and I was focused on fighting. I tried to analyse what happened yesterday and improve.”

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was emotional to finish third for Germany with Christine Bürchler-Keller’s 17-year-old Unee BB, scoring 83.725%.

“It’s our third time on the podium at a World Cup final and his last final,” she said. “It’s very hard to beat Patrik [Kittel, fourth on 83.146%] and his 83% but we did it!”

Britain’s Hayley Watson-Greaves was pleased with her 75.346% for 11th on Rubins Nite.

“He went in there again and stayed relaxed and I’m delighted with our score,” said World Cup final debutante Hayley.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Form book upset at World Cup dressage final: ‘It’s Friday 13th; it’s not my day’

Mistakes for the favourite and a personal best for the challenger led to a clean win for the US in

Rider eliminated under blood rule at World Cup jumping final

The rule eliminating riders in these circumstances must be upheld for horse welfare reasons, says the FEI, after a rider

Beezie Madden still leads World Cup jumping final; Whitakers progress to Sunday’s last leg

The US rider repeats her first place from yesterday tonight in Paris, while Michael and Robert Whitaker both make the

Full report from Paris in Horse & Hound next week (issue dated 19 April).

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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 formbook was upset at the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Paris this afternoon (Friday, 13 April) as the US combination of Laura Graves and Verdades beat Germany’s Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD to top spot in the grand prix.

Laura has beaten Isabell once before — in Aachen last summer — but the German undoubtedly started as favourite.

But errors when Christine Arns-Krogmann’s 13-year-old black mare proved impetuous in canter brought Isabell’s score down to 78.26%, while Laura put in a personal best for 81.413%.

“It’s Friday 13th, it’s not my best day!” joked Isabell. “I hadn’t planned her to be so hot in the canter and it was a bit surprising for me. But it’s not serious, it happens. I hadn’t planned it like this, but tomorrow I will make it as hard as possible for Laura. I’ll take all the risks I can and I hope I can be more focused than today.”

Laura raised a laugh when she said it feels “very scary” to beat Isabell.

“She’s such a fierce competitor, I know she’s going to ride even harder tomorrow,” she said, adding that she was “super-pleased” with her test. “It was extremely clean and the judges agreed it was a personal best; there’s no better time for that to happen.”

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl took third with 75.667% on the veteran Unee BB, who belongs to Beatrice Bürchler-Keller.

“I’ve heard a lot about this venue because my parents watched the World Cup final here about 20 years ago,” said Jessica. “They really enjoyed it and told me it was an amazing experience. It’s a beautiful arena and a special atmosphere.”

Britain’s Hayley Watson-Greaves took 11th on 69.829% with her own Rubins Nite. She is riding at her first World Cup final.

“I wanted to go in there and have a nice round and reduce the amount of mistakes I’ve had in the grand prix this season, said Hayley. “I was pleased he was very relaxed as he can get a bit hot in the atmosphere.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Beezie Madden leads after ‘juggling act’ at World Cup final; Whitakers in the hunt

The US was the dominant nation tonight in the first leg of the World Cup jumping final, while Britain’s pair

Top British contenders out of World Cup final

There was disappointment as a slight injury ruled the combination out of the competition

British pair receive last-minute call up for World Cup final in Paris

Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubin's Nite will make their World Cup final debut in Paris.

The results of today’s grand prix are used to split the riders into groups for tomorrow’s freestyle (2pm local time — 1pm in Britain) and Laura and Jessica performed the public draw after the press conference tonight. Laura will be the 14th rider to go, with Isabell 16th and Jessica the 17th and last competitor into the arena. The freestyle determines the World Cup final placings.

Check back later for an update on the showjumping World Cup final and don’t forget to pick up next week’s magazine for a full report from Paris.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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 Emile Faurie and Delatio have been forced to withdraw from the World Cup final in Paris this weekend (13-14 April). The 14-year-old breeding stallion picked up an injury in training yesterday (9 April), which will rule him out of the competition.

“Delatio’s been going brilliantly and we’ve been very much looking forward to competing at the World Cup final, but this morning he sustained a slight training injury, and with the long-term future of the horse in mind, we have made the decision to sadly withdraw from the final,” said Emile. “It’s very disappointing as he’s been having such a fantastic season.”

