Latest from Horse & Hound in Para-dressage-world-championships

Organisers praised as grooms put to the forefront at World Championships

Becky Murray — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:12:36 +0000

Grooms were at the forefront of the FEI World Championships in Herning (6–14 August), as “important strides” were made.

The Herning organising committee has been praised for “setting a new standard” for grooms, with highlights including a dedicated lounge at the stable area, an exclusive restaurant with “grab-and-go” options, recognition of grooms on screens during the competition, and grooms taking part in prize-giving ceremonies for the first time.

Herning was Charlotte Dujardin’s groom Alan Davies’ 20th major championship and he said the organising committee “tried so hard”.

“They stabled all the teams together, which is always really good at a championship. A WhatsApp group was created and the stable manager put any information we needed and there were at least three or four messages a day keeping us updated,” he told H&H.

“The restaurant was one of the best I’ve ever seen, this is my 12th championship in a row and the food was tip-top. They did fantastic buffets and supplied eco-friendly boxes so you could take food away, and there was always fresh fruit and salad available.”

Alan added that the recognition on the televised screen – each groom was pictured along with each horse and rider – “meant a lot”, and said the event was a “massive improvement” on previous ones he had been to.

“It’s all going in the right direction. If we can really get the International Grooms Association [IGA] off the ground [news, 5 May] and get people to listen, and if there can be more communication between the organisers, the FEI and grooms, then we can keep [the standard] up to a level, which it is getting to,” he said.

“Herning did a really good job and the level of care for grooms is getting better, but it’s going to be keeping those standards up that’s difficult. The cost of living is creeping up, so it’s not going to be easy.”

The IGA, which launched at the end of April, met the Herning organising committee before the championships, and IGA executive director Lucy Katan told H&H she was “delighted” with their “forward-thinking approach”.

“Historically, many shows plan everything and then say, ‘and the grooms’, as kind of an afterthought, but that was not the case here. The organising committee really put the grooms at the forefront of their planning and it created such a different atmosphere of positivity,” she said.

The championships’ sport chief executive Jens Trabjerg confirmed to H&H the committee was “let down at the last minute” with the accommodation, but this was “solved” on 3 August. He added that the committee was “very pleased and proud of the many positive comments” they received.

Alan, who opted to stay in a horsebox with Gareth Hughes’ groom Steph Sharples, said the accommodation was a “bit of a problem” but the committee tried to resolve the issue.

“I feel for them that it went wrong on that level because everything else they were trying so hard to do right for us,” he said.

An FEI spokesman told H&H “important strides” were made at Herning.

“The organising committee was extremely proactive and dedicated to setting a new standard for grooms, which at many levels they achieved. While we fully acknowledge there were some challenges – such as the accommodation – these were resolved in the best possible way given the situation,” he said.

“It was a big team effort with the organising committee, IGA and FEI working together in the build-up and throughout the championship to fulfil a shared vision whereby grooms got the recognition they fully deserved.”

The spokesman added there will be a “thorough debrief” with stakeholders, and the FEI will continue to liaise with the IGA on all matters regarding grooms.

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‘There is no room for error now’: Erin Orford on what it takes to win a team world medal

Erin Orford — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 14:16:53 +0000

Erin Orford, a world and double European medallist in grade III para dressage, on what it takes to win a championship team medal and her new role as commentator in Herning

Commentating on the live-stream at the World Para Dressage Championships was a strange but exciting experience, as I have only ever been in that sort of championship environment as a rider. I was surprised at the level of production that goes into every aspect of live-streaming and was learning on the go all week.

The area I felt most comfortable with was talking about the tests; for that it helps to be a rider, as I could sympathise with what the riders were going through and understand a bit of what they were feeling. I had to think hard about what a combination was doing, how it might come across to the judges, and it offered a really useful perspective to take into my own riding and how I could improve the way I ride and present a test.

Attracting new audiences

As a venue, Herning was great. It was big, but not as big as Tryon in 2018, for example, and here everything was quite close to the tradestands and the shopping village. That meant that at the para dressage arena, we got a lot more interest from people who hadn’t specifically come to watch para dressage. People who were just walking past popped in to watch the Danes, but stayed for other riders too, and that helps us attract new audiences and give the sport more exposure.

Denmark is strong when it comes to para dressage, and the organisers really promoted it as much as they did the other sports. It was great to see flags and banners around with para dressage riders’ faces on, as well as dressage riders and showjumpers. Sophie Wells’ face was on the first flag I saw coming into the venue!

The standard at these championships was so high, and the horsepower was insane. Denmark had two very big scorers and a third good scorer – and that wasn’t enough to win gold. The Netherlands brought their A game with a full team of very strong riders and that’s what was needed. There is no room for error now – everyone needs the ride of their life on the right day for the team to be on the podium. Last year, Britain brought home the gold because they all pulled out mega scores on the day it mattered for the team.

In Herning, Britain’s Lee Pearson and Natasha Baker both had horses a bit on their toes. They did really well to manage that and produce scores that, in the past, would have been good enough for a team medal, with Sophie’s bigger score as well. But now, teams can’t afford not to be pulling in personal best scores, or close, from all three riders. It’s great for the sport.

A confusing swap

Swapping the team and individual tests around was confusing for some of the riders watching who recognised the tests. The format itself is quite simple, but I had to try not to mention the name of the test, as it was a confusing concept that the “team test” decided the individual medals and the “individual test” decided the results for the team.

The names of the tests need to change, especially if this format is here to stay, but I’m not sure how I feel about calling them the para grand prix and grand prix special, as proposed. I worry that as we encourage new spectators into the sport, it might be confusing for them in terms of what they expect to see if it’s compared to the able-bodied dressage classes. But then again, I understand the reasoning behind the term “grand prix” referring to the peak of the sport.

It was nice to see all riders in action in both the individual and team competitions, and for those two scores to be combined to decide the top eight to progress to the freestyle. It gives riders a chance to qualify even if things haven’t gone to plan on day one, and it gives everyone at least two trips into the arena.

Previously, riders not on a team would ride just one test, and that format could be off-putting for federations with just one or two riders who may not be expecting to qualify through, as it is expensive to send riders to a championship. I very much liked that change to the format and the extra opportunity it gave all the riders, whether medal contenders or not.

• What did you think of the para dressage competition and coverage from Herning? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 26 August

The Horse & Hound Podcast 116: World Championships review and BSPS Championships preview

Carol Phillips — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 06:02:35 +0000

Our 116th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast features our review of Ecco FEI World Championships, including all the showjumping and para dressage action, as well as the dressage freestyle (check out last week’s episode for the rest of the dressage medals). H&H’s showjumping editor Jennifer Donald catches up with our Herning showjumping reporter H&H’s news editor Eleanor Jones, while H&H’s dressage editor Polly Bryan, who was also out in Herning, chats to H&H‘s senior news writer Lucy Elder. Turning our eyes to the future, H&H’s showing editor Alex Robinson interviews producers Sara Parrott and Craig Elenor about their BSPS Championships memories and their plans for this year’s show, before filling in our podcast host H&H’s Pippa Roome on why this show is so important in the showing calendar and what highlights to look forward to. We hope you will enjoy listening.

Episode 116 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service, which is available every Thursday morning for our H&H digital subscribers, is now live.

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View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

Our 116th weekly episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast is the second part of our review of the Ecco FEI World Championships action, kicking off with H&H’s showjumping editor Jennifer Donald catching-up with H&H’s news editor Eleanor Jones, who was part of our team reporting from Herning.

“We all wish we had a horse like King Edward, don’t we. He never looks like he’s going to touch anything” – H&H’s Jennifer Donald

H&H’s Polly Bryan, who was also out in Herning for the competition, and H&H’s Lucy Elder, who has been covering the event from back in the UK, share their thoughts on the incredibly exciting dressage freestyle and all of the para dressage medals.

“I’ve watched Lottie’s freestyle test about seven times since she rode it – I actually feel quite emotional just thinking about it now” – H&H’s Polly Bryan

Looking ahead to the British Show Pony Society’s (BSPS) Summer Championships, H&H’s showing editor Alex Robinson catches up with top pony producers Sara Parrott and Craig Elenor to find out their favourite BSPS Championships memories and their plans for this year’s show. Then Alex sits down with our regular podcast host H&H’s Pippa Roome to explain why this show is so important in the showing calendar and what are the key classes to look out for.

“We’ve got a complete range of ponies, from opens to one who’s only been to one show before. We’ll win a flowery sash hopefully!” – Sara Parrott

We would love to hear your feedback on our new “summer of sport” podcast series, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 116

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 112: Hickstead Derby review with Shane Breen, plus Royal International preview

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 114: Royal International Horse Show review

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 113: Lottie Fry | Herning World Championships preview | Festival of Hunting review

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How to listen to the Horse & Hound Podcast: a beginner’s guide to podcasts

A new World Champs record, four British medals and an emotional retirement – 6 key stories from the final day in Herning

Carol Phillips — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:05:12 +0000

What an exciting final day of action for equestrian fans at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships in Herning. The competition for the freestyle medals was as hot as the weather has been at times this week. Each of the eight riders who qualified to come forward in the five grades to this final day of competition arrived ready to impress the judges one more time, but with only three places on the podium, only the best would be crowned.

Find out how the battle for the freestyle medals played out…

The action got underway with the grade IV freestyle that saw the Netherlands’ Sanne Voetts and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. collect their third gold of the competition

Find out why Sanne felt like she was “in another dimension”

A highly competitive grade II freestyle followed with both Britain’s Sir Lee Pearson and Georgia Wilson on the podium

Find out what colour the British medals were

In the grade I, Ireland was among the medals for a second time at this World Championships

Ireland’s Michael Murphy explains how he chose his challenging floorplan

The grade III saw a new World Para Dressage Championship and grade III record set by the home-side, plus there was another medal for Britain

Find out why Natasha Baker had a less than ideal start to her test

Germany’s Michele George took the grade five freestyle gold, with Sophie Wells collecting Britain’s final medal in Herning

Find out why the medals are no longer the most important thing for Sophie

The freestyle competition was an emotional swansong for a 19-year-old stallion, who will now be enjoying life away from the competition area

“He’s always been there for me – he knows when he’s here for a big thing and he gives me his heart to me”

The Horse & Hound team hope that you have enjoyed our coverage from the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships in Herning. For more detailed analysis of where the medals were won and lost across the para dressage, showjumping and individual dressage competitions, make sure you pick up your copy of Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 18 August.

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Brits eye Paris 2024 hopes after team finish off the podium at World Para Dressage Championships

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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.

Meet the veteran stallion winning a medal for his final dance – ‘He gives his heart for me’

Polly Bryan — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:18:57 +0000

Rodolpho Riskalla always puts his heart and soul into his performances, but today’s grade IV freestyle at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships was even more emotional than usual.

