Latest from Horse & Hound in Lee-pearson

World Para Dressage Championships: what time do the Brits ride for freestyle medals?

Polly Bryan — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:20:52 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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‘I’m pleased we managed to put a score on the board at all’: Pressure on Britain as they seek Paris qualification after challenging day

Polly Bryan — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 19:16:03 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘I just tell myself I’m hacking’: Lee Pearson keeps the lid on a fiery Breezer

Stephanie Bateman — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:58:54 +0000

All eyes were on Sir Lee Pearson who worked hard to settle a tense Breezer and complete the grade II team test with a strong score of 73.529%, putting him in third at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

An unfortunate applause from the showjumping ring just as Breezer entered the ring, unsettled the 11-year-old gelding by Bacardi out of Sedonja, and it took a few movements to get back into a smooth rhythm.

Showing his horsemanship at its best, Lee cajoled Breezer through the test and managed to prevent any breaks in the walk work.

“He did a prize-giving yesterday, and we didn’t realise you didn’t have to take the horses in, and we think it might have just unsettled him – he certainly won’t be doing any more more prize-givings!” said Lee, who secured Britain’s first para dressage medal of the week on Thursday when earning 75.09% for individual bronze. “The aim was a lovely relaxed test, but he was a little tight in his back and wanted to trot in every walk section, so I’m incredibly proud that he didn’t.

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

Lee explains that he imagines he’s hacking in the Staffordshire countryside to help him and Breezer stay in the zone.

“I just tell myself I’m hacking because all my horses hack in walk wonderfully,” he said. “It’s a mental technique that I use. When I go into the walk, my legs go a little bit numb and it’s not an easy pace for me, but I’m just proud he held it together.

“I still love him to bits and can’t wait to get back to dancing on Sunday in the freestyle.”

The overall standard of the class was exceptional, with first place on the World Para Dressage Championships results board going to Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater with 77.18%, and Austria’s Peop Puch and Sailor’s Blue filling the runner-up spot with 75.44%.

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

New combination claims individual gold after nail-bitingly close finish at World Para Dressage Championships

Polly Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:02:20 +0000

The individual grade II final went down to the wire, with just 0.8% covering the top three riders in the Arifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

In the end it was Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen who inched her way to the top of the podium with 75.79% aboard Goerklintgaards Quater. Austria’s Pepo Puch slid into silver with Sailor’s Blue on 75.33%, just slightly ahead of Britain’s Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer, who posted 75.09% for bronze.

This is the Katrine and Quater’s first championship as a combination; Katrine rode at the Tokyo Paralympics with Welldone Dallas, but has only been partnered up with the 14-year-old Quaterback son since the start of this year. The two have already developed a super strong partnership, as shown by their fluid, expressive gold medal-winning test here.

Quater has beautiful paces and Katrine had him in a beautiful uphill frame during their test. They scored at least one eight for almost every movement, and Katrine reported that “he was really with me from the beginning”.

Katrine told H&H: “In the warm-up he was also so calm and cool. He has been a bit fresh these days before entering the arena, but today it was amazing.”

“I knew that I had a good horse [coming into the championships], so I believed a medal could be possible,” she said, adding that had she not had the opportunity to buy Quater over the winter, she might have taken a break from the sport.

“Welldone who I rode in Tokyo has been retired, but Quater was already on the same farm, so I have known him for two years before I bought him. When I came home from Tokyo, I didn’t know if I wanted to ride or have a break, but there was Quater and he wanted to have a rider. I wanted to try riding him because although he is a very fresh horse, I could see in his eyes that he also very calm and that he always wants to do the best for me. I started riding him for his former rider, and then I bought him two months after that.”

World Para Dressage Championships results: Pepo Puch claims silver

Pepo Puch is no stranger to the podium, and his silver here marked his 20th para dressage medal. It’s also his fifth World Para Dressage Championships silver – he won double silver in both Tryon 2018 and Caen 2014.

With this horse, the 14-year-old Swarovski gelding Sailor’s Blue, it is the fluidity and the horse’s fabulous walk that really stands out, with high marks coming from all five judges.

Pepo has been at the top of the sport now for over a decade, and he is thrilled with how the standard is growing, making for really exciting competition with so many riders now vying for the medals across the five grades.

“The quality of the sport is so high now. The daily luck or [lack of] luck is the key, but that’s fantastic for the sport and it’s progress. We hope by the next World Championships we can go in the big stadium,” said Pepo, referring to the fact that the para riders do not compete in the large Stutteri Ask Stadium here, but the smaller BB Horse Arena to the side of the main showground.

Some riders, though, were thankful that after two years of competing mostly without any crowds, their horses did not have to cope with such a massive atmosphere, including Britain’s Lee Pearson, who won bronze.

“I was really pleased we weren’t in the main stadium,” he said. “Part of you thinks you’d love to be, but I think my particular horse wouldn’t cope.

“I enjoy being at home in my arena on my own training, and at shows I don’t mind if there is an audience or not,” he added. “From a horseman’s perspective, less is more and of course safety [is key] in para dressage as we are not exposed to many audiences so when we are it has to be done carefully.”

‘I’m taking the best horse home’: How Sir Lee Pearson scooped Britain’s first para dressage medal of World Championships

Lucy Elder — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:19:00 +0000

Sir Lee Pearson has secured Britain’s first para dressage medal out in Herning, with individual bronze in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results, after a classy performance aboard his homebred Breezer.

Lee and the sensitive 11-year-old Bacardi gelding, whom he co-owns with David and Lynda Pearson and Jensen Guest, earned a score of 75.09% in this competitive grade II individual contest, for a podium finish.

This partnership are so in tune with each other and Lee’s partnership with Breezer – a horse he has known since day one – is key to their success as a combination.

“I was pleased with my riding, and I was pleased with my horse and whatever the results I’m still taking the best horse home,” said Lee, who partnered Breezer to triple gold at last year’s Tokyo Paralympics.

“It felt really nice, there was one moment of tension in the walk – just before the right leg-yield. But he is a very sensitive horse and he hasn’t still seen that many audiences, really. So to stay as relaxed as he did [I’m delighted].

“I have the habit of being a bit [too] relaxed in the trot work, but actually I’m still learning at my old age and I haven’t had him as engaged and as expressive as I can. To do well in these competitions now, you can’t just have a normal working trot, you’ve got to add that little bit of spice.”

The horse looks to have developed even further in strength through his body from Tokyo, showing exceptional cadence and lift through his medium trot. He showed maturity in his brain, too, keeping cool despite cheers from the neighbouring arena mid-way through his test.

“That didn’t affect him,” said the 14-time Paralympic gold medallist. “That would normally not be brilliant for Breezer, but I ignored it and he ignored that.

“He just got a little bit perturbed when we were coming away from the end of the grandstand, before the walk leg-yield. Before now he would have cantered on the spot, spun, wanting to have a look at it and he stayed on the aid, so I’m really pleased.”

World Para Dressage Championships results: +75% podium scores

The final results were close, with all three riders on the podium earning +75% scores from the judges.

Denmark secured another home victory – the second of these championships following the dressage team gold on Sunday (7 August) – with Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater scooping top honours in the grade II individual World Para Dressage Championships results on 75.79%. World number one Pepo Puch and Sailor’s Blue took silver with 75.33%.

Britain’s Georgia Wilson and Sakura were fourth (71.46%), and the results mean both Lee and Georgia are in strong contention to qualify for Sunday’s freestyle (14 August).

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TOKYO, JAPAN --AUGUST 26: Lee Pearson of Team Great Britain competes with his horse Breezer in the Dressage Individual Test Grade II on day 2 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Equestrian Park on August 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)

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British para stars gear up for the World Para Dressage Championships in Herning

Polly Bryan — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 19:20:25 +0000

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

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

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

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

Sophie Wells and Don Cara M at the World Para Dressage Championships trot-up (Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)

Lisa Hopkins presents Keystone Dawn Chorus for Natasha Baker at the World Para Dressage Championships trot-up (Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)

Katilyn Baughen presents Breezer on behalf of Lee Pearson at the para dressage trot-up (Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)

Nina Venables presents Sakura for Georgia Wilson at the World Championships trot-up (Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)

Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus during arena familiarisation at the Herning World Championships (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Sophie Wells and Don Cara M enjoy their arena familiarisation session (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Para riders Sir Lee Pearson (Breezer) and Sophie Wells (Don Cara M) during arena familiarisation in Herning (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Carl Hester in training mode at the World Para Dressage Championships (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Carl Hester on the sidelines as Lee Pearson schools Breezer at the Herning World Championships (Image credit: creditUnknown)

British riders selected for para dressage World Championships team

Becky Murray — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:00:45 +0000

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

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

Grade II

Sir Lee Pearson and 11-year-old gelding Breezer

Owner: Sir Lee

Breeder: Sir Lee

Breeding: by Bacardi

Lee Pearson and Breezer on winning form at Hartpury. (Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

Georgia Wilson and eight-year-old mare Sakura

Owner: Georgia and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson

Breeder: G Eilberg

Great Britain’s Georgia Wilson riding Sakura in the Paralympic dressage in Tokyo. (Image credit: PA)

Grade III

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

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

Breeder: S Lavendera

Breeding: by Dimaggio

Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus take grade III freestyle silver at the Tokyo Olympics. (Image credit: John Walton/PA Images)

Grade V

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

Owner: Rowland Kinch

Breeder: H M Melis

Breeding: by Don Jovi

Sophie Wells riding Don Cara M in the grade V freestyle at the Tokyo Paralympics. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

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

Grade V

Charlotte Cundall with 12-year-old gelding FJ Veyron

Owner: The Veyron Partnership

Breeder: Active Equestrian

Breeding: by Vivaldi

Grade I

Gabriella Blake with 13-year-old gelding Strong Beau

Owner: Gabriella

Breeder: Ms S Amos

Breeding: by Spinway Blackthorn

Grade IV

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

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

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

Tokyo gold medallists on top form ahead of World Championship selection

Polly Bryan — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 14:58:31 +0000

“Not a bad day in the office – but there’s loads of room for improvement,” said Sir Lee Pearson, after riding Breezer to a hat-trick at their last show before para dressage World Championships team selection. The pair won all three of their grade II classes at Hartpury CPEDI3*.

The pair used this show as their last outing before the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, but not all went to plan when the 11-year-old gelding was badly spooked by the sounds inside the atmospheric indoor arena.

“I brought him back here a month ago to help put the demons to bed,” explained Lee. “He’s a very sound sensitive, reactive horse; even though he has been to Tokyo, the likes of Hartpury or any major championship still has him on his toes. Luckily, all three tests this week were outdoors.

The pair are shortlisted for the para dressage World Championships in August, and won’t rest on their laurels in the run-up.

“We’ll be doing a lot of walk training,” said Lee, who also competed his 2018 World Equestrian Games ride Styletta in the Premier League prix st georges (PSG) and inter I here. “Breezer has also been training at advanced medium and PSG recently, so I’m guilty of not doing as much walk. But when medals rely on walk, as they do at grade II, we have to be focusing a little more on that now.”

Also gaining a trio of wins ahead of World Championships selection was Sophie Wells, aboard her Tokyo medallist Don Cara M. The pair rounded off their week by posting over 78% in the grade V freestyle, and Sophie explained that the 13-year-old Don Jovi gelding has gained in confidence over recent months.

“Don has been getting more consistency with the work, and gave me a really good feeling here,” she said. “Getting that rideability in the test is so huge for him, and if we can keep progressing there are loads more marks to come.”

Michael Murphy has already had his place on the Irish team confirmed for the World Championships, and he repeated his feat from last year with a clean sweep in the grade I ranks here aboard the 15-year-old Cleverboy, formerly ridden to grand prix by Bronte Watson.