Emile and Elena Knyaginicheva’s De Niro stallion have been on super form throughout the winter season. They were runners-up to Sweden’s Patrik Kittel at Olympia in December — scoring over 80% — and finished ninth in the World Cup Western European league to secure their place at the final.

Hayley Watson-Greaves and the 14-year-old Rubin Royal gelding Rubins Nite will now be the sole British representatives at the final, having been called up last week following the withdrawal of Australian combination Mary Hanna and Calanta due to injury. Hayley and “Squeaks”, who were crowned British national champions last year, will be making their World Cup final debut in Paris.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

British pair receive last-minute call up for World Cup final in Paris

Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubin's Nite will make their World Cup final debut in Paris.

Patrik Kittel beats Emile Faurie to claim euphoric Olympia grand prix freestyle victory

Sweden's Patrik Kittel takes grand prix freestyle honours, with Britain's Emile Faurie an agonisingly close second

Hayley will come up against the defending champions, Germany’s Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD, as well as the Western European league leader, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel (Deja) and the American number one Laura Graves with Verdades, still the only combination to have beaten triple European gold medallists Isabell and Weihegold since the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Other pairs contesting this year’s final include Germany’s Dorothee Schneider and Sammy Davis Jr, the Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik and France’s Ludovic Henry with After You.

Don’t miss the 19 April issue of Horse & Hound for a full report from the World Cup final.

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 Hayley Watson-Greaves will head to Paris next week to make her World Cup final debut with the Rubin Royal gelding Rubin’s Nite.

Hayley and “Squeaks” finished 13^th in the World Cup Western European league — just missing out on a place in the final — but were called up yesterday as a late replacement for Australia’s Mary Hanna, who has been forced to withdraw Calanta from the final due to injury.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am; I was shaking with adrenaline when I got the phone call,” Hayley told H&H.

“After the qualifiers I had given Squeaks a breather as he had a pretty busy winter, but then started training again as though I was going to the final, just in case. After all, I’ve been on the cusp of a lot of other championships! I really didn’t think it would happen though.”

Hayley and the 14-year-old gelding, who were crowned British national champions in 2017, are currently ranked 35^th in the world. They will travel out to Paris on Wednesday to line up alongside fellow Brit Emile Faurie, who will campaign his Olympia runner-up, the 14-year-old De Niro stallion Delatio.

“I’ve never been to Paris and I’ve always wanted to go — although I’m a little nervous about driving the lorry right into the city centre,” laughed Hayley.

Continues below…

11 things you (probably) didn’t know about Hayley Watson-Greaves

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion

Isabell Werth wows the Aachen crowd with an 89% freestyle test

The top German rider was untouchable in the grand prix freestyle in Aachen

Dujardin dominates while inter I champions do battle *VIDEO*

We caught up with Charlotte after two top class performances at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh

She and Emile will come up against the defending champions, Germany’s Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD, as well as the Western European league leader, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel (Deja) and the American number one Laura Graves with Verdades, still the only combination to have beaten triple European gold medallists Isabell and Weihegold since the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Other pairs contesting this year’s final include Germany’s Dorothee Schneider and Sammy Davis Jr, the Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik and France’s Ludovic Henry with After You.

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

Just one British rider is set to appear at next month’s World Cup final in Paris (11-15 April), after Hayley Watson-Greaves narrowly missed out on what would have been her first World Cup final appearance.

Emile Faurie squeezed into the qualifying places, finishing equal eighth in the Western European league to secure his spot in Paris.

Britain’s national champion faced disappointment after finishing 13th in the rankings with Rubins Nite (Squeaks).

“I was pretty close, so it’s disappointing, but we had really tough competition this year,” said Hayley, who had been placed as high as eighth in the rankings after her sixth place finish at Olympia.

She arrived at the final World Cup qualifier, at Den Bosch in the Netherlands, in 12th place, equal with Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour, but despite a plus-75% freestyle with the 14-year-old Rubin Royal son, it was not enough to elevate her to a qualifying position in the rankings.

“When I saw Edward Gal was at Den Bosch I had no doubt he was going creep above me,” said Hayley, who was crowned British national champion with Squeaks in September 2017.

“You do have to play the game a little bit, getting out to the first qualifiers to get a load of early points. But I do like a challenge — I haven’t quite won my own challenge, but it’s been a hell of an experience; it’s so inspiring to be competing against the very best.”