Tears filled the Brazilian rider’s eyes as he rounded the corner onto his last centre line, because this was the conclusion to his beloved horse Don Henrico’s last ever dressage test. The Don Frederico stallion, who is out of a Lauries Crusador mare, is 19 now, and will be retiring after the World Para Dressage Championships – not that he looked as though he needs to stop competing. But Rodolpho is keen to let the horse bow out on a high, and that he certainly did as he claimed his second individual bronze medal of the week.

It was a captivating test set to Latino music, their routine filled with complex sequences and featuring flowing half-passes plus flying changes every five strides.

“It’s been a roller coaster week between the preparation and coming here, but he was so good to ride today,” said an emotional Rodolpho, who said that, after quite bit of build up over the week, this was the last ride he had dreamed of for this horse.

“I’m really pleased and overwhelmed. I’m emotional that is was his last championship test, but also so happy that he gave me so much. What more could I want? It’s been amazing.”

Rodolpho Riskalla and Don Henrico celebrate their final test at the World Para Dressage Championships (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Over the past five years, Don Henrico has lifted Rodolpho’s career into another dimension, winning him double world silver in 2018 and individual Paralympic silver in 2021. The stallion belongs to Gestut Schlafhof, a training and competition centre in Germany, where Rodolpho first tried him after a tip-off from Schlafhof’s owner Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff.

“When he came to me, he was difficult in the beginning, and we have had tough times because he’s very sensitive. But he’s always been there for me and he knows when he’s here for a big thing and he gives his heart for me. We’ve built an amazing bond.”

‘That’s why we ride horses; to become one’: Belgium takes grade V freestyle gold in Herning, plus a medal for Britain

Stephanie Bateman — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:07:40 +0000

Belgium’s Michele George rode a challenging floorplan to score 82.86% in the grade V freestyle to claim the gold medal at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

Her beautiful bay mare Best of 8 soaked up the atmosphere and made light work of their routine, choreographed to a fun collection of 1980’s tunes.

“I think it’s a personal best for the mare, and I’m so, so proud of her,” said Michele. “She behaved like a queen, and it was very difficult to ride because the noise from the showjumping arena was loud with clapping and cheering, so it was very tense, but I managed it and she was really dancing.

“That’s why we ride horses, you know, just to become one, and to feel the harmony. It’s my second world title and I’m so happy that I can do it again with another horse, because it’s not always easy to stay on the top. But I’m back, and that is only the start.”

The Netherland’s Frank Hosmar and 17-year-old gelding Alphaville N.O.P took silver after performing a 80.78%-worthy test. The expressive dark bay gelding coped brilliantly with the tense atmosphere and listened intently to his rider’s commands for a pleasing round.

Britain’s Sophie Wells and Don Cara M gave it everything they’ve got to pull off a stunning test for just shy of 80% to land grade V bronze for Britain.

It was clear Sophie had a medal on her mind as she entered the arena. Bringing her A-game, her test showed powerful extensions, balanced and fluid simple changes and bold extended canters. ‘Donnie’ gave such a lovely picture throughout the entire test, the judges couldn’t help but award top marks.

“The trot felt just amazing,” said an emotional Sophie. “If I can get that and keep it consistently throughout the test, he’s got so much potential. It’s all about the timing – I don’t want to ask too much too soon and then lose his confidence. It’s taken so long to get him confident.

“Last year in Tokyo, it went really quite wrong, and we’ve done loads and loads of work on it. To get 6% more today is just fab. He’s far exceeded last year in every test.”

Sophie admits that her mindset has changed over the years, and although she is still as competitive as ever, what matters to her now more than medals is how her horses perform for her.

“I never thought I’d get to a place where, if I didn’t win gold on the first day, it actually didn’t matter,” she added. “I literally had no disappointment inside of me when I found that out, and that’s a really nice place to be. I’m still competitive, but I’ve got so many other things that are more important to me now. I’ve won 20 golds in my career, but actually, has it made me happy? No. But the horses going amazingly and seeing them progress and building confidence is what makes me happy now, regardless of the score.”

‘I’m so proud’: World Para Dressage Championship record broken with a plus-86% score

Stephanie Bateman — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 14:50:55 +0000

Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen rode the test of his life in front of an ecstatic home crowd to set a new World Para Dressage Championship and grade III record for his flawless freestyle performance when scoring an incredible 86.5% in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

Riding the lovely grey mare Jolene Hill, the individual gold medallist’s test oozed suppleness, connection and a silky-smooth rhythm which left him a clear 10% in front at the top of the leader board.

“I’m so proud; she felt amazing,” said Tobias. “I don’t care what score I got today, she was just amazing. She has such a good trot and I wanted to show the judges how she always maintains her rhythm even through her transitions, and to show she is always in balance. I also like to show her extended trot because she is so good at it.”

Tobias explained he has worked a lot on his personal fitness.

“It definitely helped me perform at my best after a long week, but without her today, I couldn’t do it. I do feel tired today and my energy is used up, but she just gave her best and followed my signals all the way through. She was amazing.”

World Para Dressage Championships results: silver and bronze

The Netherlands’ Lotte Krijnsen claimed her first World Championship medal when scoring 76.67% for silver riding her stunning 16-year-old black mare Rosenstolz. The pair demonstrated their strong connection with beautifully supple and expressive transitions, and floating medium trots.

Just 0.05 of a percent behind in bronze medal position was Britain’s Natasha Baker who, despite suffering a tricky entrance when Keystone Dawn Chorus, aka ‘Lottie’, kicked over the A marker, managed to enlist all her years of experience to calm the sensitive mare and support her through their round.

Lottie looked more settled than earlier in the week and Tash was able to ride for every mark, including powerful medium trot strides across the diagonal, super rhythmical trot circles and a super, over-tracking free walk.

“That was the worst warm up ever,” said an emotional Tash after her test. “She was so tense and it’s probably because she has come into season. I then got my foot caught in the flower pot in the A marker as I went in, but luckily, she’s not spooky and we managed to catch up with my music.

“I’m just so proud of her because after our rocky start, she really looked after me. I know that she’s super talented and such a good girl; I’ve just got to trust her more and trust that she’s going to take care of me in the arena, because she did today. She’s just amazing and I love her to pieces.”

‘That’s by far the best he’s gone’: second individual medal for Ireland at World Championships

Stephanie Bateman — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 12:14:38 +0000

Ireland’s Michael Murphy pulled out all the stops to ride a challenging grade I freestyle test and give Ireland their second bronze of the championships with a whopping 78.39% in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

A brand-new floorplan with new music saw Michael up the difficulty riding his tall and elegant 15-year-old black gelding Cleverboy. Packed full of score-gaining tours, the moves came thick and fast with no time for contemplation.

“We wanted to up the difficulty and technicality with the music, and that’s by far the best that he’s gone round that test,” said Michael. “It’s a difficult test to ride, but you’ve got to make it challenging at this level. And he was so good in there, he was with me the whole way. He was so relaxed and ready to do the next move. It was a dream to ride.”

Michael explains how he made his decisions when creating his floorplan: “The plan is to keep it interesting. In a walk test, if you go in straight lines too much, it gets boring very quickly, so you’ve got to mix it up and show off the horse. It’s difficult to tie it together, but he did it perfectly.”

After playing the bridesmaid all week in the grade I, Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight stepped up their game to complete a fantastic freestyle with 80.65% and finish at the top of the podium.

Royal Delight coped impeccably with the buzzy atmosphere of the arena, leaving Sara to concentrate on pulling off beautifully positioned half-passes and rhythmical work.

“This is just too beautiful to be true, I’m so happy,” said Sara. “I’m delighted with Royal Delight. It felt really good with the music and I couldn’t have wanted more from his performance.”

Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance suffered a spook in their walk circle, which saw them lose important marks, but they managed to hold it together to earn 78.4%, which was good enough for silver.

World Championships gold for Denmark, while Britain takes silver and bronze

Stephanie Bateman — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:06:20 +0000

Katrine Kristensen and 14-year-old gelding Goerklintgaards Quater scored 80.35% to land the honours in the grade II freestyle and earn their third gold medal of the championships in today’s Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

The combination has been consistent all week, landing team gold as well as the individual grade II gold medal. This test was no exception.

“I took some of his collected trot movements and incorporated them into the floorplan because he is strong in that pace,” she said of her choreography. “It’s very easy for him because he is small and round.”

Katrine’s complex floorplan also contained a lot of rhythmical lateral work.

“When you try something difficult, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose; some of it was very good today and some of it was a little bit hard, but I’m very satisfied.

“I’m very pleased with his score as, when you get over 80%, you have to be happy.”

World Para Dressage Championships results: silver medal

Lee Pearson’s sensitive gelding Breezer looked much more settled as he entered the arena today, and the pair were able to show what they are really capable of to land silver for Britain. Their walk work was more relaxed and had a positive impact on their trot tour.

“That was the test I’ve been waiting for, but perhaps not so much the score,” said Lee of his 77.86%. “There was one moment in the walk where he just said, ‘I don’t like this audience’, and I said, ‘I know, it’s fine, mate’, and I was patting him at every opportunity.

“I loved the trot work, but it’s just too much walk work for grade II para riders, and I think things really do need adjusting, but I’m absolutely over the moon with Breezer. I don’t think he could have tried any harder.”

A brilliant freestyle bronze for Britain

Britain’s Georgia Wilson and Sakura’s 75.83% test saw them land the grade II freestyle bronze medal in the World Para Dressage Championships results.

“To win a bronze medal feels amazing as I didn’t think I’d end up getting one, and I’m just really happy to be here with ‘Suki’,” she said. “I stupidly listened to my freestyle music before I went to bed last and didn’t sleep at all, but it was a really good test in the end, and I was pleased with the result.

“I was a bit behind with the music after the collected trot so I had to cut one of the corners, but I managed to get back on track. I felt like I wanted to start all over again because she just got better and better as the test went on.”

The remaining two British riders will be performing their freestyle tests this afternoon: Natasha Baker in the grade III at 2pm UK time and Sophie Wells in the grade IV at 3.21pm.

‘I was in another dimension’: Netherlands’ superstar claims triple World gold medals

Stephanie Bateman — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 09:50:44 +0000

Replicating their Tryon triple gold, the Netherlands’ Sanne Voetts and her mega consistent 14-year-old gelding Demantur RS2 N.O.P. spearheaded the grade IV freestyle with 82.49% to complete the triple in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results in Herning.

Another stunningly smooth performance including flying changes every five strides and foot-perfect simple changes catapulted her scores to the top of the leader board.

“I always try and think of something I want to say, but I’m pretty much speechless today,” said an overcome Sanne after her freestyle performance. “I’m just so proud of him and how he’s put in such a brilliant performance on the final day after such an intense week.

“I was just there with my horse and the music, enjoying what happened. There’s a few moments in your career when you enter the arena and raise your hand, and from that moment on, you are in another dimension and you don’t really experience what’s going on. And today was one of those days.”