“He just loves coming out competing; going from grand prix to a walk test would be a struggle for a lot of horses but he takes it in his stride and likes the new challenge,” said Michael, who had competed the Vivaldi son just twice before they went to the Paralympics in 2021. “We’re a lot more established as a partnership now and I think you can see that in the consistency of the results – we were kind of winging it back then! It’s nice to have this momentum going into the worlds and it’s just a dream to be going on a horse like Cleverboy.”

Nicola Naylor had a great week at grade IV, claiming the team test on Del Piero and finishing second on Humberto L. Her two rides then traded places in the individual test, and Humberto also took second in the freestyle behind Marcelle Ward and Dornroeschen.

“It’s not been the easiest conditions as it was quite breezy and with a lot of flowers around,” said Nicola. “Humberto has done less than Piero and on the first day he was a bit tense, but then settled into his stride. They’re both super horses.”

Natasha Baker claimed a grade III team test victory with Keystone Dawn Chorus, but sadly had to withdraw from the remainder of the week due to illness. Erin Orford came through to take the wins in the grade III individual and freestyle on LJT Diamond Crusador – although it was her first time riding to her new music.

“I first heard it the morning of the sound check. It’s from Fantastic Beasts, and is quite magical and dramatic and really fun to ride to,” Erin said.

Britain’s Tokyo hero Sir Lee Pearson among those honoured at awards

Becky Murray — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 12:03:50 +0000

Sir Lee Pearson has become the second rider to receive an honorary patronage at the annual British Dressage (BD) awards.

The awards took place at the BD national convention (6–7 November) at Hartpury, hosted by FEI judges Katrina Wuest, Christoph Hess and his son, Philipp, a professional rider and coach.

Sir Lee Pearson, who has won 14 Paralympic gold medals including three in Tokyo this year, received the honorary patronage for his “outstanding dedication and service” to the sport. He joins Carl Hester, who received the honour in 2016.

“For the second-ever honorary patronage to go to a para rider, it’s a great honour,” said Sir Lee. “To be recognised by your own sport is lovely – sometimes it almost feels like we get more recognition outside [it], particularly as a Paralympian. But to be reminded how you’re appreciated in your sport is really nice and this isn’t just for me, it’s acknowledgement for para dressage, and those who’ve supported me along the way.”

The Tyrell trophy for the highest placed British-bred mare competing at the National Championships was awarded to 10-year-old Hawtins Duchessa, by Decamerone out of a Don Frederico mare bred and owned by Judith Davis.

The Maureen Newall trophy for the combination who gained the highest percentage in their first international trip abroad in the pony test went to 13-year-old Ruby Hughes, who scored 70.71% with Hilkens Showgirl at the pony European Championships in Poland. Ruby also took the Lucan Trophy as the highest placed British pony rider in the individual test.

Annabella Pidgley took the Trendell trophy for the most successful rider in the team test at the junior Europeans, during which she scored 75.45% with Sultan Des Paluds FRH. Annabella also won the Richmond trophy as the highest placed junior/young rider in the freestyle.

The Pablo Picasso trophy for the highest placed British young rider in the Europeans team test went to Caitlin Burgess and Lewis Carrier received the Sarah Whitmore Memorial trophy for the highest placed British under-25 rider in the team test.

The BD Supporters Club Pony trophy for the pony rider who has produced the best performances at Premier League shows during 2021 went to Mette Dahl with BKS George Clooney. The BD Youth Academy outstanding achievement award went to Gracie Morgan for “exceptional” performances nationally and internationally this year, and Charlotte Lutener took the Graduate trophy as the under-21 rider who made the most progress in 2021.

The winning riders from each para grade in the summer gold championships, part of the National Championships – Gabriella Blake (grade I), Julie Payne (grade II), Erin Orford (grade III), Nicola Naylor (grade IV) and Charlotte Cundall (grade V) – received Worshipful Company of Saddlers headcollars.

Waveney Luke, Carolyn Gardiner, David Trott and Elizabeth Walters received the medal of honour, which recognises individuals who have made an “outstanding contribution” or given “distinguished and long service”.

Major shows urged to help para riders win medals in Paris 2024

Lucy Elder — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:01:04 +0000

MAJOR show organisers have been called upon to help Britain’s para dressage riders “win gold medals in Paris” and bridge the gap between disability and able-bodied sport.

Sir Lee Pearson and Natasha Baker both spoke of the challenges of preparing horses for the high-octane atmosphere of championships, imploring major UK shows to feature more para sport.

Lee, who won triple gold in Tokyo, said having 10,000 people in the Equestrian Park, had spectators been allowed in, would probably have been “overload” for Breezer.

“We’ve got to get him used to that for Paris,” he said, adding that he has visited retirement home Bagnall Heights, to try to get his horses used to spectators.

“So if any of the big venues at home… can have us doing some displays, they’re going to be possibly helping us win gold medals in Paris. To go from no audience to 10,000 in three years is a big step for a sensitive horse, and they have to cope with the same environment as a grand prix horse.”

Natasha agreed, saying she would like to see the Paralympic movement more in line with the Olympic equivalent, and people need to see disability sport to bring investment and growth.

“We need to be at more able-bodied shows, We need to be more inclusive, we want that recognition that our able-bodied counterparts [receive],” she said.

“They can’t be scared of us, the para dressage riders; we want to be put into the bigger atmospheres. I think we’re making steps towards that, but there’s still too much of a gap. I think our show organisers need to take more responsibility and include us more.”

She added that para riders “want to be involved”, and accessibility will be key to bringing sponsors and owners.

“That is going to open people’s eyes who maybe haven’t seen para dressage and think, ‘I really want to be involved’, or, ‘I’ve got a horse that actually isn’t going to make it to the next level [in able-bodied]. But you know what? They could go to Paris and win a medal,’” she said.

Para dressage has been part of major UK shows in the past, and H&H contacted several organisers to ask about plans. Royal Windsor, the London International Horse Show (formerly Olympia), Your Horse Live and Hickstead all responded, with comments broadly suggesting this is in discussion.

Your Horse Live has frequently featured para dressage.

Event director Emma Bedford told H&H the interviews and demonstrations with para riders “never fail to amaze and delight our crowds”.

“Your Horse Live is an event for horse enthusiasts whatever their age, level, physical ability, or discipline – everyone is welcome,” she said, adding that the common theme is we “all love horses” and want to learn to be the best riders we can.

“We were determined that para riders and their horses would benefit from the same opportunities as all our riders, using our show as a training opportunity, which is particularly important for younger horses as this allows them to become accustomed to the lights and sounds of a 3,000-seater arena in a friendly, unpressured atmosphere,” she said.

“Para riders and enthusiasts will always be an integral part of what makes Your Horse Live such a special event.”

Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn congratulated the British team on their successful Games and told H&H Dressage at Hickstead under Dane Rawlins was a “huge supporter” of para sport.

“Dressage on the main showground is still in its infancy,” she explained, adding that the Premier League show in May featured young horses and ponies, juniors and young riders in its first year, and para dressage is something the venue will consider again.

A spokesman for HPower, which organises Royal Windsor and the London International Horse Show, said its programmes are “constantly under review”.

“We sympathise with the wish to see more para sport in major UK shows,” she said. “There are certain drivers that help us form decisions on programme content – these include audience demand, available time and commercial commitments.

“We have included para riders in our events, whether as a part of the commentary team or in a masterclass, and we recognise the importance of inclusion for the sport.”

‘Becoming a foster father has made me an emotional wreck’: Sir Lee Pearson on Tokyo, going grand prix and being a father

Polly Bryan — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 11:57:43 +0000

Sir Lee Pearson was one of the British heroes from the Tokyo Paralympics in August, winning two individual gold medals on his home-bred Breezer and leading the British team to their incredible team gold. This was Lee’s sixth Paralympics – he has ridden at every single one starting with Sydney in 2000 – and he has now amassed 14 Paralympic gold medals, but he described the Tokyo Games as a “fairytale”.

“Everybody pulled together with zero egos and it was such an honour to be part of the whole team. This Games was brilliant for that reason, and brilliant as we had no expectations on us, and of course the team result. It was like a dream; it was surreal,” the grade II rider told H&H dressage dressage editor Polly Bryan on episode 67 of the Horse & Hound Podcast, shortly after he returned from Tokyo.

“In the final day’s freestyle to music, Breezer gave me the best test he’s ever given me, in able-bodied and in para dressage. He was on the aids, soft, and really listening, I just fell in love with him all over again. He gave me his little heart out there.”

Lee Pearson’s Paralympics ride: ‘He’s bred like a Ferrari’

For the first time, Britain had gone into a Paralympics without being the favourites to win the team gold, owing to the youth and inexperience of the three horses on the team, none of whom had ever competed at a championship before. Lee’s Barcardi x Metall son Breezer is only 10 years old, but Lee has known him, quite literally, since day one.

“I’ve known Breezer since he was hours old, in the field at my parents in Staffordshire,” he says.

“The sport was heading in a very expensive direction after we converted from riding borrowed horses in 2004, so I bought a broodmare 13 years ago and started planning my future competition horses,” Lee explains. “She was by Metall, by Ferro. I also had a Breitling son who I bought as a foal, and had graded as a stallion. I sold him, but kept some frozen semen, so produced Breezer’s full-brother, called Benson, then Breezer.

“My previous partner had done some competitions on Breezer, and I took over the ride a few years ago. He is naturally very sensitive, and he’s bred like a Ferrari.”

Lee sold Benson, but he did keep Breezer’s half-sister Styletta, whom he rode at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. The Sandros Dancer daughter is now 12 and Lee is aiming to compete her at grand prix.

“I did my first inter I with Styletta the other day – it was my first inter I too – and I was over the moon with her. If I can grow some confidence we might try to get out at grand prix at the end of this year, or the start of next year,” he revealed. “It will be awfully messy but before I ever retire… Well, it’s everybody’s dream, isn’t it? We’re just sorting those canter zig-zags at the moment, and getting a bit more engagement in the piaffe and passage.”

While Lee is as much of a force to be reckoned with in the dressage arena as ever, his life has undergone huge change over the past year, having become a foster father in 2020.

“It’s made me into an emotional wreck,” he said, of fostering 15-year-old Jenson. “We get on really well and he’s great. He completes my life, and my family.”

Lee Pearson wins third gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympics: ‘Breezer was like a baby lion in there’

Pippa Roome — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:07:59 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paralympics dressage freestyle: bronze for Britain’s Georgia Wilson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘We wanted a medal, but we didn’t think this was possible’: Britain reflects on ‘fairytale’ Tokyo team gold

Lucy Elder — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 13:58:54 +0000

The golden British trio admitted that never in a “million, trillion, gazillion years” did they expect to be taking home the Tokyo Paralympic dressage team title.

Sir Lee Pearson (Breezer), Natasha Baker (Keystone Dawn Chorus) and Sophie Wells (Don Cara M) faced their strongest opposition yet at a Paralympic Games, securing victory over the Dutch by a 0.656 point margin. The bronze medal-winning US team, tipped as Tokyo team favourites, were less than six percent behind the leaders.

Britain is unbeaten in the Paralympic team competition, with their run of golden success spanning 25 years since the sport was introduced to the programme at Atlanta 1996.

The three British riders on the team all have a wealth of experience behind them, but none of these horses have any championship experience and neither Don Cara M nor Keystone Dawn Chorus had ever left the country before. Sophie was also riding her reserve horse, following the 11th hour withdrawal of C Fatal Attraction before the side left the UK.

She said that while a Tokyo Paralympic dressage team medal was their goal, they had “absolutely no idea” that gold would be within reach.

“We had no idea and no expectation that that’s what we could do, because we genuinely didn’t think that was possible being realistic,” she said.

“We all had horses that have never done it, and we’ve not competed against anybody else [to see how we compare]. The Dutch are so strong and so established and secure on those horses, and we knew America were doing amazingly.”

She added that change of perspective meant that they approached these Games in a different, more relaxed way. On reflection, that different approach was what earned them the gold.