“It’s been tough to keep up with the training as I only have an outdoor school and this winter’s been particularly hard, but I’d love to campaign for the World Cup again.”

Emile will line up in Paris alongside the rankings leader Patrik Kittel of Sweden, his compatriot Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, Germany’s Isabell Werth and Dorothee Schneider, Madeleine Witte-Vrees and Edward Gal of the Netherlands, and Belina Weinbauer of Austria.

Horse who was once so scared he ‘nearly went to heaven’ wins World Cup qualifier

The 11-year-old earned 'something of a reputation' in his younger days for his erratic, frightened behaviour

New ‘smart ‘ jump to debut at World Cup jumping final

The jump contains sensors to measure the distance between the pole and the horse’s hooves

Whitakers off to World Cup: 26th time lucky or beginner’s luck in Paris?

The uncle and nephew are to fly the Union Flag in Paris this spring

Having qualified both his European Championships ride Lollipop and his Olympia runner-up Delatio, despite having withdrawn Lollipop from the grand prix freestyle in Den Bosch, Emile has the choice of which horse to partner in Paris. This will be a first World Cup final appearance for the two-time Olympian and double European team medallist.

The Western European riders will be joined by the top combinations from the Central European league, the North American league and the Pacific league, who are yet to be confirmed.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

Olympians Richard Davison and Emile Faurie will spearhead the British attack at this year’s Olympia CDIW4* (12-13 December).

However notable absentees from this year’s line-up are crowd-favourites Carl Hester, freestyle winner in 2015 and 2016 with Nip Tuck, and Charlotte Dujardin, who won with Valegro in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Richard will partner Bubblingh, the 11-year-old Lingh gelding with whom he won the grand prix freestyle at this year’s Hickstead CDI in July. There they posted 74.18%.

Emile will bring forward Elena Knyaginicheva’s 13-year-old breeding stallion Delatio (De Niro x Rubinstein) — a horse he has had the ride on for just four months. The striking black stallion dominated at Vale View’s high profile show in October, claiming the grand prix with over 74%.

He will be joined by Gareth Hughes riding his European Championship team-selected horse Don Carissimo, who sadly had to be withdrawn due to injury after arrival in Gothenburg this summer. This will be the Don Crusador 12-year-old’s first international competition since, but he had already made huge waves in what is his first season of grand prix, with a freestyle personal best of 76.67%.

World Equestrian Games (WEG) hopefuls Hayley Watson-Greaves and Lara Butler make up the British contingent. Hayley will ride her own 13-year-old Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite, with whom she was crowned British Dressage national champion earlier this year. The pair have already achieved several top 10 placings on the World Cup circuit this autumn.

Lara returns to the Olympia arena with the Becktolsheimers’ 15-year-old Rubin Al Asad, also by Rubin Royal. The pair were named reserves for both the Rio Olympics and the 2017 European Championship team, and recently finished second at Oldenburg CDI4* with a grand prix personal best of plus 74%.

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds will return to the international arena with her popular Jazz gelding Vancouver K – another who was withdrawn from the Europeans due to injury — while British-based Dane Anders Dahl will pilot his consistent performer, the 13-year-old Selten HW.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Top names to flock to Olympia Horse Show 2017

The line-up features a host of champions, including some home crowd favourites

12 reasons to love Olympia Horse Show

It would be hard not to love a show that featured top class showjumping, dressage and carriage driving. Throw into

360 cubic metres of horse poo — and 8 other things you didn’t know about Olympia

We've rounded up some interesting — and entertaining — facts about the Christmas extravaganza

Among the international field, from which eight nations will be represented, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel will partner his Gothenburg ride Delaunay OLD, who has posted freestyle scores in the 80s this year. Holland’s Edward Gal will bring forward his talented nine-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik.

The grand prix will take place on Tuesday 12 December at 7.30pm, with the freestyle on Wednesday 13 December at 7.20pm.