“When we went to Rio, I’d only been riding him for eight months, so our partnership was really new,” added Sanne. “Now I know him better and he focuses on me. There is so much in the lead up to a big championship where you want to be in control, but then you get here and you have to let go of all the control. That’s the hardest part.”

Sanne’s plans are to continue to improve with the Paris 2024 Games in mind.

“I want to be a better rider for my horse, because there is so much more that he can give if I handle it right,” she said. “If I ride him perfectly, I know he can be so much better.”

The USA’s Kate Shoemaker pulled off a cracker of a test with her stunning eight-year-old mare Quiana, to better their individual fourth and take freestyle silver with a personal best of 80.28%.

The mare’s expressive paces and fluid movement earned her high marks, their highlights being their rhythmical half-passes.

“We wanted this 80% and the fact that we got it, I don’t think I quite believe it yet,” said an ecstatic Kate. “I have to give all the credit to my horse and my team, because without them, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to sit up there, and they all worked so hard on my behalf and we did it together.”

Of their performance, Kate said: “The elements all came together to really highlight her beautiful half passes. This is the first time I’ve put together a championship freestyle with half passes in the trot and the canter, but they just really helped me get the collection and keep her through.”

Another super performance saw Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla’s 19-year-old Don Henrico earn his second bronze medal of the World Para Dressage Championships and finish his career on a high.

“It’s been a roller coaster week between the preparation and coming here, but he was so good to ride today,” said an emotional Rodolpho. “I’m emotional that is was his last championship test, but also so happy that he gave me so much. It’s been amazing.”

The pair have enjoyed a hugely successful career with many accolades to celebrate.

“When he came to me, he was difficult in the beginning, and we have had tough times because he’s very sensitive, but he’s always been there for me and he gives his heart for me. We’ve built an amazing bond.”

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.

Dazzling Dutch, Britain’s team finish and Paris 2024 hopes – 7 stories from a fierce para dressage World Championships team final day

Lucy Elder — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 18:39:26 +0000

The Dutch secured back-to-back titles, with strong results across the board earning the side team gold at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships.

Britain took fourth place, and while it was the team’s first off-podium finish at a senior championships, all eyes now turn to Paris 2024, with the result meaning the side has secured its spot at the next Paralympic Games.

Find out how how the results played out on the final day of team competition at the World Para Dressage Championships in Herning…

The Brits are looking ahead to Paris 2024 following their fourth place finish in Herning

Read what last to go for the British team, Sophie Wells, said after her solid test with Don Cara M

The evergreen Alphaville N.O.P. sealed victory for the Dutch, but just to be here is a victory in itself for this para dressage star

Learn about this special horse’s remarkable recovery from illness

Tobias Thorning Joergensen and the lovely grey Jolene Hill threw down a massive score to take Denmark into a tussle for gold in the World Para Dressage Championships results table

Read what Tobias had to say about his final preparations for this stunning test

Natasha Baker delivered an important score for Britain

Discover what Natasha had to say after her test with Keystone Dawn Chorus

Building a strong support team – and new tactics – paid off for US team anchors Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel

Find out what has been key to this horse’s growing success

Denmark’s Karla Dyhm-Junge, who is in her first season of international competition, provided a crucial score for the home side

Read what Karla had to say about her “best friend”, Miss Daisy

H&H’s para rider of the day is Ireland’s Tamsin Addison

Hear what Tamsin had to say about her World Para Dressage Championships experience

Brits eye Paris 2024 hopes after team finish off the podium at World Para Dressage Championships

Lucy Elder — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 17:20:32 +0000

Team anchors Sophie Wells and Don Cara M’s solid performance secured Britain’s spot at Paris 2024 and fourth place in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

This is the first time the Brits have finished off the para team podium at a senior championships – but Paralympic qualification was always the aim and all eyes now turn to the Pairs Games in two years’ time.

Sophie rode a masterful test, showing exactly why she has been part of every senior championship squad since 2009.

“Obviously it’s hard to go last in the team anyway, and the other guys didn’t have their perfect rides, so I just tried to stay focused on what me and Donnie could do,” she said, adding she was mindful not to push him and “over try”, while doing everything they could.

“Waiting to go and then trying not to think about what we might need [was hard], because you really can’t do anything about it, can you? You’ve got to go in there and ride the best dressage that you can, and to be able to look back and be proud of the ride that you had.”

Despite applause from the neighbouring stadium as they went down their first centre line, and passing tractors during their shoulder-in, Sophie kept “Donnie’s” focus. Their score of 76.19% was just a smidge off their personal best in this “individual” test, which counted for the team results at the World Para Dressage Championships.

Their trot extensions were a real highlight. Sophie has this horse in such beautiful balance and he showed a lovely uphill frame throughout.

The scrimmage for bronze was close – the Brits finished 1.94 marks adrift of the US, with Belgium snapping at their heels, just 0.2 marks behind.

“I think at my first championships, I wasn’t thinking about [being in the anchor spot] at all, and like it’s hard not to think about it now,” she said, reflecting on how the sport has grown globally in recent years.

“Everyone is closer, and obviously further ahead of us now, so there’s much less wiggle room. We have to have almost personal best rides to be in the medals. I think someone said that we would have been in bronze with [our results from the individual competition], and we were several percent higher.”

“Donnie”, a 13-year-old Don Jovi gelding owned by Roland Kinch, appears to have matured both mentally and physically from Tokyo, where he won Paralympic individual silver and helped the Brits to team gold. And with Paris qualification always the main aim for these championships, there is more to look forward to in future.

“I think as our partnership grows, he will trust me more and I’ll know him more and how we have to prepare him,” she said, adding it’s “all part of the process”.

“He’s still got loads more in there, which is what’s really nice,” said Sophie. “I don’t want to push too hard too soon, and then upset him and upset the balance.

“Qualifying for Paris, that’s what we came in here to do. I think overnight, we were quite aware that gold and silver were out of the question, but we thought that we might be able to push for bronze.

“Qualification for Paris is a tick. We go home, regroup, and get them into some good competitions.”

The Netherlands took gold in the World Para Dressage Championships results, successfully defending the title they won in 2018, with Denmark in silver and the US claiming bronze. The top seven teams in Herning qualify for the Paris Paralympic Games.

H&H’s para dressage rider of the day: “My stomach fell through my feet when I heard the bell”

Polly Bryan — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:51:04 +0000

Ireland’s Tamsin Addison had a less than ideal start to her World Para Dressage Championships campaign with the Fuerst Romancier gelding Fahrenheit when she inadvertently entered before the bell in the individual grade V championship.

“I was cantering around and as I came past the kiss and cry stand I saw that the white boards to the arena were open. And what went though my head was the poor rider [France’s Celine Gurney] in Tokyo who didn’t hear the bell and she was eliminated. And here, I couldn’t see the clock, so I thought I missed have missed the bell.

“So we came up the centre line and did a square halt and I thought, ‘Oh that’s really good, I’m pleased with that’. And then the bell rang and my stomach just went through my feet. I just thought, ‘I don’t believe it’.” I hadn’t heard the bell but the gate had been open – I took the decision to enter on the bass that the gate shouldn’t be opened until the bell has rung.”

Luckily Tamsin was not eliminated, but required to leave the arena and re-enter to start her test again. She scored 64.56% for 13th.

She says she has tried not to let the experience play on her mind too much as she returned to the BB Horse Arena today (13 August) as the final rider for Ireland, and the very last rider of the entire team competition.

“I was listening much harder for the bell – really hard!” said Tamsin, who was pleased that the 11-year-old gelding was more settled in the arena.

“He felt hot in himself and he was quite tense, but I was really pleased we didn’t have any catastrophic errors. I could feel him going to change as we came up the centre line but we kept it together, so I was really pleased with that, and he was more settled than the other day. It wasn’t as expressive as I would have liked but at least it was correct.”

Tamsin Addison and her Irish teammates – Michael Murphy, Rosemary Gaffney and Kate Kerr-Horan – finished in team ninth, a great achievement for a team at their first World Para Dressage Championships.

“It’s really nice to be here,” confirmed Tamsin. “We didn’t make the last worlds so it is particularly special for us to be here. It is wonderful, and inspiring for everybody else back at home as well. It makes a huge difference – I get messages from people who say, ‘You’re amazing’. I say, ‘No, I’m not’, but if it is encouraging people to come through the ranks then that is what we need.”

‘You can always rely on him’: para team star makes remarkable comeback to help Dutch secure back-to-back world titles

Lucy Elder — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:04:37 +0000

A stalwart of Dutch championship sides, who came back from the brink after vets recommended he be put down this winter, produced the deciding test to secure team gold for the Netherlands in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results today (13 August).

Team anchors Frank Hosmar and Alphaville needed 75.3% for the Netherlands to successfully defend the title they won at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. They delivered, posting 75.79% to help the Dutch side top the World Para Dressage Championships team podium.

Home side Denmark took silver, their second ever para dressage team medal at a World Championships, with the USA repeating their bronze medal-winning performance from the Tokyo Paralympics to complete the podium.

But while the battle for the top two podium spots in the team contest at the World Para Dressage Championships were eye-wateringly close, Frank did not feel pressure. An advantage for the team anchor spot, certainly, and testament to why this pair have won medals at every senior championships from London 2012 onwards.

“I’m never nervous,” he said. “That’s my luck. All the years [I’ve been doing this] and I’m never nervous when I’m on the horse. When I was at stable I felt a little bit like, ‘Oh my god do I have to throw up?’ But when I’m on a horse, then that feeling is over.”

The pair were trending over 77% for their early trot, dropping to around the 74-mark in the walk, where there were a few moments of tension with Alphaville coming against the hand slightly in the first turn on the haunches. Their canter lifted their mark, giving them their final plus-75% score.

Frank had two horses qualified for these championships, and while he says the 11-year-old Guetta is “better” than Alphaville, he is still green – and growing – and he knew he could rely on Alphaville.

“I can always trust him. We come in, and he says, ‘Okay, boss. Let’s do this.’ You can always count on him,” said Frank, who owns the Sandreo son with A Hosmar-Keekstra and Adelinde Cornelissen.

The fact Alphaville is here at all is remarkable. The 17-year-old gelding became very ill in November and Frank nursed him back to health in the hope he could enjoy a comfortable retirement.

“The vets told me to put him to sleep, that he won’t get better – it’s over. But my feeling told me, ‘no, it’s not over. There must be something more possible’,” he said.

Alphaville lost a lot of weight and muscle, and Frank gave him round-the-clock care to nurse him back to full health.

“I thought maybe I can help him so that he can retire, but never thought I would ride him again,” he said. “I never thought he would be in a Dutch championship or to be here in the World Championship – already winning one bronze medal and now his marks counting for gold.”

What comes next will be decided by Alphaville. The horse comes first, competition – and gold medals – always second. But as long as the horse is well and is “having fun”, Paris could be on the table.