“We just went in and did our jobs, which is what we always do,” said Sophie. “We didn’t go fighting for it this time, because we didn’t think we were then in the mix to fight for it. That shows that actually, maybe that different approach actually is really good. For me on this horse, that’s definitely the approach [that works].

“Like Lee was saying yesterday, you have to ride with such skill and you’re taking every inch of your experience over so many years into that arena.

“I’m just so proud to be on a team with these guys and what everyone’s done has been awesome.”

Natasha added it was “quite nice” to come into the Tokyo Paralympic dressage without the weight of expectation that has followed Britain to its past championships.

“We were hoping to come and maybe challenge for a bronze,” said Natasha, adding they are all “immensely proud” of everything their horses have done and achieved this week.

“Every championship and every Paralympics [in the past], we’ve gone in with that expectation and that pressure on our shoulders. But we were chatting the other day and it’s been so relaxed just being able to come in and enjoy it. It’s just been the most incredible experience. I think that’s why we’ve all cried so much, because we just didn’t expect this in a million years.”

Lee credited the team behind the scenes and the selectors for having faith in the riders they chose for these Games.

“Just to be here, to get here, to compete and then to do as well as we have is a fairytale,” said Lee. “You can, perhaps, think for British riders who have done as well as we have done in previous Paralympic Games that’s not the case, but it really is a fairytale.

“Even on young, inexperienced horses, the selectors had faith in the British riders that they sent out here, because they do believe that as riders we draw on every little bit of experience that we have to get the best score that we can. I’m so grateful to them.”

Gold! Britain retains Paralympic team title in mighty tussle with the Netherlands

Martha Terry — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 11:42:01 +0000

Britain extended her unbeaten golden run at the Tokyo Paralympics, taking the top spot in the Paralympics dressage team competition by a whisker. Team GB’s three team riders, Lee Pearson, Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells held off the Dutch challenge by just 0.656%.

This time round, gold was far from a certainty, as Britain had lost its aura of invincibility at the previous World and European Championships, when the Netherlands took gold. With a team of inexperienced horses, Britain was aiming for the podium, but the gold was always going to be a bonus given the strength of the other teams.

And it did prove to be a battle between the Dutch and the Brits. But after both Lee (Breezer) and Sophie (Don Cara M) pulled out personal best marks for their respective partnerships, it was up to the Netherlands’ Sanne Voets also to conjure up the test of her life to secure the gold. She did manage to produce a stunning personal best of 78.2%, but Britain had just done enough.

“It was my aim to do my best test ever – for everything to come together at the right time, after working for five years,” said Sanne. “It was almost magical and I loved riding to music. It helps me to focus and I felt my smile just get bigger and bigger.”

Sanne had a tactic for dealing with the pressure of already knowing what mark she had to produce to secure gold for the Netherlands, due to the Brits having completed.

“My biggest goal was to make my horse shine, and give him that spotlight he deserves,” she says. “That helped me focus, and I think that all three of us [Dutch] riders rode the tests we wanted, with no mistakes.”

Paralympics dressage: the fight for medals

The US team (Roxanne Trunnell, Kate Shoemaker and Rebecca Hart) were 5% adrift in bronze. Their individual gold medal-winning Grade I rider Roxanne produced the top score throughout the team tests of 80.321% on Dolton.

Kate Shoemaker produced a lovely test for 71.825% on Solitaer 40, but admitted she was hoping for a better mark.

“I’m disappointed in the score, that it didn’t come in higher as I think it might the best test he’s ever done,” she said. “I wanted the results to be higher for the Paralympic experience, but as far as representing your country it’s a wonderful opportunity – irreplaceable.”

Denmark made a valiant effort to finish just off the podium in fourth, with Tobias Jørgensen producing a fabulous display on his grey mare Jolene Hill to score 79.559. They were 0.028% behind the US.

Britain strengthens medal hopes at halfway stage of the Tokyo para dressage team competition

Martha Terry — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:25:03 +0000

Natasha Baker produced an excellent test in the Paralympics dressage team competition to strengthen Britain’s hopes of team gold after Lee Pearson produced a personal best earlier in the day at the Tokyo Games. Natasha was in the 10-strong Grade III section, and her score of 76.618% was just shy of her personal best with Keystone Dawn Chorus.

Natasha had the confidence to ask for more from her mare than in the individual, and it paid off.

“She was on it, she had her ears pricked the whole time; she was loving it,” Natasha said. “My ultimate goal was for her to feel happy in the arena, and I could ride her so much more today. I pushed more, and she felt really up and powerful.”

Natasha was ruing the walk pirouette, in which she said the mare “took over and went really small”, but was proud of the leg-yields and increased relaxation in the walk.

“I knew she could handle a bit more today, and so I went for it,” she added. “I know it’s the same percentage [as my individual], but it would have been a lot higher if I hadn’t messed up my pirouette. I am so excited about the freestyle now!”

Denmark challenges for team para dressage medals

The placings in this section mirrored the Grade III individual medals. Denmark’s Tobias Jørgensen led with 79.559% on his flamboyant grey mare Jolene Hill, with Natasha second, just ahead of Dutch rider Rixt van de Horst on 76.235%.

Tobias, 21, expressed his gratitude to his mare, after she helped him out when he was in pain today.

“I don’t know what I’ve done [to myself], but it was Jolene doing what she does best and just carrying me around,” he said. “Today she was even better than yesterday. I hope we could maybe be a medal contender, or at least take [the chance] if anyone else makes a mistake.”

Rixt produced a balanced and fluid test on the scopey Findsley to post a personal best.

“She was really confident, maybe a little bit too much, so I had to hold her back a little,” Rixt said. “We made up for some little mistakes we had yesterday. The pressure is high, but the Dutch team is very strong and we really want the chance to take gold. I think this is a good start.”

Britain’s gold medal challenge looks strong

With the team competition split over two days, and each team fielding three riders from different grades, the standings are still hazy at this stage. Great Britain is leading the pack of those who have had two riders post a score, after Lee Pearson topped the Grade IIs on a score of 77.636%. Team GB is in third overnight, behind Canada and Singapore, which have had all three of their team riders complete.

The US is second of those who have had two riders go (fourth overall), thanks to Grade I champion Roxanne Trunnell posting the day’s top score of 80.321%.

Four nations – Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia – have only had one rider come forwards so far, hence their positions at the bottom of the table. The Netherlands remain Britain’s biggest rival for gold, especially after Rixt’s super score.

Lee Pearson sets British Paralympic team medal hopes alight with ultimate display of horsemanship

Martha Terry — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 09:22:49 +0000

Eight-time Paralympic individual gold medallist Lee Pearson put Britain in a commanding position with the first of our riders’ tests at the para dressage team competition at the Tokyo Paralympics. But it wasn’t plain sailing.

Grade II rider Lee, who holds the record for the most Paralympic individual gold medals won, demonstrated his excellent horsemanship throughout the test. His tactful riding ensured a polished test from his own home-bred Breezer, who appeared less relaxed in the arena today than in his individual test, to score 77.636%.

“I am over the moon with that and a lovely score, but Breezer does not like the Olympic arena,” Lee said. “I am so proud of him because I held his hand and he trusted me – I could be sitting here with a different story completely. I rode him on eggshells.”

Lee explained that although Breezer was relaxed when he trained in the arena in the morning, the “competition environment” set him alight.

“He was on the verge of exploding,” said Lee, who explained he has been playing clapping sounds to the horse in the stable to familiarise him with the atmosphere. “In that way, I’m grateful that we don’t have 10,000 people in the arena. As a horseman you just have to deal with what comes your way. He has a much bigger walk, but I just let him dribble around and said ‘as long as you stay in walk, mate, we’re fine’. I’m dead proud he did.”

Breezer did just touch the board with a hind leg in halt, resulting in him not quite standing square, but as Lee puffed his cheeks out with a smile at the end, he showed his relief at a job well done. This feat of horsemanship put Britain well into the lead above Austria and Denmark at this early stage.

The judge at H, Sara Leitch (GBR) awarded the pair 80.455%, contrasting with the Italian judge at M, Katherine Lucheschi giving 74.242%.

As for the future, Lee is appealing to the big shows in England to allow more para riders to do demos to help them train their horses to cope with the atmosphere they will face at championships.

“If any of the big venues like Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live can have us doing some displays, you’re possibly going to be helping us win gold medals in Paris,” he said. “To go from no environment to 10,000 spectators in three years’ time is a big step for a sensitive horse. But at the same time, that sensitivity is what makes him fabulous.”

Three riders carrying British hopes revealed for Tokyo Paralympic team competition

Lucy Elder — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 02:59:30 +0000

Tokyo gold medallist Sir Lee Pearson spearheads the experienced British trio of riders selected for the Paralympic team competition.

The change in format for this year’s Games means teams have shrunk from four to three and there is no drop score. It runs over two days (28 and 29 August) and the trio of riders from each nation that will compete for the team medals were announced after the individual contest.

Grade II rider Lee, who already held the record for the most Paralympic individual gold medals ahead of the Games before taking his tally to eight on Thursday (26 August), will be first to go for the team aboard his own 10-year-old Breezer.

He is joined by Tokyo grade III individual silver medal-winners Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus, owned by Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, and her parents Phil and Lorraine Baker.

Sophie Wells and her grade V individual silver medal-winning partner Don Cara M, owned by Roland Kinch, completes the team.

Britain has won dressage team gold at every Paralympics since the sport joined the Games in 1996. The side faces strong competition, in particular from the Dutch – gold medallists at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the 2019 Europeans – and the US.

While the three British team riders have a wealth of past Paralympic experience to draw on, this is the first senior championship for all of their horses. But with a full-house of individual medals across the opening two days of competition, the side has shown they are not to be underestimated.

Britain’s fourth squad member Georgia Wilson, who won individual bronze on her Paralympic debut here earlier in the week with her own and Geoff and Julie Wilson’s Sakura, will be back in action on Monday to contest the freestyle medals. Sophie, Lee and Natasha have also all qualified for the freestyle.

The team test will be set to background music for the first time this year, but unlike the freestyle, riders must follow a set floorplan defined by their grade and there are no marks for artistic interpretation.

The choice of music will not be judged as it is there to “make the test more attractive to the audience and the media, and to allow the athlete to show some more personality”.

Tokyo Paralympic dressage: British team start times

Saturday (28 August)

Grade II: Sir Lee Pearson (Breezer) 5.32pm (9.32am BST)

Grade III: Natasha Baker (Keystone Dawn Chorus) 9.16pm (1.16pm BST)

Sunday (29 August)

Grade V: Sophie Wells (Don Cara M) 6.56pm (10.56am BST)

View the full list of teams and start times

British medal joy, a young star shines and gold for world number one: six of the best moments from Tokyo para dressage day two

Lucy Elder — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:28:10 +0000

Action continued apace in the Equestrian Park at the Tokyo Paralympics, with a gold medal-winning debut, the Brits continuing their run of blistering form, plus huge scores in the grade I. Find out what happened on day two of dressage at the Games...

The Brits’ run of fantastic form at the Tokyo Paralympics continued, with Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus’ grade III individual silver

Read why Tokyo took Natasha straight back to memories of London 2012

A 21-year-old Paralympic first-timer thew down a massive score to take home gold on his Games debut aboard his sassy mare

Find out more about how the Danish rider and his relationship with his special horse

World number one US grade I rider Roxanne Trunnell posted the highest score of the Games so far to bag individual gold

Hear what Roxanne had to say about dealing with pressure coming into the Games

H&H’s horse of the day is the wonderful Dr Doolitte, who is enjoying his competition swansong in Tokyo

Read more about this wonderful horse and his achievements over the years

‘Love has to prevail’: Sir Lee Pearson shares powerful message of hope and acceptance following historic 12th Paralympic gold win

Lucy Elder — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 06:11:31 +0000

Britain’s Sir Lee Pearson shared a heartfelt message of love and acceptance to people across the world following his 12th Paralympic gold medal-winning performance on the opening day of dressage in Tokyo (26 August).