The full list of competitors is as follows:

• Quartz of Jazz Marie Emilie Bretenoux (France)
• Star Wars Bertrand Liegard (France)
• Alcazar Katherine Bateson Chadler (US)
• Bubblingh Richard Davison (Great Britain)
• Don Carissimo Gareth Hughes (Great Britain)
• Delatio Emile Faurie (Great Britain)
• Rubins Nite Hayley Watson-Greaves (Great Britain)
• Rubin Al Asad Lara Butler (Great Britain)
• Vancouver K Judy Reynolds (Ireland)
• Selten HW Anders Dahl (Denmark)
• Glock’s Zonik Edward Gal (the Netherlands)
• Thriller Katja Gevers (the Netherlands)
• Michigan Ulrik Moelgaard (Denmark)
• Cennin Madeleine Witte-Vrees (the Netherlands)
• Delaunay Old Patrik Kittel (Sweden)
• Roberto Des Frettes Charlotte Haid Bondergaard (Sweden)
• Sir Donnerhall II Old Morgan Barbancon Mestre (Spain)

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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

Get up to speed on the newly crowned Gloucestershire-based British national dressage champion — and don't miss this week's issue of Horse & Hound magazine (5 October 2017) for our full interview with Hayley

1. Her horses have their own mascots

Her grand prix partner WG Rubins Nite (Squeaks), with whom she was crowned British Dressage national champion, has his own mascot. Kevin the carrot — from the Aldi Christmas advert — has travelled the world with the pair, in honour of Squeaks’ favourite food.

“Kevin has been spotted everywhere, including Doha,” laughs Hayley. “My five-year-old Hector also has a mascot, though his is a pink My Little Pony, as Hector loves to be pampered – we call him ‘Barbie’.”

2. She gave up horses to go travelling as a teenager

“After I finished on ponies I decided to go off and see a bit of the world, without knowing if I’d return to horses,” she says “My now fiancé Paul’s parents emigrated to Australia, so I followed him out there.”

3. She has designed her own saddle

Hayley has designed her own saddle in conjunction with Ideal Saddles. Since going to market last year, it has been sold across the world.

“It took two years to design it,” says Hayley. “The tree is curved, giving more freedom for the shoulders – the horses go really well in it. Several of my clients have it too.”

4. Dressage is not her only business venture

After returning from travelling, Hayley worked for her family’s promotional merchandise printing business. Six years ago, she bought the business, and now runs it with her fiancé Paul.

“Paul runs it on a day-to-day basis and I go in about once a week to oversee things and have meetings,” explains Hayley.

5. She shares her yard with some rather unusual animals

As well as horses, dogs and cats, WG Dressage is home to llamas, alpacas, emus, chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl and a peacock.

“My parents ran a private rescue centre for exotic animals while my three younger brothers and I were growing up,” explains Hayley. “We had a great time here as kids!”

6. Her riding career didn’t start with dressage

Hayley competed in showing as a child — “our family holidays were to the British Show Pony Society championships at Peterborough” — before taking up eventing.

“I had a couple of nasty falls eventing and I was having dressage training at the same time and just got the bug for it,” says Hayley. “It’s like a puzzle — working out how to improve the horse.”

7. Her school nickname has stuck throughout the years

“My nickname has been Skippy ever since my parents brought a wallaby into school for an assembly when I was in Year Seven,” recalls Hayley. “It’s had many different forms over the years but it’s stuck!”

8. She has very useful brother

Hayley’s brother Robbie is a farrier, who has a forge at WG Dressage. He is a member of the English farrier team and just one week after Hayley’s victory at Stoneleigh, Robbie competed in his own championships at the same venue.

9. She’s rather particular about her stock pins

“I’m not really superstitious, but I do wear a different stock pin for the different tests at a competition,” said Hayley, who is sponsored by Stockpin Chic. “I have one pin for the grand prix, another for the special and I wear my opal pin for freestyles. I also have a special ‘winter’ ruffle stock that I wear at Olympia.”

10. Hard work doesn’t faze her

Until her groom, Sam, started working two years ago, Hayley did everything for her horses herself, with up to eight on the yard at a time. Even now, she still does all the plaiting, riding and driving herself.

Continued below…

How to buy your perfect dressage horse

Sign up to H&H e-newsletter and get one month FREE access to H&H VIP

Readers who sign up to the Horse &

11. She nearly went a whole decade without falling off

“I fell off a couple of weeks ago for the first time in nine years,” she reveals. “I was riding my four-year-old when the turkey fluffed up its feathers — Ziggy stopped dead and I went down his shoulder. Luckily it didn’t hurt too much.

“I’ve had a few near-misses over the years though – the peacock’s nearly had me a few times!”

Don’t miss the latest issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out today (5 October), for an exclusive interview with Hayley Watson-Greaves

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