World Para Dressage Championships: ‘Gold is my favourite colour’

Team-mate Sanne Voets, who scored 78.42% in the team test with her multiple gold medal-winning ride Demanteur RS2 N.O.P, spoke about what this result means.

“We are really happy. Of course you enter a World Championships with half a new team, which is pretty exciting – it’s hard to make predictions,” she said. “To win team gold again, it’s what I said, the other day, it’s still my favourite colour.”

Senior championship debutants Demi Haerkens and EHL Daula, and Lotte Krijnsen (Rosenstolz), who has changed grade since her last team appearance at the 2017 Europeans, completed the gold medal-winning side.

Nicole Johnsen, a relative newcomer to the sport, was the final competitor for Denmark. The grade V rider continued her impressive championship debut by producing a counting score for the team with Karina Johnson’s 13-year-old Moromax.

The Trakehner stallion son of Occacio looked super focused throughout, with his powerful canter extensions and elastic paces impressing the judges, for a score of 73.31.%

They were joined on the podium by Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater, Karla Dyhm-Junge aboard Miss Daisy, and Tobias Thorning Joergensen on Jolene Hill.

New tactics paid off for grade III rider Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel, who were last to go for the US side in the team competition, with the pair’s score of 74.71% World Para Dressage Championships results table securing team bronze. Kate Shoemaker (Quiana), Beatrice de Lavalette (Sixth Sense) and Roxanne Trunnell (Fortunato H2O) completed the US team.

Home favourite sets up thrilling battle for gold, with the results to go down to wire

Polly Bryan — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 12:45:45 +0000

Denmark’s penultimate rider has laid down a mighty score to take the home side into a tussle for gold that is set to go right to the wire. Tobias Thorning Joergensen has scored just a fraction under 80% in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships with Jolene Hill to set up a truly thrilling finale to the team competition.

Such are Tobias’ high standards that he was little disappointed with his mark of 79.27% – he said he had hoped for 80% today – but he also explained that his warm-up had been far from ideal.

“There were some things with Jolene in the warm-up and everything went kind of crazy,” said Tobias, declining to go into more detail.

“I went from going in thinking I would smash 80% today to just thinking I would just go though the test without mistakes and make a fluent and pretty test and not go for the extra.

“It was a good score – there were no mistakes and it was pretty fluent I think but I would have liked some more [energy] in the trot. The walk and the halt were better today, but I missed the last bit of action and activity.”

Tobias’ test has sent Denmark surging to the top of the World Para Dressage Championships results leaderboard and his teammate Nicole Johnsen also laid down a valuable score of 73.31% to give the team a finishing mark of 229.75%.

Their main rivals for the gold medal, reigning world champions the Netherlands, have a rider left to go: Frank Hosmar on Alphaville NOP, who will need to slightly improve on his individual competition score and record 75.31% for the Netherlands to go ahead and claim gold.

‘Paris is the end goal’: Natasha Baker produces counting score for the Brits as team competition goes down to the wire

Lucy Elder — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 12:28:41 +0000

Natasha Baker kept her cool to secure a counting score for the British side in the World Para Dressage Championships results table as she looks ahead to the long-term plan of Paris 2024.

Natasha reported after her individual silver medal-winning test earlier in the week that Keystone Dawn Chorus (“Lottie”) was feeling exuberant (“she wanted to take off like a rocket ship”) and their performance told a similar story.

“Some bits were better. It still felt marginally out of control,” said Natasha. “We just need to keep reinstalling those brakes!”

Lottie looked to be relishing the Herning atmosphere, with Natasha’s sympathetic riding helping the Dimaggio mare to settle as the test progressed. Their score of 73.68% will count for the British team. Denmark, the US and the Netherlands are looking very strong as the hunt for medals hots up. There is one final grade to go (grade V) today, and the final team results are very much all to play for in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships.

Paris qualification is also on the table at these championships, as the top seven teams – not including host nation France – will secure a ticket to the 2024 Paralympics.

A step forward in the first halt and loss of rhythm in the medium trot – where Lottie took a single canter stride – were costly, and reflected in Natasha’s mark. But there was much to like, too, and Natasha spoke of how much they gained from this experience as she looks ahead to Paris.

“She went in there and that atmosphere didn’t faze her. She wasn’t fussed by the clapping and coming here, our focus is so long-term – it’s Paris – and this is just a great opportunity for her to come to this kind of event,” said Natasha, who co-owns the 11-year-old mare with Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, and her parents, Phil and Lorraine Baker.

“We have got such low mileage compared to everybody else that’s here. I’ve literally done one competition this year.”

Natasha had a delayed start to her World Para Dressage Championships campaign as she got married to Marc Jaconelli in the spring. On her return, Natasha came down with a nasty illness, which meant she has had the best part of six weeks off.

With all that considered, Natasha said she is pleased to “still be cracking the 70s”.

“All you can do is do your best on the day. And I think I’ve done that with everything that has been thrown at me this year. I don’t think I could have done any more if I’m being honest,” she said.

“I think from being so much weaker at the moment physically, I just can’t hold her together as well as I would like to. It’s amazing having that much power, but you need to be able to control it. I just don’t feel strong enough at the moment to be able to do that. But it’s great to be that way round, rather than having to motivate them.

“Paris is the end goal, and it’s just all little steps to make sure that we’re in tip top position for that.”

Team-mates Georgia Wilson (Sakura) and Sir Lee Pearson (Breezer) scored 72.97% and 73.53% in yesterday’s grade II, with team anchor Sophie Wells (Don Cara M) last to go at 3.32pm local time (2.32pm UK time) this afternoon.

Trust and new tactics reward US pair as hunt for team medals hots up in Herning

Lucy Elder — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 11:14:53 +0000

Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel delivered the goods to produce a counting score in the US’s hunt for a team medal in Herning. New warm up tactics paid off for the pair, who scored 74.71% in the grade III Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results table.

This 13-year-old gelding, owned by Rowan O’Riley, is so expressive and his performance looked a step up again from Tokyo last year, where he helped the US to team bronze.

Trust and understanding have been key to the success of this partnership, who claimed individual bronze on Thursday, to add to their individual bronze and freestyle silver from the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. While they have been together for five years now, Rebecca explained how their relationship is still improving.

“This competition, we changed how we do our warm up,” she said. “It just kind of happened – I wasn’t feeling that great physically when I was at home, so I did a really long walk warm-up with him. Jen, my coach, had been doing a lot of walk work with him just to let him have time to process and we realised that that really worked for him.

“We do a super long walk. He sets the tone and then I slowly start to ask him questions and when he’s comfortable with the answers, then we add a little bit more impulsion, harmony and flow that we want to have in the show ring.

“It’s a very quiet kind, relaxed warm up and we try and carry over into the ring. We’ve been doing that for about the last month and pretty consistently when we’re competing, and so far, it’s been working pretty well.”

The elegant Wynton son uses his body with such fluidity and the spring through his medium trot was a real highlight of their clean test.

“He’s a phenomenally talented horse, but also can be a little tricky,” said Rebecca. “He has to trust the people in his system, not just me as the rider, but on the ground as well.

“He’s got a wonderful groom in Esteban, so he is comfortable with all of his people and then he can come out and really do his job.

“It’s taken a good five years to really kind of gel, with trial and error to see what makes him the happiest athlete I can have. I think we’re starting to strike some really good things with him.”

Australian rider Emma Booth’s purple streak at these championships continued, following up on her personal best in the individual grade III contest with a smart test for the team aboard Maree Tompkinson’s stallion Furst Deluxe. The pair’s score of 71% in the World Para Dressage Championships team results today is a boost for the nation’s hopes and puts Emma in strong contention for a place in Sunday’s freestyle final.

“You can’t meet ‘Fursty’ without falling in love, because he has such a sweet nature,” said Emma.

“The trot that we had coming around the outside of the arena before we went in was just probably the best feeling I’ve had on him ever.

“He had a little look at the gate person as we went in, which meant I then didn’t hit the centre-line perfectly, but most of it was good.

“The walk pirouettes are always a little bit sticky, but I don’t think he grounded today. It was enough to get us a slightly higher percentage than yesterday, and we’ll hopefully do the same thing in the freestyle tomorrow.”

‘She’s my best friend’: personal best strengthens home side’s team medal hopes at World Para Dressage Championships

Lucy Elder — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 10:11:55 +0000

Denmark’s Karla Dyhm-Junge and Miss Daisy strengthened the home side’s team medal hopes in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships with a huge new personal best.

The partnership, who are in their first year of international competition, scored 73.29% in the grade III World Para Dressage Championships results. This puts Denmark into strong contention for a podium place, following pathfinders Katrine Kirstensen and Goerklintgaards Quater’s impressive +77% grade II test yesterday.

This wonderfully supple mare oozed class, presenting a lovely active, uphill picture through the test.

“I was trying to play it safe, but still pushing it so we can get some good points but without doing too much,” said Karla, adding the aim was for a solid clean performance with some “better highlights” than their individual test.

“The horse is amazing. She’s my best friend. She does everything I tell her to, and she’s already such a good para horse. She just does her best every time I sit on her.”

The Danes are on blistering form at these championships. They already have two individual gold medals, with Katrine taking grade II honours and Tobias Thorning Joergensen on Jolene Hill bagging the grade III win.

“We’re all very excited for the team competition. Katherine did an amazing job yesterday. So we’re all just trying to do everybody proud just trying to get our best [performances] in,” she said, adding it would mean “absolutely everything” to win a team medal.

“I know that everybody wants to see if we can. Our self-confidence and everything would just boom from a good team placing.”

Denmark finished just off the podium in a close-fought battle for bronze with the US at the Tokyo Paralympic Games last year. A podium place in this competition would mark the country’s second ever World Championship para team medal – their first a bronze at Lexington 12 years ago.

World Para Dressage Championships times: when will the team medals be decided?

Polly Bryan — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 09:29:43 +0000

The team medals will be decided for the Orifarm Healthcare World Para Dressage Championships today (13 August) in Herning, with the competition still wide open.

Britain are sitting 14th on the leaderboard going into the final day, but provisional rankings are highly deceiving, as teams have varied make-ups of riders from across the grades. Therefore some teams’ four riders have already completed (in the case of Austria, currently topping the standings), and others, like Britain have had just two, or fewer, riders in action on day one of the competition.

Britain’s final two team riders, Sophie Wells (Don Cara M) and Natasha Baker (Keystone Dawn Chorus), will be in action today in grades V and III respectively, and will ride at the following times:

Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus (grade III): 1.17pm local time (12.17pm BST)
Sophie Wells and Don Cara M (grade IV): 3.32pm local time (2.32pm BST)

World Para Dressage Championships times: when do the medal deciders ride?