The British rider, who topped the grade II individual contest with his homebred Breezer on a score of 76.27%, was chatting with the press after his test when he spoke about his hope for a more accepting world.

“Love has to prevail, really,” said Lee. “Whatever love, whatever shape or form. And I think if you’re born with a disability, if you have a child with a disability, if you’re born with a same sex attraction, if your daughter comes out, or your son, then just love them.

“Nobody wants to be different, but we have to embrace different people, because that’s society, that’s the world. Those different people, they’re not going anywhere. So you can say it’s illegal. You can make them feel awful but somewhere in the world, another gay boy, or girl will be born. Somewhere in the world somebody will be born with no limbs. Life goes on and it’s silly in this day and age that we have countries that are still in the stone ages.”

“But I’m just a horse rider…” he added, with a smile.

Lee, who is openly gay, spoke about the inward and outward struggles people across the world face, whether that is sexuality or disability, both hidden and visible, and how love is at the very heart of acceptance.

“I think anybody in any job in any life situation, that in this day and age is a shame that people just can’t be themselves, can’t accept their disability, can’t accept their sexuality,” he added.

“And I think it’s sad that we still have countries that make people feel so awful themselves. When I came out, I struggled more with my own feelings than I did with society. Society was changing when I was 20. It’s a big battle with yourself. It’s a battle you can hide as well. My disability I can’t hide, so I walked around in my head very high. That was the way I was brought up by my parents, to accept my disability.”

He added: “The Paralympics is about acceptance, so I think it’s nice that you guys [journalists] mentioned that, and, if we can’t take acceptance into sexuality around the world, as well as disability, then I think that’s a shame.

“I’m not very political. I think I’ve made change by just being, but there are very important people out there who chain themselves to gates and do fight for rights. I wouldn’t be here if those people hadn’t fought, but I think me just being, and allowing you to interview me and ask those questions, hopefully will give other people confidence to just be.

“Then there’ll be other people fighting as well in the background with government[s] and with society, because sometimes society changes government, but sometimes also government have to be brave, and help to change society.

“I am the most abnormal normal person you’ll ever meet. I’m very normal and if that comes across, that it’s ok, it’s not frightening, it shouldn’t be hidden in dark nightclubs.

“Once again, I’m a horse rider in the middle of Great Britain, and I just ride horses. But if me riding horses can help one person in a sticky situation or who doesn’t love and can’t accept themselves or their family are struggling, then my hope is that it does help somebody.”

Brilliant Brits, dazzling performances and medals galore: seven unmissable stories from Tokyo Paralympic dressage day one

Lucy Elder — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 17:19:19 +0000

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

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

Find out why this win meant so much to Lee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lee Pearson claims eighth individual Paralympic title as Paralympic first-timer Georgia Wilson scoops bronze

Polly Bryan — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:04:25 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here come the Brits: Paralympic dressage riders take a spin in stunning main arena amid final preparations for thrilling Tokyo showdown

Lucy Elder — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 14:14:39 +0000

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

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

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

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

Paralympic dressage horses in Tokyo: the British squad

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

Georgia Wilson (GBR) & Sakura - Arena Familliarisation - Equestrian Park, Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan - 25 August 2021 (Image credit: JON STROUD MEDIA)

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

Sophie Wells aboard Don Cara M, owned by Roland Kinch

Sophie Wells (GBR) & Don Cara M - Arena Familliarisation - Equestrian Park, Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan - 25 August 2021 (Image credit: Jon Stroud)

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

Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer

Lee Pearson (GBR) & Breezer - Arena Familliarisation - Equestrian Park, Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan - 25 August 2021 (Image credit: Jon Stroud)

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

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

Natasha Baker (GBR) & Keystone Dawn Chorus - Arena Familliarisation - Equestrian Park, Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan - 25 August 2021 (Image credit: JON STROUD MEDIA)

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

All images courtesy of British Equestrian/Jon Stroud Media

Tokyo Paralympics trot-up: high spirits and nervous waits at first horse inspection

Lucy Elder — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 04:09:15 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

British Paralympic dressage team for Tokyo Games revealed

Polly Bryan — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:10:33 +0000

The British Paralympic dressage team for next month’s Tokyo Games has been announced.

Four combinations have been selected, with three to compete as the British team and one to ride as an individual, which will be decided after arrival in Tokyo. The four selected pairs are:

Sophie Wells with Charlotte Hogg’s 14-year-old gelding C Fatal Attraction (grade V)
Natasha Baker with Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, Phil Baker and her own 10-year-old mare Keystone Dawn Chorus (grade III)
Sir Lee Pearson with his own nine-year-old gelding Breezer (grade II)
Sophie Christiansen with her own 13-year-old gelding Innuendo III (grade I)

Liz Walsh and Jade Lockwood will act as travelling grooms for the horses in Tokyo.

The Paralympic dressage competitions are being held 26-30 August 2021 at the equestrian park in Tokyo’s Heritage Zone. The team medals will be decided on 29 August, and the individual medals in each of the five grades will be presented on 26, 27 and 30 August.

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Britain will head to Tokyo as defending Paralympic champions, with all four riders on the 2021 British Paralympic dressage team having competed for Britain at Rio in 2016, and also at London in 2012.

Britain has won gold at every Paralympics since para dressage was introduced to the Games at Atlanta in 1996, but the team was relegated to the silver medal position at the World Equestrian Games in 2018 and the European Championships in 2019. The Netherlands won the gold medal on both these occasions.

Three of the four team horses will be making their debut championship appearances: Natasha’s Keystone Dawn Chorus, Lee’s Breezer and Sophie Christiansen’s Innuendo. This will be a fifth championship appearance for Sophie Wells’ ride, the 14-year-old C Fatal Attraction, who won double individual gold at WEG in 2018, but it will be his first Paralympic Games.

Lee is the most experienced Paralympian of the quartet – Tokyo will be his sixth Games. This will be the fifth Games for Sophie Christiansen, and the third Games for both Natasha and Sophie Wells.

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Championship glory and dancing at the Royal Albert Hall: farewell to equine star ‘with a sense of humour’

Lucy Elder — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 05:48:01 +0000

Sir Lee Pearson has paid tribute to his multiple Paralympic gold medal-winning ride with a “sense of humour”, Gentleman.

The 20-year-old gelding, with whom Lee claimed triple gold medals at three consecutive championships, died on Sunday.

Lee told H&H it is a “sad week” and he is grateful for all the wonderful experiences he had with Gentleman.

“He was quite a character,” he said. “He was probably more sensitive than the mares I’ve competed. But as much as he was very sensitive to ride and train, he never let me down in the arena – he was one of those horses who would leave his opinions behind when we went in.”

The pair won triple gold at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, the 2009 Europeans and the 2010 World Equestrian Games. They were also a key part of the gold medal-winning British side at London 2012, where they added gold in the Grade Ib team test, individual silver and freestyle bronze to their medal haul.

“I went to Germany to look for a horse to run parallel to Blue Circle Boy,” he added. “He [Gentleman] had such a supple, loose trot and a huge canter — he gave me the most fantastic feeling. After spending more than I expected to, I brought him home.

“He was big, very sensitive and could also be very opinionated. But because I have to get into the horse’s head rather than using strength, he responded well to my style of riding.

“He had an awful sense of humour. At a competition he would give the feeling that he could be naughty at any moment, when in fact he loved competing on the big stage and he never, ever let me down.”

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Lee said one of his favourite memories was riding Gentleman as part of the Spanish Riding School display, alongside Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, hosted by TV presenter Nicki Chapman. He did the display without stirrups, “much to the astonishment of the audience”, and it was wonderful to show a new audience what para dressage is about.

Another favourite memory was taking him to the Royal Albert Hall to film an advert along with Lee’s Rio Paralympic ride, Zion.

The horses had special coverings to prevent their hooves from damaging the floor and Lee rode piaffe and passage in a tiny specially formed arena.

“They were the first horses to enter the Royal Albert Hall since the horses who helped to build it,” he said.

“Most would say it’s the medal-winning performances that stand out, but for myself it is the unique experiences that we had together.

The son of Gullit spent his twilight years living a very happy retirement with Lorna Harvey in Northamptonshire, where his quarters included a field that backed on to a kitchen window, through which he would pop his head to ask for carrots.

“He wanted for nothing,” added Sir Lee. “For me to find him a retirement as loving and as caring as that was brilliant after the service he gave to myself and to the nation.”

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.

Britain’s nominated dressage entries for Tokyo Paralympics announced

Polly Bryan — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 12:33:55 +0000

The British Paralympic dressage entries have been revealed, with 12 combinations making the list.

British Equestrian and the British Dressage selectors have confirmed that the following pairs will be submitted to the FEI as Britain’s nominated entries for the Tokyo Paralympics, which take place from 24 August to 5 September 2021. From this list, the selected squad of four combinations who will travel to Tokyo, plus reserves, will be announced on 16 July.

Grade I

Sophie Christiansen with her own nine-year-old mare Die Furstin and 13-year-old gelding Innuendo III

Grade II

Sir Lee Pearson with his own nine-year-old gelding Breezer
Georgia Wilson with Geoff and Julie Wilson’s and her own 12-year-old mare Midnight and seven-year-old mare Sakura

Grade III

Natasha Baker with Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, P. Baker’s and her own 10-year-old mare Keystone Dawn Chorus
Erin Orford with the Lady Joseph Trust’s seven-year-old gelding LJT Diamond Crusador

Grade IV

Nicky Greenhill with Gary Greenhill’s and her own 12-year-old mare Betty Boo

Grade V

Charlotte Cundall with the Lady Joseph Trust’s 12-year-old gelding LJT Simply Red
Sophie Wells with Charlotte Hogg’s 14-year-old gelding C Fatal Attraction, Roland Kinch’s 12-year-old gelding Don Cara M and Charlotte Hogg’s seven-year-old gelding Classic Jillz Geuzenhof

The grooms’ names for each of the British Paralympic dressage entries have not yet been confirmed.

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British Equestrian added “selection decisions are subject to the athlete and horse maintaining fitness and performance, and this list may be amended at any point up to 5 July 2021.”

The British Olympic dressage entries were announced earlier this week.

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.

Pearson eyes up Tokyo: ‘He is one of the most talented horses I’ve had’ H&H Plus

Andrea Oakes — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 14:00:24 +0000

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“HE’S going great guns,” said Lee Pearson of his Tokyo Paralympic prospect Breezer III, who headed the grade II individual with 75.39%. “I asked for more power and cadence than I usually dare to, and he responded well and was marked accordingly.”

Lee’s aim with the low-mileage and “sensitive” 10-year-old is plenty of exposure to big show atmosphere in the Games run-up.

“We’re trying to get him between the white boards,” explained Lee, adding that the Bacardi son can react to noise but will be able to wear ear muffs. “He is one of the most talented horses I’ve had and his way of going is so much stronger now. He has the qualities I like, and judges like.”

Ashleigh-Rose Turner claimed four classes at grade II with Soensmindes Sylvester, with scores well into the 70% zone.

“Sylvester looks after me so well and would never put a foot wrong,” said Ashleigh-Rose, who teamed up with the Danish warmblood gelding in 2017, three years after suffering a brain injury in a car accident. “Mette Assouline found him and we train with Jess Thomson. In my wildest dreams I’d ride him at a Paralympics.”

“He looks after me so well,” says Ashleigh-Rose Turner of Soensmindes Sylvester, with whom she tops four grade II classes (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Laura Scott scored a grade IV win with her ex-point-to-point gelding Winged Action. According to Laura, a former amateur jockey and eventer who sustained spinal injuries in a fall from a young horse, a relaxed, trainable temperament has helped “Vinnie” switch between disciplines.

“He’s an attractive horse with a lot of presence,” she said. “The para tests seem to suit him.”

Stablemate Koko Pop also stepped up to a victory. Catherine Witt bought him for William Fox-Pitt to event, but Laura – who once worked for William – was handed the ride three years ago.