The competition is currently wide open, but taking into account the scores already on the table and the riders yet to come, the teams looking most hot for a podium position are home side Denmark, reigning world champions Netherlands and Tokyo bronze medallists the USA. However, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and France are also in the hunt. Here’s when some of the other riders whose scores are set to prove decisive will be in action:

Tobias Thorning Joergensen and Jolene Hill (DEN, grade III): 1.35pm local time (12.35pm BST)
Lotte Krijnsen and Rosenstolz (NED, grade III): 1.44pm local time (12.44pm BST)
Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP (NED, grade V): 2.56pm local time (1.56pm BST)
Michele George and Best Of 8 (BEL, grade V): 4.10pm local time (3.10pm BST)
Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delights (GER, grade V): 4.46pm local time (3.46pm BST)

As well as deciding the team medals, combinations’ performances in this round of the championship also contribute to determining which individuals will qualify to compete in the freestyle on Sunday, in a shake-up to the format for the World Para Dressage Championships.

Masterful rides, plus-80% scores and what Britain must do to be in medal contention at the Herning World Championships

Polly Bryan — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 20:19:32 +0000

The team competition has kicked off at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships in Herning and it’s been a busy day as riders in grades I, II and IV took to the arena to begin their team medal campaign. Here’s what you need to know…

Britain aren’t quite in the position they had hoped to be at this stage of the competition, but there is still a long way to go and great riders still to come.

Find out where Britain sit on the provisional team leaderboard and which teams are poised for a podium place

Sir Lee Pearson had to summon all of his horsemanship today after his ride Breezer got startled and upset right before going into the arena.

Hear what Lee had to say about his test and the somewhat unusual mental technique he employs to stay calm when it’s going wrong

The defending world champions made a super start to their team campaign here in Herning.

Read Sanne Voets’ comments about her performance and what made her change her game plan after she began her test

Ireland had a super first day as they target Paris Paralympics qualification, and they already have an individual medal in the bag.

Hear from the Irish trailblazer about what makes being part of team Ireland so great

Scores soared to over 80% today, as a grade I rider pulled off the test of the World Para Dressage Championships so far

Find out why this Latvian competitor is inspiring others to take up the sport, including another of the riders here in Herning

A championship newbie has already made a huge impact out here, posting a score that could prove very significant in the team contest.

Check out why this rider could be a new star of the sport

‘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.

Schedule changes mean World Showjumping Championships on TV tonight

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 19:07:50 +0000

The rest of the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships are being live-streamed on the FEI YouTube channel — and tonight’s Agria FEI World Showjumping Championships will be on Eurosport.

Live coverage of the para championships has been running today (12 August) on the FEI’s YouTube, and Eurosport 2 has live coverage of the showjumping team final this evening from 7.50pm UK time, as well as coverage of Sunday’s individual final from 9pm.

Eurosport is included in many television subscription packages.

A British Equestrian spokesman said: “It’s great that anyone who wants to can tune in to see the para championships, and the amazing sport they offer. It may be something some people wouldn’t consider but if they have the chance to view it free, they might have a look and enjoy what goes on, especially on Sunday for the freestyle; this is the pinnacle of the sport, it’s the World Championships.”

She added: “Many subscribers will get Europort; it’s not totally free but it is more available to people.”

Britain is in sixth place going into today’s competition, and retains yesterday’s order so Ben Maher and Faltic HB, who are in sixth place individually at this stage, are first to go for the team. The 25 combinations who are only competing as individuals go first, then the first team rider, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli of Brazil, on Like A Diamond Van Het Schaeck, is due in the ring at about 10.05pm local time (9.05pm UK time).

World Showjumping Championships standings after day two

Sweden: 3.69
France: 5.44
Germany: 11.76
Netherlands 13.31
Belgium 13.49
Great Britain 14.66
Switzerland 14.83
Canada 15.56
Ireland 17.15
Brazil 17.29

‘I’ve always known I could do it’: flawless performance earns plus-80% score

Stephanie Bateman — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 18:41:02 +0000

A truly stellar performance meant Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance scored a whopping 80.4% to head the proceedings in the grade I team test in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

His win comes only a few days after securing Latvia’s first ever equestrian gold medal when topping the individual grade I results.

An elegant, expressive walk helped the pair score nines and 10s across the board.

Rihards’ performances here go one better than his result at the Paralympic Games last year, when he finished second in the grade I individual test and freestyle.

“My test was very good, and all our exercises were nice,” said Rihards. “There are still things we can improve on, but it got better and better as it went on.

“King Of The Dance is a true king and a star; he felt really keen and is very sensitive. You need to find a very correct and sensitive connection with him, but I’ve always known I could do it.”

Daria Tikhomirova, Latvia’s chef d’equipe, said: “Rihards has already had a huge impact on para dressage in Latvia – our wonderful new rider Alise Muizniece [who finished 15th in the grade IV individual test], wrote to me after watching Rihards in Tryon and said she would like to do the same, and now she is here at the World Championships. Maybe some other guy or young lady will watch him and want to do it, and we’ll have a team.”

Sara Morganti and Royal Delight’s final performance of the day was a huge addition to the Italian team results, finishing with an incredible 77.25% to leave her in runner-up position.

Penultimate competitor Michael Murphy’s seamless test with beautiful medium trots and immaculate walk work, landed him and his 15-year-old KWPN Cleverboy 76.072%, which was good enough for third.

Don’t miss the final day of team competition tomorrow.

H&H’s rider of the day: a new horse at first ever championship

Stephanie Bateman — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 18:02:32 +0000

Despite being a new partnership, and this being their first ever para championship, Dutch rider Demi Haerkens and her stunning chestnut mare EHL Daula pulled off an outstanding 76.02% performance to land second in the grade IV team test at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

Demi has only been riding the 14-year-old KWPN mare by IPS Gribaldi for a few months, but already their partnership looks fluid and full of trust.

“I was very happy, and although she was a bit hot today, I was proud of how she managed the test with me,” said Demi of Daula’s elegant performance. “She loves it when she enters the arena. She does everything I ask.”

Although a relatively new face to para dressage, Demi has already made her mark this summer, landing numerous wins including an individual grade I win and second in the freestyle at Kronenberg CPEDI3*, and team and individual, plus runner-up in the freestyle, at Grote-Brogel CPEDI3.

A member of an exceptionally strong Dutch team, Demi has been following closely on the heels of teammate Sanne Voets, who landed the grade IV win with 78.42% here in Herning.

“I’m pretty honoured that I was asked to be a member of the team,” she said of her selection. “I’m really proud of that.”

Demi admits she wasn’t looking for a horse quite as mature as Daula, but couldn’t help but fall in love with her.

“I saw a video of her and new instantly that I must go and try her,” she explained. “And it was love at first sight.”

A muscle nerve disease has left Demi weak with muscle pain and limited feeling in her hands, but she keeps enough balance to keep Daula up and together.

“My aim is to make it look smooth and easy,” she added.

And that’s exactly what she does. Her slick performance has left the Netherlands, one of the hot favourites for a team medal, in prime position.

‘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%.

Temperatures soar in Herning as Georgia Wilson opens Britain’s medal campaign

Polly Bryan — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 13:57:06 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

World Para Dressage Championships results: Danes set strong standard

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘We’re always open for the craic’: Ireland kick-starts its campaign with solid first test in Herning

Stephanie Bateman — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 13:32:54 +0000

Rosemark Gaffney pulled off a solid test in the grade IV class to get Ireland’s team campaign off to a great start in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

Riding Chantal, a beautiful 13-year-old dark bay mare (Christ 3 x Del Piero), the pair showed expressive trot work, their highlight being their extended trot, and smooth shoulder-ins, where Rosemary allowed the mare time to establish the right position. Their solid performance, clearly based on a super partnership, earned them 67.98%.

“She was very good and tried really hard – her trot work was very powerful and she was with me and in front of my legs, so I was very pleased,” said Rosemary. “This is only her third international, so it’s a big ask of her. There are one or two areas which need improving, but we have time to do that before the next big competition.”

Rosemary was classified as a grade IV rider after an accident in 2007, which left her with a shattered knee and broken tibia and fibula. After many operations and months of rehab later, she returned to competition in 2009 and made a successful entry in to the world of para dressage, competing at two European championships.

In 2014, disaster struck again, and she suffered an equally awful accident, falling from a spooking horse. Although she landed on her feet, all the pressure went down her good leg, and she suffered 40 breaks from hip to ankle. Doctors said the bones were akin to a shattered windscreen. After six operations she was back in the saddle by April 2015. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Rosemary certainly isn’t letting her past hold her back. At Herning, she is making the most of every minute.

“You know what they say about Ireland?” she grinned. “They’re always open for the craic. We’ve had great fun and everyone is really gelling together as a team.

“Para gold is our aim at Paris next year. I don’t think it’s going to happen here, but hopefully it will happen next year. It means the world to be here – at my age [64], it’s a real achievement. I don’t have that many more Paralympics to go to, so it would be super to get to Paris.”

‘The sport is so beautiful when the horses are happy’: Dutch star raises gold medal hopes with fantastic performance in Herning

Polly Bryan — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:55:10 +0000

The Netherlands’ Sanne Voets has taken over the lead in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results, and boosted Dutch hopes of back-to-back world team golds.

Sanne scored 78.41% with the experienced Vivaldi gelding Demantur Rs2 NOP to shoot to the top of the grade IV World Para Dressage Championships results leaderboard on this first day of team competition, with the USA’s Kate Shoemaker currently second on Quiana. It means the Dutch team, who denied Britain team gold for the first time in para dressage history at the World Equestrian Games in 2018, have got off to the ideal start in Herning.

They suffered bitter disappointment in Tokyo last year when Sanne, as the last Dutch rider in, came out of the ring thinking she had done enough to win gold, until Sophie Wells’ score was revised upward, handing gold to the Brits. But Sanne explains that the experience has only made her and her teammates hungrier for gold in Herning.

“We have never been that close before, and although we were happy with silver in Tokyo, here as defending champions, we want to really go for it,” she explained.

“Being first in [for the team] forces you to focus even more on your own riding, but it doesn’t mean any less pressure as we only have one test so we cannot make any mistakes. My plan was to ride a little bit safely today to make sure we didn’t have any faults, but he felt so good and confident that I thought ‘Why not go for more?’ He just offers so much and there isn’t much I have to do,” said Sanne, who won individual gold earlier in the week.

“We have such a good partnership and we know each other so well that I can enter the arena and just feel how much of a risk I can take – today it didn’t feel like a big risk [to push for more]. He loved the applause at the end and I think he felt pretty proud of himself. That’s when the sport is so beautiful when the horses are happy and confident.”

The grade IV has kicked off the the team competition out in Herning, with Brits Lee Pearson and Georgia Wilson to get the British team campaign started this afternoon in grade II. Georgia will ride Sakura at 2.45pm local time (1.45pm BST), while Lee will ride Breezer at 4.34pm (3.34pm BST).

We are the champions! Celebrating the world medallists in Herning

Carol Phillips — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 06:49:07 +0000

The Ecco FEI World Championships 2022 is a feast of top-class horse sport in Herning, Denmark, crowning the best horse and rider combinations in dressage, showjumping and para dressage. Congratulations to all who won Herning World Championships medals.

World Dressage Championship medals

Team

Gold: Denmark

Silver: Britain

Bronze: Germany

Grand prix special

Gold: Lottie Fry on Glamourdale (GBR)

Silver: Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on Vamos Amigos (DEN)

Bronze: Dinja van Liere on Hermes (NED)

Grand prix freestyle

Gold: Lottie Fry on Glamourdale (GBR)

Silver: Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on Vamos Amigos (DEN)

Bronze: Dinja van Liere on Hermes (NED)

World Showjumping Championship medals

Team

Gold: Sweden

Silver: Netherlands

Bronze: Great Britain

Individual

Gold: Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward (SWE)

Silver: Jérôme Guery on Quel Homme de Hus (BEL)

Bronze: Maikel van der Vleuten on Beauville Z N.O.P. (NED)

World Para Dressage Championship medals

Individual grade IGold: Rihards Snikus on King Of The Dance (LAT)Silver: Sara Morganti on Royal Delight (ITA)Bronze: Michael Murphy on Cleverboy (IRL)

Individual grade IIGold: Katrine Kristensen on Goerklintgaards Quater (DEN)Silver: Pepo Puch on Sailor’s Blue (AUT)Bronze: Sir Lee Pearson on Breezer (GBR)

Individual grade IIIGold: Tobias Thorning Joergensen on Jolene Hill (DEN)Silver: Natasha Baker on Keystone Dawn Chorus (GBR)Bronze: Rebecca Hart on El Corona Texel (USA)

Individual grade IVGold: Sanne Voets on Demantur RS2 N.O.P. (NED)Silver: Demi Haerkens on EHL Daula (NED)Bronze: Rodolpho Riskalla on Don Henrico (BRA)

Individual grade VGold: Michèle George on Best of 8 (BEL)Silver: Sophie Wells on Don Cara M (GBR)Bronze: Frank Hosmar on Alphaville N.O.P. (NED)

TeamGold: NetherlandsSilver: DenmarkBronze: USA

Freestyle grade IGold: Sara Morganti on Royal Delight (ITA)Silver: Rihards Snikus on King of the Dance (LAT)Bronze: Michael Murphy on Cleverboy (IRL)

Freestyle grade IIGold: Katrine Kristensen on Goerklintgaards Quater (DEN)Silver: Sir Lee Pearson on Breezer (GBR)Bronze: Georgia Wilson on Sakura (GBR)

Freestyle grade IIIGold: Tobias Thorning Joergensen on Jolene Hill (DEN)Silver: Lotte Krijnsen on Rosenstolz (NED)Bronze: Natasha Baker on Keystone Dawn Chorus (GBR)

Freestyle grade IVGold: Sanne Voets on Demantur RS2 N.O.P. (NED)Silver: Kate Shoemaker on Quiana (USA)Bronze: Rodolpho Riskalla on Don Henrico (BRA)

Freestyle grade VGold: Michèle George on Best of 8 (BEL)Silver: Frank Hosmar on Alphaville N.O.P. (NED)Bronze: Sophie Wells on Don Cara (GBR)

Double silver for Britain, remarkable comebacks and a rollercoaster journey – 8 must-read stories from the para dressage World Championships

Lucy Elder — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:35:13 +0000

The medals keep coming for Britain with Sophie Wells and Natasha Baker each securing individual silver in their respective results tables at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships.

Find out how the para dressage action played out between the white boards in Herning this afternoon (11 August)…

Belgium’s Michèle George and her ‘princess’ Best of 8 dazzled the judges to take a world title

Learn what this result means for Michèle

Sophie Wells and Don Cara M shone to bag Britain’s sixth medal of the World Championships so far

Find out how Sophie and this special horse won grade V individual silver

Dutch team stalwarts Frank Hosmar and Alphaville N.O.P took world bronze – 10 years after their first senior championship medals as a partnership

Discover why it was ‘a miracle’ Alphaville was at the World Para Dressage Championships

Australia’s Emma Booth booked her place in Sunday’s freestyle following a rollercoaster journey to Herning

Read about Emma and the Australian side’s route to these championships

Keystone Dawn Chorus channelled her inner Glamourdale to win world silver with Natasha Baker

Read what Natasha had to say after her test

A home-side favourite continued Denmark’s purple streak between the white boards, heading the grade III individual World Para Dressage Championships results to secure individual gold

Find out more about what has been key to this partnership’s success

Just to be at Herning was a result for Canada’s Bert Sheffield and her “heart horse” Fairuza, after the mare recovered from a mystery illness earlier this year

Read more about this partnership, who took fifth in the grade III individual results

H&H’s para rider of the day is Nicole Johnsen

Find out what you need to know about this para dressage “newbie”

H&H’s para dressage rider of the day: the newbie who’s been thrown in at the deep end in Herning

Polly Bryan — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:02:07 +0000

Nicole Johnsen is a para dressage name many won’t recognise – yet. The 24-year-old has had something of a baptism of fire this week at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships, having been thrust into the throes of a championship, as part of the hotly anticipated Danish team no less, with just one international para competition under her belt.

Nicole has only recently taken up para dressage, following a serious knee injury, and the CPEDI3* in Kronenberg, Netherlands, in June was her first international show, with plus-70% scores there proving her ticket onto the home team for the World Para Dressage Championships.

“It’s amazing to be here in Herning, and the atmosphere is fantastic. I’m so happy for the opportunity to be here,” said Nicole, following her test on Moromax, the 13-year-old gelding she has owned since he was a four-year-old.

“It’s very new for me to be here in the paras – it’s happened very fast,” added Nicole, who was quite overwhelmed at simply being here competing in Herning, let alone scoring her best marks to date with 71.39% in the World Para Dressage Championships results.

“I’m very happy with Moro – I had a very good feeling in the arena. There were some small mistakes, but I’m very happy,” she said.

She may be new to para competition, but Nicole Johnsen and Moro, who is a Trakehner by Occacio, certainly are not new to one another, and clearly have a very strong bond.

“We have always been together; we have learned everything together. I know him and he knows me,” said Nicole, who campaigned the gelding in international young riders during 2019, and still competes in able-bodied dressage alongside para dressage. “If he could, he would want to be in my arms; he always wants to be with me.”

Denmark are one of the hot favourites for a team medal at these World Para Dressage Championships, with all four riders on the home team performing strongly in the individual competitions, ahead of the team contest beginning on Friday 12 August.

“I’m very, very happy to be a part of the Danish team; [the other riders] are very sweet and we are very good together,” said Nicole.

‘It’s a miracle that I am here with Alphaville’: para team stalwart comes back from the brink to secure World Championship medal

Lucy Elder — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 18:51:35 +0000

Frank Hosmar’s faithful campaigner Alphaville N.O.P. came back from the brink to score a poignant individual bronze in the World Para Dressage Championships results table – 10 years on from his first team appearance.

Frank and the evergreen 17-year-old have been a fundamental part of the Dutch team as the nation’s strength in para dressage has grown, winning medals at every single senior championship from 2012 onwards.

A decade ago, this partnership were fresh from collecting their first medals as a combination – individual and freestyle bronze — at the London Paralympics. Fast forward to 2022, and the duo have another bronze to add to their dazzling career haul, after scoring 75.26% in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

But the Dutch rider revealed that just to be here with Alphaville is the real victory.

“It is a miracle that I am here with Alphaville,” said Frank, who owns the horse with A Hosmar-Keekstra and Adelinde Cornelissen. “This winter he was so sick, and the vets recommended that I put him down. He is my best friend so I had to try and save him.

“I fought really hard for him, he has been my partner since he was four years old and now he is 17. It was a long way back for him but I am so happy with my result here today in the arena – the best thing is that Alpahville is back and here with me.”

Belgium’s Michèle George and her double Paralympic gold medal-winner Best Of 8, who she co-owns with Camille Vangheluwe and Wendy Laeremans, were crowned individual champions, scoring 76.42% to take the world title.

The margin between silver and bronze was eye-wateringly close in this grade V individual competition, with Britain’s Sophie Wells and Don Cara M, owned by Roland Kinch, securing silver by a margin of 0.02% over the Dutch combination.

‘She’s a princess’: reigning Paralympic champion eyes world medal hopes

Lucy Elder — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 17:51:48 +0000

Reigning Paralympic champions Michèle George and Best Of 8 set their cap at a World Para Dressage Championships medal with a plus-76% score in the individual grade V results.

This lovely, uphill mare, who the Belgian rider sourced from Isabell Werth in 2019, presents a beautiful picture. A little tension did creep in through the trot work, but she held it together. Best Of 8’s canter is always a delight to watch, even with an unfortunate boot of the white boards which spooked her for a couple of strides, and her soft, balanced transitions were a real highlight.

Michèle cited the mare’s performance as a significant milestone as she looks ahead to Paris 2024 on the horizon.

“I’m very pleased with the mare. I think it’s a very difficult competition because there’s a lot of things that she sees and hears here, so she was a little tense, but I tried to manage it,” said Michele, who won double gold with her late, great campaigner FBW Rainman at her last World Championships in 2014.

Michele punched the air with delight after their final halt, and their mark of 76.42% in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results took the pair to the top of the provisional leaderboard.

“I’m really proud because it was the first time I was riding her in these circumstances, so I didn’t know how she would react,” she said.

“Whatever the others do, I’m really proud of her and I enjoyed it, even though there were difficult moments because she was a little spooky.”

Michèle added that the Bonifatius daughter, who she co-owns with Wendy Laeremans, never ceases to surprise her.

“But every time [we compete], I get to know her better. She’s very special, she’s a little princess,” said Michèle, likening their “give and take” relationship to living with a partner. “I’m sure that a few years ago when I bought her, it wouldn’t be possible to ride her in these circumstances.

“She made another big step with me towards Paris and I’m really glad for that.”

Sophie Wells lying in provisional silver for Britain at World Para Dressage Championships

Polly Bryan — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 17:30:18 +0000

Britain’s Sophie Wells has moved into the silver medal position on the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results table, in the grade V individual competition.

Sophie and the 13-year-old Don Jovi gelding Don Cara M scored 75.28% – close to their personal best in this test, which is still known as the “team test” even though it is now being ridden for the individual championship.

Don produced some super classy work in the arena, with Sophie saying “there was lots of things I was really pleased with in there”. The tall gelding helped win team gold for Britain at the Tokyo Paralympics and he has developed impressively in the year since, looking stronger and more at ease in his work, as well a more comfortable in the atmosphere.

But Sophie explained that today he did feel quite nervous just before going in to the BB Horse Arena, which she described as having a “weird atmosphere”.

“It’s different to being outside – it’s quite quiet, but with a bit of a buzz,” she explained. “But then he settled really well and I was pleased with the trot work. I’d say I was being a little bit careful and I wasn’t on full power, but it felt good.