“I had to make him a bit lighter and more responsive to me, but he’s really smart,” said Laura, who trains with Sue Petty and Pammy Hutton. “He knows it all, so it’s really a case of pressing the right buttons.”

This report is also available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 June 2021

Sir Lee Pearson’s autobiography: love hexagons, nightclubbing – and 14 Paralympic medals

Polly Bryan — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 15:24:45 +0000

Sir Lee Pearson is the world’s most successful equestrian Paralympian, with 14 Paralympic medals to his name – 11 of them gold – and many more from European and World championships. But there is much more to Lee Pearson as a rider and as a person than just medals, and his new autobiography, defiantly titled I Am Who I Am, is a fascinating account of a life and career riddled with adversity, yet filled with achievements and joy.

As one of the most successful and well-known athletes in the world, Lee’s is a life many may consider themselves to have had a window into, through varying media coverage. But this book straight away offers up refreshing authenticity. It is filled with honest – often VERY honest – accounts of the most significant events in Lee’s life, as well as many of those that might be considered less significant. Lee’s audacious personality and dark sense of humour really comes through, and I personally read the entire book in his broad Staffordshire accent. If you ever wanted to get an insight into the real, uninhibited Lee Pearson, this is your opportunity.

A shocking start

That Sir Lee Pearson was placed in a broom cupboard after birth as the nurses were so horrified by the deformities caused by arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, has been well documented. This shocking episode opens the autobiography, and it’s this quite unbelievable start to life that really emphasises the magnitude of what Lee went on to achieve in his life.

“They put me in a broom cupboard. Can you believe it? I wasn’t placed in the tender arms of my mum or dad; the heavens didn’t open and the angels didn’t sing. Instead, I was packed away like an old vacuum cleaner and left to gather dust. The first three days of my life were spent in a windowless room with bottles of Vileda and chamois leathers. Amazing, isn’t it. It’s a wonder I didn’t become a window cleaner.”

A remarkable career

He recounts the highs and lows from the early days of his dressage career, from falling off and sustaining what doctors thought would be a career-ending elbow injury, to his first experience of riding a “real” dressage horse during a session with Stephen Clarke, and building his relationship with the talented, but quirky Blue Circle Boy, whom he trained up to grand prix level.

Lee’s account of winning his first Paralympic gold medals, at Sydney 2000, and subsequently receiving his MBE, is a section that will stick in the mind.

“My true love is riding a horse to the best of my abilities. I rode to my best in Sydney and that was the most important thing, even more than receiving a medal…. Riding well is the be all and end all. Besides, by the time it gets to the medal ceremonies, if you’ve done your job you’re mentally and emotionally and physically exhausted. I think by the time I got to the podium at Sydney, I felt: ‘Oh my God, I did it.’ and when I received my MBE, I thought: ‘Oh my God, thank God I did.’”

He also offers plenty of interesting insight into his mindset while competing, which will ring true for almost any dressage rider.

“As I enter the arena, I’m willing the horse to stay calm, listen to my leg aids and listen to my rein aids. Then the judges ring the bell and throughout the test I’ve got to make split-second judgements at an alarmingly fast rate. Is this what I should do on this horse at this particular moment? In my head, I think about the technical aspects of the test. Like a chess player, or a snooker player, I always think a couple of moves ahead. I’m continually assessing the horse: is he going well or do I add more, allow less, be straighter, more bent?”

More than dressage

While Lee’s equestrian achievements provide the building blocks for documenting his career, this compelling autobiography is about so much more than dressage. Lee holds nothing back when describing the turmoil and self-loathing that accompanied his coming out as gay to his family as a young man, and the sexual exploits that followed over the course of his life. He discusses his love for nightclubbing, the depression he experienced while working his first job, at the Co-op, and the emotional impact becoming a foster father in recent months has had on him.

The story fluctuates between dressage and other, very different areas of his life, interspersing poignant moments with hilarious and sometimes outrageous anecdotes. These include Blue Circle Boy “bolting in walk”, to a championship “love hexagon” involving, among others, a German team trainer and Danish groom, and being stopped by Chinese police for driving a mobility scooter to a party in Beijing.

His memories of being selected as the Team GB flag-bearer at the Rio Games in 2016 are another highlight, despite in the run-up having “visions of being whooshed off the mobility scooter with the world’s media looking on.”

“The whole experience was humbling. It also felt like Great Britain was giving the rest of the world a positive message, because of my disability and because of my sexuality. It was like GB was saying they appreciated me as a sportsman, irrespective of disability or sexuality. I was proud of my fellow team members; there were 264. It was incredible to lead them.”

As the title suggests, this is a deeply personal memoir with equal weighting given to all facets of Lee’s colourful life. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the man behind the dressage saddle, and to understand what has shaped him into a rider and the person he is today. It made me appreciate his achievements all the more.

I Am Who I Am, published by Away With Media, is out on 15 May and is available for pre-order now.

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Chilled out mare pips Paralympian to victory at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships H&H Plus

Polly Bryan — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 13:36:51 +0000

Find out which laid-back mare edged out a Paraympic multi-medallist to the novice silver title at the Winter Dressage Championships 2020

Gareth Bulley and Lorentina took Prestige Italia novice silver honours at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships 2020, with 71.05%.

This is the 10-year-old Lorentin I mare’s first championship, but Gareth was delighted with how she performed, despite adverse weather.

“I’m so pleased with how she coped with the atmosphere, and her way of going,” he said. “She could have perhaps shown more expression in the medium trot, but this is her first really big show. We have only done one show since the regionals.”

Gareth has ridden Hannah Lebon’s mare for 18 months, having taken the reins while Hannah was pregnant.

“She’s very laid-back and generally a very nice person,” he added. “The plan is now to keep training her through the levels. We’ve made lots of progress in lockdown, like getting her changes established. She is very talented.”

‘This was my Tokyo!’

Sir Lee Pearson filled the novice silver runner-up spot with his Tokyo Paralympics hopeful, Breezer III. The home-bred and produced nine-year-old is by Bacardi, out of Sedona L, the same mare as Lee’s World Equestrian Games silver medallist Styletta.

“I’m just over the moon with him. He freaked out a little warming up indoors, but I was very pleased with the test,” said grade II Paralympian Lee, who posted 69.82%. “It’s been hard to do very much this year so it’s great to get him out. This was my Tokyo for 2020 – it’s like getting the silver medal!”

Kirstie Clarke finished in third place riding the Furst Kiss x Dramatic eight-year-old Powered By Furst Impression.

Keep up with all of the action from the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships on the Horse & Hound website via our H&H Plus service with full reports from each winter championship class, plus a gallery of winners from the Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships.

Olympic stars to shine at Hartpury as European selection approaches

Lucy Elder — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 20:41:37 +0000

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.

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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.

Greyhound showing and 9 other things you might not know about Lee Pearson

Martha Terry — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:25:26 +0000

Lee Pearson has a vast number of championship medals to his name thanks to his success in the world of para dressage. But there are some things you probably don’t know about him yet — let’s find out…

1. Sir Lee Pearson has been to five Paralympic Games, winning 11 gold medals. Before turning to para dressage, he had an office job for six years with the Co-op, but says: “I am actually allergic to paperwork.”

2. He jokes that he’s been collecting the full set of honours, going from MBE in 2001, an OBE in 2005, a CBE in 2009 and a knighthood in 2017. “As a Paralympian they made me work for it!”

3. Lee was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which means the muscles in his arms and legs didn’t grow correctly in the womb. After his birth he was kept in a broom cupboard for three days while his mum was sedated as the medics thought he wouldn’t survive. His face was originally covered with a birthmark; he had 14 major operations in his childhood and also nearly died of whooping cough.

4. He first came to public attention in 1980, aged six, when the prime minister Margaret Thatcher carried him up the stairs in 10, Downing Street, having awarded him a “Children in Courage” medal.

5. Lee has bred several horses from his mare Sedona H (Sadie), who is by Metall, including Styletta, his WEG ride (pictured), and Breezer, whom he hopes to bring out at international level this season. She has also bred an appaloosa, Albert, a yearling who lives in the field behind Lee’s home.

6. Although Lee’s disability means he rides a walk-trot test in para competitions, he has trained horses up to grand prix level, such as Blue Circle Boy, who won three golds at Athens.

7. He is considering showing his Italian greyhound. Azure — also known as Az, Azbo, and “Stupor Mundi Mini Wolf Azure”, says Lee. She was bought in Poland and permanently wears a fleece, even indoors with the woodburner on.

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8. Ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Lee challenged the Russian president Vladimir Putin on the country’s anti-gay legislation after hearing that any publicity on homosexuals was banned.

“I said I’d visit Sochi and see if I, as a known gay man, might get thrown in prison — just to highlight this crazy thing going on,” he says. “But in the end I couldn’t afford to go!”

9. Lee helps out in a homeless shelter a few nights a week, serving food and washing dishes.

“The clients do know I’m a knight, and some of them like to see photos of me riding and ask for selfies,” he says.

10. His favourite drink? “I don’t drink much — I’m not the wildchild I’m sometimes portrayed as. I try to eat healthily and if I do drink it’s only one or two and it has to taste like a soft drink — Tia Maria and coke.”

Don’t miss the latest issue of Horse & Hound magazine, which is out now (dated 21 February 2019), where you can read a full interview with Lee Pearson

The Netherlands ends Great Britain’s unbeaten para dressage run: ‘We will come back stronger’

Polly Bryan — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 19:46:03 +0000

The Netherlands made history at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon today by becoming the first team ever to beat Britain at a para dressage championship.

Britain have taken gold at every championship since para equestrian became a Paralympic sport in 1996. However, the Dutch team of Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP (grade V), Sanne Voets and Demantur NOP (grade IV), Rixt van der Horst (pictured, above) and Findsley (grade III) and Nicole den Dulk with Wallace NOP (grade II) produced remarkably consistent performances to edge the Brits off the top spot by just 0.6%, with Germany taking bronze ahead of last year’s European silver medallists, Denmark.

“This result is simply unbelievable; it is so exciting,” said the Dutch national coach, Joyce Heuitink. “I am so incredibly proud of them all, and not just the riders, but the whole team. They all had their form at the right time. That is something special. It is so difficult to get that done, just at the right time.”

Britain’s Sophie Wells put in a phenomenal performance with her individual gold medallist C Fatal Attraction (pictured, below), laying down a personal best and WEG record of 77.23% in the grade V division. Natasha Baker also achieved a personal best with her new ride, Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, in the grade III, putting 74.12% on the board for Britain.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Lee Pearson recovered well from a disappointing ride in the grade II individual championship — when he had to retire the nine-year-old mare Styletta — and posted 71.6% for the team. Erin Orford also improved on her score in the grade III individual, earning 69.03% with Dior.

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“We came here with a relatively new and inexperienced team, and my sense is that we were not at our max everywhere because some of these horses, particularly Lee and Natasha’s horses, are new to this, and are very new combinations,” British chef d’equipe Sarah Armstrong told H&H.

“At some point this was going to happen, and all this will do is make us come back stronger. It’s great that the competition is there — we had really tough competition and that’s so good for the sport.”

Britain’s Sophie Wells and Natasha Baker will be in action again tomorrow (Saturday, 22 September), contesting the freestyle championship in grades V and III respectively.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG will be in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Potential medallist among two horses held overnight after para dressage trot-up at WEG

Polly Bryan — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:10:57 +0000

Two para dressage horses will be re-inspected after being sent to the holding box during this morning’s trot-up at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina.

Denmark’s Hoennerups Beebob, who is ridden by grade I competitor Line Munk Madsen, was sent to the holding box, but the ground jury was not satisfied when he was re-presented a short time later. The 16-year-old Danish warmblood gelding, a son of Blue Hors Gertug, will be re-inspected tomorrow morning (18 September).