Their only blip was a wrong canter strike off from walk, which Sophie says she “didn’t see coming”.

“But he does sometimes do that when he’s a bit nervous – he did it in Tokyo in the individual too,” she said. “It is what it is, but he came back to me, I took my time to bring him back and then the canter work was good. There was lots of things I was really pleased with in there, and there is still much more in the tank. I can’t even ask 70% of what he has yet.”

Sophie has been enjoying some training with Carl Hester out in Herning this week before competing (pictured above).

“He is the master isn’t he? It has been a bit of a confidence boost going in. It’s been a good couple of years we’ve been working together and it really complements everything I’ve been doing with Ange [Angela Weiss, Sophie’s main trainer] for the past 20 years.”

At the moment, Sophie sits in silver in the World Para Dressage Championships results behind the reigning Paralympic grade V champion, Belgium’s Michele George on Best Of 8.

‘He’s the ultimate para horse’: rider overcomes rollercoaster journey to shine at para dressage World Championships

Lucy Elder — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:13:50 +0000

Australia’s Emma Booth and Furst Deluxe set a new personal best in the World Para Dressage Championships results for grade III following a rollercoaster journey to Herning.

Emma, who has been clocking impressive results on the European circuit this year, continued her purple streak with a new personal best in the “team” test, on which the individual medals are decided, of 70.77% with new ride Furst Deluxe. Emma and “Fursty” finished sixth in the grade III individual Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results, putting them in strong contention for a place in Sunday’s freestyle.

“He felt super,” said Emma, who has been contesting Maree Tomkinson’s nine-year-old stallion on the international circuit since June.

“It’s warm out there I think, a little warmer than I was expecting, but he stayed with me. We maybe lost a little bit of energy towards the end, but overall, I’m really happy.”

This is Emma’s fourth senior championship and her first without her “one in a million” campaigner Mogelvangs Zidane, who she sadly lost in March.

Her partnership with “Fursty” came about through Australian grand prix rider, Kerry Mack, who has recently joined EA’s para high performance team.

“She is very good friends with Maree and knew that in order to have an Australian team at the World Championships, one of the riders had to be from either grade I, II or III. At that stage, it was not looking like we had a combination that could fill that spot,” said Emma.

Kerry mentioned the idea of Emma riding one of Maree’s horses, and at that stage, the horse in mind was one of Maree’s younger mares, Friday IV, who Emma contested in qualifying events. They also decided to see how she would get on with Fursty.

“He was just awesome,” said Emma. “The first ride [I had on him] brought Maree to tears. It’s testament to her training – she’s had the horse since he was a two- or three-year-old, and to be able to put a para rider on and for in the first ride to be doing some leg yields…

“He just he tries really hard and his training is so solid that I’m able to be such a different rider [to that he is used to] and he just continues about his business and stays in his contact and in his frame.

“He is the ultimate para horse, because he only improves when you bring him out to a show. He gets into the atmosphere and [gives you] a little bit more power. But he’s so solid in everything on the ground. He’s so easy. You can trust him. He’s a really super horse.”

But while Emma and the rest of the Australian riders were finalising their preparations, outside a storm was brewing.

Equestrian Australia (EA) announced in July that it would not be sending any riders to compete at the World Para Dressage Championships. The news prompted outcry, including a 11,000-strong petition, prompting EA to make a U-turn on its decision.

“It was tricky,” said Emma. “One second you feel we’ve qualified and we were coming, the next minute you’re not, and then you are coming again. So we were really disappointed, then really excited and it’s just been a case of managing those emotions.

“But I think, ultimately, it was a bit of relief to get here. And I think that probably added to just getting into the arena and wanting to do the job because there was the possibility that we weren’t going to be able to do that.

“To have that chance [to be here] was, I think, extra special because of the bumpy road in the lead up.”

Emma is joined in Herning by her team-mates grade IV Dianne Barnes, who scored 67.38% with Cil Dara Cosmic in the World Para Dressage Championships results for grade IV on Wednesday, and Lisa Martin, who starts her World Championship campaign in the grade V contest this afternoon.

‘She wanted to take off like Glamourdale’: Natasha Baker wins silver for Britain after an exuberant test in Herning

Polly Bryan — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 16:02:21 +0000

Natasha Baker has claimed Britain’s fourth individual medal in Herning, finishing second in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results for the grade III individual competition.

It was another Lottie who helped earn the silver medal – as Natasha’s mare Keystone Dawn Chorus in known in the stable – and Natasha joked that she thought the Dimaggio daughter had been taking tips from Lottie Fry’s double gold medallist Glamourdale overnight.

“I think she wanted to take off like a rocket ship, like Glamourdale does,” joked Natasha, after posting 73.97%, a solid mark but short of her best. “That was the quickest test I’ve ever ridden – I was hanging on for grim death.”

Natasha explained that it wasn’t that the atmosphere had fazed Lottie – even though the World Para Dressage Championships are offering the biggest audiences most of the para horses have seen since 2019. Instead, having had the best part of six weeks off with illness, after a delayed start to her World Para Dressage Championships campaign due to getting married and going on honeymoon, Natasha admitted was not as fit as she would have liked to have been, and therefore found it harder to hold a fresh Lottie together.

“Normally if she’s feeling like that I can get her together, but I’ve only been back in the saddle for two weeks,” said Natasha, who had a chest infection at the start of the summer, and had to withdraw from Hartpury CDI3* in July as she was still not fully recovered.

“I was on three lots of antibiotics and I’m still on some tablets and supplements right now to try to keep me healthy,” she said. “So just to be here and be selected and for the selectors to have the confidence in me that I can come out here and perform, I’m just so happy with the way she dealt with everything in there.

“As athletes we come here for bling, but we also come here to do our best and there’s honestly nothing I could have done better in that test,” she added of her silver medal.

World Para Dressage Championships results: other medalists

It was Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen who won gold, soaring into the lead in the World Para Dressage Championships results with a huge score of 78.68%. This marks the fifth individual gold medal as he completes the “triple crown” – winning gold at consecutive European Championships, Paralympics and World Championships.

The USA’s Rebecca Hart finished in the bronze medal position on the World Para Dressage Championships results table, scoring 73.§5% with El Corona Texel.

‘I wanted to win in Tokyo and I want to win now’: home-side favourite bags impressive lead in World Para Dressage Championships

Lucy Elder — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 14:43:22 +0000

Tobias Thorning Joergensen continued Denmark’s blistering performance between the white boards in Herning to secure a yawning lead in grade III individual World Para Dressage Championships results table.

Tobias and the elegant 14-year-old Blue Hors Schufro Hit mare Jolene Hill floated into the arena, nailing their early trot work. Jolene Hill, owned by Signe Kirk, Thomas Kirk Kristiansen and Line Thorning Jørgensen, is so light on her feet, and the nature of this test really serves to highlight the suppleness in her body.

“I think that I had pretty good trot moments, especially the extensions,” he said, adding the only moment he was “a little sad about” was the moment of tension in the walk.

“She is a mare – but she loves competitions. Whenever I go into competition she just gives a little bit more. She’s just much better at competition. At home, she has her own opinions! But that’s also why she’s so lovely to work with, because you need to work for it [with her].”

This mare is so consistent in her frame, producing a lovely picture, but it was the medium trot where she really shone – showing real expression as she glided across the arena.

Tobias credited his trainers, which include Nanna Merrald – part of the world gold medal-winning Danish side, for helping up his performance and his ring-craft.

“We’ve been working a lot on the expression – when I come into the arena I need to own the arena, I need to make it mine,” he said,

“That’s something we have worked on a lot, especially with Nanna, is how do I make it always look fluent and that I’m present all the time.”

The 2019 double European champion spoke of the different pressure he feels riding in front of a home crowd, compared to the feeling in Tokyo where he won individual and freestyle gold.

“It’s always [a different feeling] when you ride at a home ground,” he said. “There is some pressure, but it’s pressure in another way.

“Now, after Tokyo I’m definitely the favourite going in, whereas at Tokyo I was kind of new to the game still. But I think that because I always want to win – I wanted to win in Tokyo and I wanted to win now.”

Mare makes remarkable comeback following mystery illness to delight at World Para Dressage Championships

Lucy Elder — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 13:26:49 +0000

British-based Canadian rider Bert Sheffield produced a solid plus-70% test to sit at the business end of the World Para Dressage Championships results table at the early stages in the grade III individual contest (Thursday, 11 August).

Just to be at these championships is a happy result for Bert and her “heart horse” Fairuza, who has recovered following a mystery illness earlier this year.

The pair had a strong start and showed lovely activity through their clean test, showing neat walk pirouettes and ending with some classy trot work. Their test divided the judges, with marks from 68.09% to 74.71%, giving them a final score of 70.88% in the individual results at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships, presented by Elsass Fonden.

“She has developed so much since the Paralympics in Tokyo,” said Bert, who found the now 13-year-old mare via a H&H advert in 2015. “Her whole demeanour is so much more grown up. I feel like she trusts me, she is really with me, that was the big difference for me, she was a different horse today.”

Earlier this summer, the 13-year-old mare came down with a sudden illness and has since made a good recovery.

“We were clipping her – it was the day before we were due to go to Germany for training,” said Bert. “After we clipped her, I went to take her out of the stable and she was really not very well. She’s usually pretty good to clip, but she was really good.”

She explained the mare had not shown “any symptoms other than just being sweet” while she was clipped. But as soon as she took her out of the stable, it was clear something was “very wrong”.

“We phoned the vets and next thing we knew we were dashing to Rossdales where she spent a week,” said Bert.

“She’s had several courses of antibiotics – she was running a fever and they checked her for colic and all sorts of things. There was nothing really majorly obvious. She just seemed to be really not very well.”

They put their plans on hold – “the horse is far more important” – and when they were sure she was well again, they gradually started to bring her back into work.

“We’ve taken it very steady,” said Bert, who has since been training in Germany with the mare.

“Horses don’t lose fitness quite as quickly as humans do, so her base fitness was still there to an extent, and we were able just to quietly bring her back into the work and start preparing her.”

She credited the team around her for being able to do so safely with the mare’s interest front and centre, adding the cause remains “one of those weird horsey mysteries”.

“I was able to talk to the nutritionists at TopSpec and I was able to talk to HorseHage about keeping her forage the same so we didn’t risk changing anything that might possibly cause something to flare up,” she said.

Grade IV, grade I and grade II individual medals were awarded on Tuesday, with grades III and V medals decided today.

In a change up of the format for this World Para Dressage Championships, riders perform the “team test” to decide the results of the individual competition, and the slightly more difficult “individual test” for the team competition, which begins on Friday.

H&H’s para horse of the day: the six-year-old stallion his first championship – ‘He’s an old soul’

Polly Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 23:03:25 +0000

Roxanne Trunnell had good reason to be nervous coming into today’s grade I individual competition at the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships. The USA rider, who scooped Paralympic gold last year with Dolton, brought forward a new ride here: the six-year-old Floriscount x Rascalino stallion Fortunato H20, whom she has been riding for just two months.