Having taken team silver at last year’s European Championships, Denmark are expected to challenge Britain for gold here in Tryon. The other three Danish horses, Horsebo Smarties (Stinna Kastrup), Davidoff (Caroline Nielsen) and CSK’s Que Faire ( Susanne Jensby Sunesen) were all accepted, although Horsebo Smarties, the 2017 European grade II freestyle champion, was asked to trot twice.

The ride of Italy’s Francesca Salverde, Muggel, was also sent to the holding box. The 11-year-old Carabas gelding, who competes at grade III, was re-presented, but will also be re-inspected tomorrow before the competition begins.

All four of the British horses — Mount St John Diva Dannebrog (Natasha Baker), Dior (Erin Orford), Styletta (Lee Pearson) and C Fatal Attraction (Sophie Wells) sailed through the trot-up.

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Several other horses were asked to trot twice, including the 11-year-old KWPN mare Coco Chanel M, who won double Paralympic bronze in 2016 with Brazil’s Sergio Oliva. The ride of Britain-based Canadian Bert Sheffield, Bailaor, was also asked to trot again, and generated a lengthy deliberation, but the 16-year-old stallion by Minero VII was accepted.

Para competition gets underway tomorrow at 9.30am (2.30pm UK time) with the grade IV individual championship. This will be followed by the grade II individual, featuring Britain’s Lee Pearson, and the grade V individual, featuring Britain’s Sophie Wells.

Natasha Baker and Erin Orford will get their WEG campaigns off the ground on Wednesday with the grade III individual, after which the grade I will take place. The team competition takes place on Thursday and Friday, with the freestyle for all grades being contested on Saturday.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

British WEG team confirmed: riders aim for more golden glory

Polly Bryan — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:02:40 +0000

The para dressage team that will attempt to continue Britain’s unbeaten championship record at this September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, has been revealed.

The multi-medalled Paralympian Sir Lee Pearson will return to a championship team for the first time since Rio 2016, this time partnering his own home-bred mare Styletta. Lee and the dainty nine-year-old Sandros Dancer daughter claimed a double grade II victory at the Hartpury international in early July, and while WEG will be the mare’s first championship, it will be Lee’s 14^th.

Sophie Wells MBE also brings plenty of experience to the team, having been selected with her European gold medallist, Charlotte Hogg’s 11-year-old C Fatal Attraction. Grade V rider Sophie also has a reserve horse listed: Jackie and Neil Walker, Valerie Woolford and her own seven-year-old KWPN stallion Gladstone.

Grade III rider Natasha Baker is another multiple gold medallist who took a year out of competition in 2017, but she returns to the British team for her second world games. Her ride is a horse she has partnered for just seven months, Emma Blundell’s nine-year-old Don Schufro daughter, Mount St John Diva Dannebrog.

WEG first-timer Erin Orford makes up the quartet, riding Annabel Whittet’s Dior. Grade III rider Erin and the Dimaggio mare made their team debut in 2017, helping Britain to gold and picking up individual bronze along the way.

Multiple medal-winning para dressage rider Sophie Christiansen announced last week she was withdrawing from the WEG shortlist to give herself more time to develop her partnership with Amazing Romance.

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Three more reserves have also been selected: Suzanna Hext with the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham’s LJT Enggaards Solitaire, Izzy Palmer with the Wells family’s Touchdown M and Georgia Wilson with her own Midnight.

“It’s great to see Erin cement her place in the team after her debut in Gothenburg last year, as well as welcome both Lee and Natasha back with their new rides,” said British Dressage chief executive Jason Brautigam. “Their experience, along with Sophie’s leadership and cool head, makes this quartet a very exciting prospect.”

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

Brand new names make WEG para dressage short-list

Polly Bryan — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 15:33:45 +0000

A squad full of exciting new combinations have formed the short-list for the British para dressage team at this September’s World Equestrian Games.

Just two of the pairs listed have been to a championship before — Sophie Wells (grade V) with Charlotte Hogg’s 11-year-old C Fatal Attraction, double gold medallists at last year’s Europeans, and Erin Orford (grade III) with Annabel Whittet’s Dior, who also helped Britain to gold in 2017, picking up individual bronze along the way. Sophie is also listed with a second ride, the seven-year-old KWPN stallion Gladstone, who is owned by Sophie, Jackie and Neil Walker, and Valerie Woolford.

Sophie Christiansen (grade I) is back on a championship short-list after a year out of competition, this time partnering her ride of less than a year, the nine-year-old Danish warmblood Amazing Romance, known as Harry.

Natasha Baker (grade III) is another multi-medallist to be back in team contention after a year off, again on a super exciting new ride, Mount St John Diva Dannebrog (pictured above). The nine-year-old mare, by Don Schufro x Brentano II, is owned by Emma Blundell of the Mount St John stud, and has been with Natasha since January this year.

Lee Pearson (grade II) is another championship veteran to bring forward an exciting new ride in his home-bred nine-year-old mare Styletta, a dainty, black Sandros Dancer daughter.

The 2017 triple European gold medallist Suzanna Hext is once again in contention for a team place, but this time not with her Gothenburg partner, the Huttons’ Abira, who is currently out with injury. Instead, H&H blogger Suz, who was reclassified from grade III to grade II at the start of the year, is listed with the Lady Joseph Trust and Henrietta Cheetham’s LJT Enggaards Solitaire. If selected, this will not be the 13-year-old blue Hors Soprano son’s first championships, however — “Sid” won medals for Britain at both the 2013 Europeans and the 2014 WEG under Ricky Balshaw.

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The remaining three shortlisted riders would all be championship debutants. These include two pupils of Sophie Wells: 17-year-old Izzy Palmer (grade IV), who was also shortlisted for the Europeans last year, riding the Wells family’s Touchdown M, and 22-year-old Georgia Wilson (grade II) with her own Midnight Z.

Grade IV rider Nicky Greenhill completes the shortlist, riding her own nine-year-old black mare Betty Boo, a Benetton Dream daughter bred by Lynne Crowden.

One omission form the list is Julie Payne, triple gold medallist at last year’s Europeans with Athene Lindebjerg, and the only member of that team not to be shortlisted this year. Julie, who has since been reclassified from a grade I to a grade II, has been piloting her own Pandora in competition so far this season, with Di Redfern’s Athene having suffered some soundness issues.

The team of four, which will be announced at the end of July or beginning of August, must include at least one rider from grades I, II or III, and cannot include more than two riders from the same grade.

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

‘Show off up there, big man’: Top rider’s tribute to his world-beating superstar

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 09:56:20 +0000

The horse with whom Lee Pearson “took on the world” has died at the age of 23.

Multiple medal-winning para dressage rider Lee has paid tribute to Blue Circle Boy, a “very special dancing partner”, who died on a sunny day at Lee’s parents’ house yesterday (19 September).

Lee said he first heard about “Gus” 19 years ago. Having been bottle fed from a week old, the dun colt had become an “overly cheeky stallion”.

“I advised he was gelded due to unknown breeding,” said Lee. “A few months later we tried lunging him with no success as he just dragged us around a boggy field.

“Day two I asked [his owner] Ange to push me up the side of him as I might be safer on top, with breaths held and whilst mounted I suggested I rode him with Ange attached the three miles to my parents as the land was drier.

“Gus wasn’t the bravest on the road and somehow we all survived considering we passed a mare in season and a fire engine down a narrow lane!”

Lee said both he and four-year-old Gus “knew nothing about dressage” when they started.

“We went on and took on the world within para dressage and he also carried me to become the first British dressage rider with a disability to become a national champion,” said Lee.

The combination won three gold medals at the Athens Paralympics; in the team, individual and freestyle events, and repeated the feat with triple gold at the 2002 European Championships in Anadia, Portugal.

At the 2005 European Championships, they won another team gold, plus individual and freestyle silver.

Later in life, Gus also trained with a vaulting team, “proving his trainability and love of human attention”.

“I think and he definitely thought he was the most beautiful horse on the planet and he not only put myself as a dressage rider on the map, I and others think he put para dressage on the map also,” said Lee.

“I’ll always remember arriving at my first able-bodied competition with people starring at me with my disability as if I was going to serve them coffee and biscuits in the cafe and perhaps thought I’d dressed up in riding gear to make myself feel part of a competition!

“Then… the eye full of golden muscle power that was Gus came snorting backwards out of his trailer, patronising looks from car park competitors turn to looks of concern as I was pushed up the side of him until on top, he piaffed and passaged his way to the warm-up arena, whilst I tried to convince him not to show off too much as we didn’t want to be banned!”

Lee said Gus was “not the easiest of horses” and that although he taught riders including Clare Balding and Alex Reid to “experience advanced movements”, he also nearly put Mary King off dressage for life”.

“But that was part of his charm,” added Lee.

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“I know he’ll have gone through the gates of horsey heaven like a massive golden double-decker bus-sized plonker that he was, making a massive impact. Cocking his leg like a dog for a scratch of his inner thigh if he thinks it will get him any extra attention!

“RIP Gus, I’m forever indebted to you, Show off up there big man and we’ll catch up again sometime x”

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

‘Exciting time’ for para reining as Brits bag silver

Lucy Elder — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 05:59:30 +0000

The first British team to compete at the World Para Reining Championships have won silver.

Lee Pearson, Ricky Balshaw and Fiona Durston made up the medal-winning team at the competition in Ermelo, Holland, on Thursday (6 July).

Dressage may be the discipline these three riders are best known for, but the trio had proved their reining prowess by qualifying on their first attempt at the Garden of England Spring Show (26-30 May).

“Showing a wonderful, well-behaved horse in a different discipline with a very enthusiastic audience is credit to the temperament and training of these horses,” said multiple Paralympic medallist Lee.

“I think this is a very exciting time for another para equestrian discipline.”

For Ricky, who rode stallion Yelena My Way, this marks a return to equestrian sport after retiring from dressage and stepping down from the British squad a year ago.

“It felt really good to be back in the saddle and with a flag on my chest,” he said.

Fiona added that both she and her horse, Tino, “really enjoyed it”.

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The gold medal went to an experienced Canadian team, with Belgium and Germany tied for bronze.

All three riders have qualified for the individual finals, which take place today (Saturday, 8 July).

“I am really delighted,” said chef d’equipe Francesca Sternberg.

“These riders have crossed over from the dressage arena to compete in a new sport and in a very short period of time achieved an incredible amount.

“The medal is the icing on the cake and well deserved. They have all been an inspiration in the dressage world and now they have become the same in the reining arena.

“I am very proud of them and looking forward the individual finals.”

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

It’s reining men: World Championship aim as star Brits take on new discipline

Lucy Elder — Tue, 23 May 2017 12:34:11 +0000

Para dressage medallist Ricky Balshaw is coming out of retirement to compete in a World Championship reining qualifier with fellow GBR star Sir Lee Pearson.

Current squad member Lee has won a staggering 11 gold Paralympic dressage medals and this will be his first foray into the world of reining.

Ricky retired from dressage and stepped down from the British squad in May 2016, but will be making a return to the saddle for the first time since on Friday (26 May).

The pair will be competing at the para reining World Championship qualifier at the International Garden of England Spring Show (26-30 May) at Bodiam International Arena in East Sussex.

Ricky told H&H he is looking forward to the weekend.

“I don’t really remember whose idea it was or where it came from — whether it was from the reiners or Lee,” he laughed.

“One minute I’m retired and the next I’m thinking about going to the World Championships!”

The 30-year-old hung up his competition boots almost exactly a year ago saying he was “was getting to the stage where I want different things from life”.

Ricky started competing on the senior British para team at the age of 14.

During his competitive career he won medals at Paralympic, European and World Championship level.

A grade Ib rider, Ricky won freestyle silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics with Deacons Georgi.

“There are things I haven’t missed, but obviously there are huge things I have,” he added.

“I miss the people, the horses and the competition side of things.

“Being competitive is something I have missed, so it will be good to do it one more time.”

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This is the first para reining event to be held in the UK.

“I am so excited to welcome Lee and Ricky into the sport of reining,” said organiser Francesca Sternberg.

“I am sure that with such an iconic pair setting the ball rolling for para reining in the UK many more will want to follow.”

The para reining World Championships will be held in Ermelo, the Netherlands, on 4-9 July 2017.

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

Dressage editor’s blog: ‘Where is Carl Hester’s knighthood?’

Alice Collins — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 16:09:34 +0000

How wonderful it is to see so many Olympic and Paralympic riders recognized in the New Year’s honours list. Each and every one absolutely deserves this accolade, and we salute Sir Lee Pearson, who has finally been knighted after winning so many medals — including 11 Paralympic golds — that his treasure chest must be overflowing.

His team-mates Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen are also recognized for their outstanding services to equestrianism, with Anne Dunham now an OBE and Sophie Christiansen also stepped up a rung on the ladder to CBE.

Charlotte Dujardin and Nick Skelton are now Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) after their outstanding efforts in Rio to secure individual golds, with both of them being upgraded from their London 2012 OBEs.

One name missing

But scanning this list — all 124 pages of the stuff — there seems to be a name missing. Where is Carl Hester’s knighthood? Yes he has an MBE from London 2012, but I think the horse world was hoping (and expecting?) that he’d be recognized for his incomparable input into the Rio 2016 results.

Who else has done more to put equestrianism on the map? He trained the gold medal-winning rider, he owns the gold medal winning horse, he trains all of his team members and — as if that wasn’t already enough — he rode on the team, too. And the team won silver. Has anyone ever done that before? And with such good grace, perpetual positivity and unrelenting understanding of the needs of the media and public? I don’t think so.

I suspect that if the researchers and decision-makers had looked a bit more closely at Carl’s 2016 achievements, we would now be addressing him as Sir Carl.

His omission from the list is a bit of a slap in the face given how much he’s done to raise the profile of dressage into the national consciousness and his tireless work to spread the word of kind training and thoughtful horsemanship.

How about we give him a title of our own? King Carl? Or perhaps Hero Hester? Any better suggestions, answers on a postcard…

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What do the letters mean?

1. Knighthood: The recipients of this title become a Sir or a Dame. This is the highest honour possible.

2. Order of the British Empire. This is split into three ranks, with CBE being the highest civilian accolade of the three.

A. Commander (CBE)

B. Officer (OBE)

C. Member (MBE)

Knighthood and honours for Rio equestrian stars in New Year list

Lucy Elder — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:33:53 +0000

Five Paralympic and Olympic riders have been included in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list.

The dressage world has dominated the equestrian contingent, boasting four riders who will be recognised for services to equestrianism.

Topping the list with a knighthood is Lee Pearson, the most decorated para-equestrian of all time.

He has won 11 Paralympic gold medals, ridden at five Paralympic Games and also has 14 World and five European championship titles.

In 2011, he fell and broke his back during training and recovered to continue winning at the top of the sport, including individual gold and silver in Rio.

Reigning Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin, eight-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen and individual Olympic showjumping gold medallist Nick Skelton will all be awarded CBEs.

Multiple Paralympic, World and European medal-winning para-dressage rider Anne Dunham has been made an OBE and sports broadcaster Jonathan Agnew, who swapped cricked for commentating at the equestrian Olympic events in Rio, will receive an MBE.

All the riders have received honours before and this is also the second prestigious recognition in as many weeks for Nick and Sophie, who came third and fifth respectively in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards on 18 December.

Inspirational former event rider Claire Lomas has also been made an MBE for charitable and voluntary services to spinal injury research. Claire, who was paralysed from the chest down in a cross-country fall in 2007, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity by taking on challenges.

These have included hand-cycling around England and using a robotic suit to walk the London Marathon, Great North Run and Vitality London 10000 routes.

Members of the racing world who will receive honours include former jockey and retired general manager of Perth racecourse Sam Morshead, trainer and founder of the Borders MS [multiple sclerosis] Racing Club Rhona Elliot, Dr Robert Welby Henry, trainer John Gosden and Timothy Adams.

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Awards for sport make up 14% of the 1,197 honours being given out, while women make up just over half of the total and 8.5% of the people on the honours list consider themselves to have a disability.

Other members of Team GB who are receiving honours include Andy Murray and Mo Farah, both of whom will receive knighthoods, as well as Katherine Grainger and Jessica Ennis-Hill, who will receive damehoods.

Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny, Max Whitlock, Ellie Robinson, Helen Richardson Walsh and Kate Richardson Walsh are also among the British Rio Olympic and Paralympic sporting stars on the list.

Golden hat-trick for Britain on final day of Paralympic dressage

Polly Bryan — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 01:04:41 +0000

It was another golden afternoon in Rio for Great Britain with Lee Pearson, Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker all topping the podium in the freestyle.

Lee Pearson went one better than his individual silver on Wednesday to claim gold with Zion, the 11th gold medal of his career.

“I do think I have the most amazing horse — I love him to bits,” he said. “I wanted to go in there powerful and go down that centre line like we owned it. I wanted to say to the judges, ‘we are here’.

“I’m in love with my team. I’m in love with the lottery. I’m in love with my family, my parents, my brothers, my groom, my partner — everybody that has kept me in the game, kept me here.”

Austria’s Pepo Puch took silver with Fontainenoir, with Denmark’s Stinna Kaastrup claiming her secind bronze of the Games with Smarties.

Lee Pearson riding Zion at the Rio Paralympics (Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘I knew we could do it’

It was a British one-two once again in the grade Ia freestyle. Sophie Christiansen scored 79.7% — the highest mark of the competition — to take gold with Athene Lindebjerg. In doing so, Sophie has defended both her individual titles from London.

“This year has been so up and down so to even get here was a feat in itself. Athene is such a young horse. I didn’t know how she would react, but she felt so relaxed with me today so I knew we could do it,” said Sophie.

Anne Dunham had to settle for silver behind her teammate once again, posting 76.05% aboard Lucas Normark, and Brazil’s Sergio Oliva completed the podium line-up in bronze.

Natasha Baker provided Britain with their third gold medal of the day when she defended her freestyle title with Cabral, at what is the 15-year-old Bujak gelding’s last championship. Dutch rider Rixt van der Horst held the lead until Natasha, the final rider of the Games into the arena, added 1.5% to finish on top with 77.25%. Steffen Zeibig and Feel Good 4 took bronze — the sole individual medal here for Germany.

“I’ve run out of tears,” said Natasha. That was our last championship test together and it was magical. He has never been beaten at a Paralympics. He deserves to go out with a bang.”

This brings Britain’s medal total from the Paralympic Games to 11, with six individual golds, four individual silvers and team gold.

‘I’m taking the best horse home’: Lee Pearson claims individual silver

Polly Bryan — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 20:18:25 +0000

Lee Pearson added another medal to Britain’s tally today, taking the silver in the grade Ib individual championship. He and Zion earned 74.1% with a smooth and very accurate performance to finish behind Austria’s Pepo Puch and Fontainenoir, on 75.1%.

“Sunday was just a bit too perfect,” reflected Lee, referring to his excellent plus-75% team test on day one of the competition. “I had to work harder today — he has so many gears in trot and I had to work harder to help him stay in the correct one.

“But I’m really proud of him to go in that lions’ den and come up with the goods and I’m over the moon with silver. I’m taking the best horse home, no matter what colour the medal.”

‘He was fighting so hard’

Pepo Puch bettered his individual bronze from London, at Fontainenoir’s first Paralympics. The Florencio I 11-year-old always produces pleasing tests but today’s was particularly relaxed and fluid. The former eventer was quite overcome by his horse’s performance, especially when he heard the result.

“He was fighting so hard and really on my side and helping me. He gave me everything and I am so proud of my Fondi.

“The only problem is with the positive feeling in the test comes emotion, and with emotion it is so much harder to control the movement of my body,” added the Austrian, who injured his spinal cord in a cross-country accident in 2008.

“We have been working so hard for four years — the first day after London was the first training day for Rio. We have so much support, but with that comes more pressure.”

Austria’s Pepo Puch rides Fontainenoir to gold at the Rio Paralympics (Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Britain in gold medal position at halfway stage of the Paralympic dressage in Rio

Denmark’s Stinna Kaastrup was the last rider into the arena, shaking things up by sneaking ahead of the Netherlands’ Nicole den Dulk and snatching bronze with Smarties. The 22-year-old, for whom this was a first Paralympic medal, has only been competing the Gribaldi 15-year-old since January this year.

The day was not without drama as Canadian rider Ashley Gowanlock suffered a heavy fall from Di Scansano. The 15-year-old De Niro gelding took fright after the final salute of their 65.1% test, letting out a large buck and jumping out of the arena. Ashley, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was taken to hospital as a precaution but suffered no serious injuries.

With Lee competing as an individual, Britain still have three team riders to contest the individual championship tomorrow before the team medals are decided. Natasha Baker and Cabral will be in action in the grade II at 2.20pm BST, with Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham riding in the grade Ia at 7.55pm BST and 8.40pm BST respectively.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

Britain in gold medal position at halfway stage of the Paralympic dressage in Rio

Polly Bryan — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 16:39:15 +0000

Britain hold the gold medal position after the first round of the team competition at the Paralympic dressage in Rio. With all four riders — Sophie Christiansen, Anne Dunham, Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells — having completed the team test in their respective grades, Britain top the leaderboard on a current score of 225.884.

The German team of Elke Philipp, Carolin Schnarre, Stefan Zeibig and Alina Rosenberg, are currently in silver on 218.602, while the Netherlands (Frank Hosmar, Nicole den Dulk, Rixt van der Horst and Demi Vermeulen) are just a whisker behind them with 215.558.

Natasha Baker was the final rider to contribute a British team score, posting 71.88% with Cabral to top this morning’s grade II competition. It proved to be the closest class so far, with just 0.5% covering the top four combinations, two of which were Dutch and one German.

The 15-year-old Bujak son didn’t make things easy for Natasha, spooking badly just before entering the arena and causing Natasha to have to drop her whip.

“He was really nervous,” explained Natasha. “The atmosphere got hold of him and I had to work really, really hard. But after the first handful of movements he relaxed and started working with me and the fact he settles so quickly has given me confidence for the next few days.”

This is Natasha’s debut on a Paralympic team, having ridden as an individual when she claimed her double gold in London.

Continued below…

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The second half of the team competition gets underway this afternoon with the grade III individual championship, but the next Brit in action will be Sophie Wells and Valerius in the grade IV individual test tomorrow at 3.09pm BST. Natasha, Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen will be in action on Thursday. The individual championship scores are added to the team test scores to decide the final team standings, as well as generating the first set of individual medals.

Britain’s Lee Pearson will have his first shot at a medal tomorrow, in the grade Ib individual championship aboard Zion. Lee, who has 10 Paralympic gold medals to his name, will be hoping to go one better than in London, where he took individual silver.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

Victory for Lee Pearson on day one of the Paralympic dressage in Rio

Polly Bryan — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 19:43:34 +0000

“That was the best test he’s ever done,” exclaimed Britain’s Lee Pearson, after riding the 12-year-old gelding Zion to team test victory on day one of the Paralympic dressage in Rio.

Lee and the Flemmingh son posted 75.28% to top the grade Ib leaderboard ahead of Pepo Puch and Fontainenoir, who are considered their main rivals.

“Zion gave me everything he possibly could,” continued Lee, who has had the horse since he was a five-year-old. “He’s a big horse at 17.2hh and we were possibly a little late in some of our downward transitions but they were still balanced and flowing. We just have such a fantastic partnership.”

The gelding had a spook just prior to entering the arena, breaking into canter, but Lee wasted no time settling him back into a rhythm and proceeding straight down the centre line. Once in the arena, harmony and consistency ruled, with no score below a seven.

However, Lee’s score won’t count towards Britain’s team total, as Lee and Zion are competing at the Games as individuals. They will contest the individual competition on Wednesdsay.

Continued below…

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‘We are in seventh heaven’

Austria’s Pepo Puch and Fontainenoir retained their focus after a stressful start to their Paralympic campaign. The Florencio I gelding was spun at the trot-up on Saturday (10 September), but passed the reinspection this morning.

“It was a surprise [to be spun] but it is very important to have this level of welfare for the horses, and I was sure he would be ok at the reinspection so I was not that nervous. I had a great feeling in there today — he was really concentrating on me.

“This is the horse’s first championship, so it’s a bit like starting from zero,” added the former eventer. “Our preparation here has gone very well — we are in seventh heaven here; everything is perfect.”

Sophie Christiansen, Anne Dunham and Sophie Wells will be in action for Britain tomorrow. Sophie Wells and Valerius will be the first team member into the arena at 2.18pm BST. Anne Dunham will ride Lucas Normark at 5.18pm BST and Sophie Christiansen and Athene Lindebjerg will be in action at 8.37pm BST.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

British team and individual confirmed for Rio Paralympics

Polly Bryan — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 01:43:22 +0000

Lee Pearson will compete as an individual in the Paralympic dressage in Rio. The British team aiming to maintain their unbeaten championship record will be made up of the other four members of the squad: Sophie Christiansen (Athene Lindebjerg), Anne Dunham (Lucas Normark), Natasha Baker (Cabral) and Sophie Wells (Valerius).

Lee, 42, who was chosen as the flag-bearer for ParalympicsGB at Wednesday’s opening ceremony, has been a stalwart of the British team since his first Paralympics in Sydney in 2000, when he also took home double individual gold. This is the first time in five Paralympics that he won’t form part of the team, but he and the 12-year-old Flemmingh gelding Zion will be strong contenders for individual and freestyle medals at grade Ib.

This means that Britain will have to wait until Monday for a team performance, as Lee is the only Brit in action on Sunday (11 September). He will perform the team test at 2.18pm (6.18pm UK time).

Natasha Baker, 26, will be competing on a Paralympic team for the first time, having ridden as the individual in London and scooping double gold at her debut Games aboard the 15-year-old Polish-bred gelding Cabral.

Continued below…

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Tomorrow’s action kicks off with the grade III team test, but the section will be without one of its major medal contenders. Hannelore Brenner was forced to withdraw the 11-year-old Kawango after the Siztus gelding sustained an injury just two days before he was due to fly to Rio. This was due to be the pair’s first championship appearance together, after ‘Kiwi’ picked up an injury in 2015.

Poland’s Karolina Karwowska and Emol will be the first combination into the Paralympic arena in Deodoro, at 10am (2pm UK time).

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

Rio Paralympics trot-up: five horses to be reinspected tomorrow

Polly Bryan — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 21:37:53 +0000

Paralympic dressage medal contenders are among the five horses to be reinspected tomorrow

Several medal hopes are among the five horses that will be reinspected tomorrow at 7.30am (Sunday 11 September), following the trot-up at the Rio Paralympics today,

Austrian rider Pepo Puch will re-present his ride Fontainenoir tomorrow. The London 2012 gold medallist will be bidding to add more golds to his collection in the grade Ib events this week with the Florencio I gelding.

Royal Delight, the ride of Italian grade Ia medal hopeful Sara Morganti, who took gold at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, will also be reinspected tomorrow, and Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla will also have a nervous wait to find out if his mount, Warenne, will be cleared to compete.

Two Danish horses make up the five who were not passed today: Stinna Kaastrup’s 15-year-old gelding Smarties and Caroline Nielsen’s 12-year-old gelding Leon will also be reinspected.

All five of Great Britain’s horses — Lee Pearson’s Zion, Natasha Baker’s Cabral, Sophie Christiansen’s Athene Lindebjerg, Anne Dunham’s Lucas Normark and Sophie Wells’ Valerius — were declared fit and sound to compete.

Michele George’s Rainman was sent to the holding box, but later passed. The pair, who claimed gold in London, compete for Belgium in grade IV.

Continued below…

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The action gets underway tomorrow with the grade III team test, beginning at 2pm (UK time), and the grade Ib team test at 6pm (UK time). Britain does not have any grade III competitors, but Lee Pearson will be the first out of the blocks for the squad, performing at 6.18pm with the 12-year-old Flemmingh gelding Zion.

Sophie Wells will be in action for Great Britain on Monday, in the grade IV team test. Grade Ia riders Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham, and grade II rider Natasha Baker, will begin their Paralympic campaigns on Tuesday.

More information about how to follow the Paralympic dressage can be found here, and don’t forget to stay tuned to the H&H website for the latest news, results and scores.

Don’t miss our full Paralympic report in the 22 September issue of H&H.

‘I hope I don’t get blown away’: rider to bear British flag at Paralympic opening ceremony

Lucy Elder — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:22:35 +0000

Para dressage rider Lee Pearson will be the British flag-bearer at the Rio Paralympic opening ceremony tomorrow (Wednesday, 7 September).

The 10-time Paralympic gold medallist was nominated for the honour in a vote by his fellow athletes.

Lee said he is “so proud and honoured” to be the flagbearer for such a “talented, strong and passionate” group of British athletes.

“Being a diverse character myself has meant that being voted by the athletes themselves has made this moment even more special,” he said.

“I genuinely feel that we are among the best prepared and supported athletes at the Paralympic Games and I can’t wait to lead my fellow team mates from ParalympicsGB into the stadium in a day’s time — I hope I don’t get blown away!”

Watch the live announcement at the Team GB house in Rio from Britain’s official paralympic broadcaster Channel 4…

Flag Bearer AnnouncementStraight from British House in Rio. Congratulations to ParalympicsGB Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer Mr Lee Pearson CBEPosted by C4Paralympics on Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Anne Dunham, Sophie Christiansen, Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells join Lee on the British para dressage squad in Rio.

All horses and riders have arrived in Brazil, with the equestrian competition starting on 11 September and running until 18 September.

“Lee has been a cornerstone of our equestrian team since he first made his debut in Sydney and has played a key role in establishing Great Britain as a leading Paralympic nation in the sport,” said ParalympicsGB chef de mission Penny Briscoe.

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“I was delighted to inform him that he has been chosen, with the backing of his peers in Rio, to take the role of flagbearer in the opening ceremony, and the team will be proud to march out behind him.

“I hope it is one of many memorable moments that he will take away from this Games, and wish him all the very best in his upcoming competition.”

British para dressage riders gunning for European gold

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:18:04 +0000

British riders have arrived in France and all horses have all passed the trot up in advance of this week’s FEI European Para Equestrian Dressage Championships in Deauville, France (18-20 September).

The team is made up of:

Grade Ia, Sophie Christiansen with Athene Lindebjerg
Grade Ia, Anne Dunham with LJT Lucas Normark
Grade Ib, Lee Pearson and Zion
Grade IV, Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction
Grade II’s Natasha Baker will compete as an individual with Sookie St James.

“It’s a great atmosphere here in Deauville,” Natasha told H&H today (Thursday, 17 September). “The horses are very relaxed and have been going very well.

“We have a very young squad of horses with three new horses at championship level so it’s exciting to do see how they get on tomorrow.

“I have the youngest horse so I’m just hoping to have a nice confidence-giving clean test tomorrow and fingers crossed the judges love her.”

Seventy-two riders from 20 nations will compete in the championships

Team GBR has dominated championships in the past, and the riders will be hoping for similar results this year.

At the last Europeans, in Herning, Denmark in 2013, Great Britain topped the medal table with seven golds.

However, in this year’s competition there is likely to be strong competition from Germany and the Netherlands.

Sophie Christiansen will be representing Britain in Grade Ia. She took three gold medals at both London 2012 and at the Europeans in 2013, as well as picking up two at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

However, she’ll be up against team mate Anne Dunham, who won consecutive gold medals at four Paralympic Games starting in Atlanta in 1996.

In the grade Ib 10-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson will face tough competition from Austria’s Pepo Puch, the Netherlands’ Nicole Den Dulk and Stinna Tange Kaastrup of Denmark.

In grade II Natasha Baker goes against Holland’s Rixt Van Der Horst, who took both individual titles at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

In Grade IV Belgium’s Michèle George is the rider to beat, with the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar and Britain’s Sophie Wells aiming on doing just that.

H&H blogger Sophie Wells is now riding her direct reserve horse, Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction, an eight-year-old gelding.

The change comes after Sophie’s original ride Valerius “did not feel quite right” and it was decided in the best interests of the horse to withdraw him from the upcoming competition.

The competition gets underway tomorrow (Friday, 18 September) with the team test.

The individual tests take place on Saturday (after which the team and the first individual medals will be decided) before the weekend’s competition concludes with the individual freestyle test on Sunday.

Keep in touch with all the action with daily reports here on HorseandHound.co.uk

For more information and times visit: www.handiequicompet.fr

Pammy Hutton: ‘Does our society not fear accusations of discrimination?’ [H&H VIP]

Pammy Hutton — Sun, 17 May 2015 07:55:03 +0000

The horse world has always provided rich pickings for critics, especially of the armchair variety hiding behind computer screens.

The latest row is about whether the poll should always be the highest point. Targets include a broad sweep of luminaries, from the Spanish Riding School to Valegro.

Isolated pictures and short video clips are the usual evidence provided, while accompanying comments suggest that many of the most vitriolic critics are out of their depth at this level. How many have ridden or trained horses to international level?

We’re all losing the plot if we forget that it’s the entire connection of the hindlegs, movement through the back and acceptance of the bridle that counts. Never mind what’s happening from the withers forward, what’s going on from the withers back is equally, if not more, important.

Occasionally with muscular development, some horses’ crests can “grow”, causing the neck to appear level with the poll. But an overall picture of ease and harmony should override petty nit-picking.

Let’s get real. Anyone can take all day floating round and getting the perfect outline, but competitive riders and the Spanish Riding School are required to ride with precision.

Ironically enough, much pontification on the subject of poll height is to be found on forums with “classical” or “pure” in their titles. Yet nothing is more classical or pure than Valegro.

Never again will we see anything as beautifully harmonious and correctly produced — by Carl Hester — as the partnership of Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Enjoy, watch and learn.

Para politics

I was shocked to hear that a top para rider cannot take the BHS PTT (preliminary teaching test) exam — the lowest rung on the instructor qualification ladder — because they don’t jump.

That the BHS system doesn’t incorporate a route for those with a disability seems incomprehensible. Does our esteemed society not fear accusations of discrimination?

This really does need looking into, although of course those affected can — and are — going down the UKCC (UK coaching certificate) path. And good luck to them.

On another note of para politics, I’m amazed that our top squads don’t call on the likes of seasoned Paralympians Lee Pearson, Anne Dunham and Nicola Tustain for advice and inspiration. No one understands current competitors’ needs better than these multi-medallists.

New partnership

Our son Charlie’s and my horse Abira has retired from small tour Premier Leagues and internationals.

But the good news is that H&H blogger Suzanna Hext is cementing her partnership with him, scoring 74% at their last competition.

With three national titles, 11 British championships and five British junior and young rider team appearances at Europeans under his belt, we’re quietly aiming Abira towards Rio. Although this new combination has still not hit the selectors’ radar, watch out next month!

Will streaming succeed?

So popular was livestreaming over the internet from the winter championships that there’s talk of repeating the exercise from the nationals.

It would almost certainly be a hit.We’re all so short of time these days — with wages pegged, having to work more hours to maintain the desired standard of living — that the chance to see the action without having to spend hours travelling has a certain appeal.

So will livestreaming of big shows adversely affect ticket sales, attendance and thus the show’s atmosphere? Or will it achieve what we’ve always said we wanted — more people watching dressage?

Ref: H&H 15 May, 2015

WEG para dressage: H&H talks to Lee Pearson [VIDEO]

Horse & Hound — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:52:36 +0000

H&H’s Madeleine Hill talks to Lee Pearson at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) about what it means to be a triple gold-medallist and the future of para dressage