This young stallion may only have one international show under his belt so far, but he behaved like a total pro in the buzzy BB Horse Arena this afternoon, his coat glinting deep copper in the Danish summer sun as he and Roxanne cruised to score of 72.57% for sixth in the World Para Dressage Championships results.

Fortunato is a compact chap with a high quality walk, and Roxanne rides him quietly, using her experience to expertly ease him through the complicated walk programme. Roxanne came to gain the ride on him via her USA teammate Kate Shoemaker, whose trainer Lehua Custer owns Fortunato.

Roxanne’s top horse Dolton is enjoying some downtime this year, ahead of targeting the Paris Paralympics, so it was Fortunato’s time to step up and he duly responded.

“He was a bit scared of the judge’s boxes, but he really tried,” said Roxanne, explaining that while Fortunato is something of an “old soul” to ride, he can be babyish and “goofy” in the stable at home.

“He thinks about things a lot, but at home he is very much a baby – he’s goofy and always wants to play,” she said.

Latvia celebrates first ever equestrian gold, while Michael Murphy takes bronze for Ireland in World Championships

Polly Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 17:33:58 +0000

Rihards Snikus has won Latvia’s first ever gold medal in equestrian sports, as he topped the Arifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results in the grade I individual.

Rihards rode the characterful 14-year-old Latvian warmblood King Of The Dance to a mega 78.54% score, to edge ahead of Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight, denying them a second consecutive world title.

“I have no words – just wow,” said Rihards after learning he had become world champion. “The horse was great; the free walk was not absolutely great today but still very good.”

King Of The Dance is an old-fashioned chunky type, with a huge, friendly face and massive ground-covering paces. He and Rihards have accumulated an impressive number of medals over the years they have been competing at top level, including silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, behind Sara, and double silver at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. This, however, is their first gold medal, and is richly deserved.

Richard Snikus and King Of The Dance at the World Para Dressage Championships (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Sara admitted that this is likely to be her 17-year-old mare’s final world championship, but was quite overcome to have got to Herning and secured a place on the podium – and a personal best score – after a challenging year.

“I’ve had a very difficult year this year. I had to have surgery because of my neuropathic pain and then I had Covid which didn’t go very well,” she explained.

“I have another horse and their scores are nearly the same, but we decided to bring Royal [to Herning] because I don’t know how many horses have done three world championships in a row, so we decided to do this together again.” She added: “The freestyle will be very special for me.”

World Para Dressage Championships results: bronze for Ireland

Michael Murphy bagged his first medal with bronze for Ireland riding John and Sue Murphy, Bronte Watson and Elder Klatzko’s Cleverboy. This was a first world championship para dressage medal for Ireland, and it came as sweet redemption for Michael, who finished at the bottom of the leaderboard in Tokyo, after losing his rein mid-way though his championship test. Today, the pair secured 74.14% to claim bronze ahead of Singapore’s Laurentia Tan, riding Hickstead.

“The main thing I was happy with was the fact that we stayed together,” Michael said. “There’s so many things that could easily catch his eye but he’d stayed with me.

“And being able to do the championship test without dropping a rein is, I think, the main achievement,” he chuckled.

Britain did not have any riders in the grade I championship today; Lee Pearson and Georgia Wilson were successful in the grade II earlier in the day, and Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells will both take to the BB Horse Arena in Herning tomorrow, to contest the grade III and grade V competitions respectively.

In a change of format for this year, the World Para Dressage Championships results in the individual and team competition combined determine the combinations that will go forward to Sunday’s freestyle, with the top eight in each grade earning a place.

Ireland’s Michael Murphy on how disappointment in Tokyo has made him stronger, as he performs well in Herning

Polly Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:38:17 +0000

Ireland’s Michael Murphy is currently holding the silver position in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results having ridden a super test for 74.14% in the grade I individual with Cleverboy.

In Tokyo last year, Michael’s first championship, disaster struck in the individual test when he lost one of his reins. Here though, it was smooth sailing – he and the scopey 15-year-old Vivaldi gelding, a former grand prix ride of co-owner Elder Klatzko, delivered a flowing, harmonious performance. They initially went into the lead, only to be overtaken in the World Para Dressage Championships results by Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight.

“Elder had him warmed up beautifully so we were ready to go; it’s quite a big arena with a big buzz, but he was amazing and coped with it all really well,” said Michael.

Michael explained that their experience in Tokyo, while disappointing at the time, has actually helped him become a stronger competitor.

“It’s helped me, when conditions are tough and things aren’t going my way, to kind of battle through it and to know I can come back. If anything it has made me more resilient in this type of environment, and almost feel a little bit invincible, like whatever happens I can come back. But I’m very glad that this time around it went better.”

Cleverboy walks like a big, black panther, prowling around the arena with his ground-covering walk. He and Michael rode a super serpentine and accurate circles, with just one halt slightly letting them down today. It’s testament to Cleverboy’s fantastic temperament that he has been able to switch from grand prix to walk-only tests so well, and it’s clear that he and Michael have developed a very strong partnership.

“The main thing I was happy with was the fact that we stayed together,” Michael assessed. “There’s so many things that could easily catch his eye but he’d stayed with me.

“And being able to do the championship test without dropping a rein is, I think, the main achievement,” he chuckled.

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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‘I like to come out of a test feeling happy’: trailblazer Georgia Wilson leads British hopes at early stage of World Para Dressage Championships

Lucy Elder — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:43:36 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘I want to be the best rider I can be for my horse’: First para dressage world champion of 2022 crowned in Herning

Polly Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:24:27 +0000

The first individual champion of the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results, presented by Elsass Fonden, has been decided in the grade IV division. The 2018 gold medallist Sanne Voets of the Netherlands has claimed back-to-back world titles as she continues her domination in grade IV with the 14-year-old Demantur RS2 NOP.

Demantur has great ability to open and close within the pace, maintaining pleasing balance and rhythm. Their flowing canter loops were a highlight of this solid, clean test for the pair.

“I’m just really pleased with how he felt,” said Sanne of the Vivaldi son. “He was really so soft and so focused.”

“He always tries to give me the feeling of, ‘Hey, we got this. We’re a team, we did this before and we can do this again’. But the other side of working together for so long and having won so much already, is that the pressure keeps rising and you never get used to that.

“Yesterday I decided just before I went to bed that the results are what happens, but it’s just a test. I just want to be the best rider I can be for my horse now.”

This is the pair’s sixth senior championship, having won gold – and a rainbow of other medals – at every past Paralympic, world and Europeans.

Sanne may have taken the gold on 76.75% but she was very nearly pipped by her own teammate Demi Haerkens with EHL Daula, who came close to stealing the lead in the World Para Dressage Championships results. Their final score, a tidy 76%, was enough for a decisive silver, however, at Demi’s first championship.

“She gave me everything,” Demi said of the 14-year-old mare. “I really hoped for a medal, so it’s great everything came together.”

The Gribaldi daughter showed her scopey trot, keeping real power and expression while maintaining rhythm and balance, to open their test with a plus-77% trending score. There was little to split Demi and Sanne in terms of marks, with the pair bang on the same trending score in the latter stages of Demi’s test.

What is even more exciting is there look to be more marks to come from Demi. EHL Daula had a few walk steps into her halt, which was not quite square, and there did not appear to be a huge difference between the extension and collection in the walk.

The pair’s canterwork was joyful to watch, with both Demi and the mare looking to delight in the feeling of power and quality of performance they were producing.

In bronze was Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla, at his 19-year-old stallion Don Henrico’s final championship. They scored 74.93%.

Gestüt Schafhof’s stallion is a rocking horse with a Formula One engine. He showed lift and spring through his active trot work, complemented by elegant canter work in a stunning frame.

The duo were trending just behind Sanne through their clean test, ending with a powerful final centre line. Rodolpho punched the air with a huge grin to cheers from his supporters in the kiss and cry.

“I am overwhelmed. He’s always doing everything for me and once again he was there and so relaxed,” said an emotional Rodolpho, who won his first medal at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and plans to retire this Don Frederico son following the World Para Dressage Championships this year.

“It’s amazing to have a horse that at every championship I can count on. He can be difficult, he is sensitive, but when we prepare and we go he is fine and he is happy to do it.”

World Para Dressage Championships: find out when the Brits will ride for individual medals

Lucy Elder — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 09:47:01 +0000

Britain’s para riders start their campaigns today (10 August) in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships, presented by Elsass Fonden. Find out what time they will be in action in the individual competition, which is a qualifier for the freestyle…

World Para Dressage Championships British start times:

Wednesday

12.51pm (11.51pm BST) Georgia Wilson and Sakura (grade II)
1.56pm (12.56pm BST) Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer (grade II)

Thursday

4.35pm (3.35pm BST) Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus (grade III)
6.24pm (5.24pm BST) Sophie Wells and Don Cara M (grade IV)

Britain has competitors in three of the five grades and fields its full Tokyo Paralympic gold medal-winning side at these championships. All British horses sailed through the first veterinary inspection ahead of competition.

Grade I, II and IV individual medal contests are scheduled for Wednesday, while grade III and grade V riders will compete on Thursday.

In a change up of the format for this World Para Dressage Championships, riders will perform the “team test” in this individual competition, and the slightly more difficult “individual test” for the team competition, which begins on Friday.

The first set of para medals were decided in Herning this morning, with reigning world champion Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. successfully defending their individual grade IV title for the Netherlands, with her compatriot Demi Haerkens (EHL Daula) taking silver on their senior championship debut, and Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla and Don Henrico bagging bronze.

‘Gold is still my favourite colour’: defending champion on coping with pressure as she leads in World Para Dressage Championships

Lucy Elder — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 08:27:33 +0000

Defending champions Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. set their campaign off to a strong start to take the provisional lead in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results for the individual contest.

This Dutch partnership has dominated the grade IV ranks in recent years and they delivered another top-class performance in the team test today (10 August) to score 76.75%. The test name is a red herring, as the results of this performance decide individual medals and freestyle qualification at the World Para Dressage Championships, presented by Elsass Fonden.

“I had quite a lot of nerves yesterday and, when we got here and from the moment I got in the saddle at the stables I was like ‘OK, this is our job and we can do this,” said Sanne, adding she was “really pleased with how he felt – so soft and so focused”.

The Vivaldi son, owned by RS2 Dressage Center de Horst, showed his quality from the start and real scope through the trot serpentine, watched on by a sea of orange-clad supporters in the kiss and cry area.

Demantur RS2 N.O.P. has a real ability to shift through the gears within a pace – moving from medium to collection while keeping his balance and rhythm. Their flowing canter loops were a highlight of this solid, clean test for the pair.

“He always tries to give me the feeling of ‘We’ve got this. We’re a team, we did this before we can do this again’. But the other side of working together for so long and having won so much already, is that the pressure keeps rising and you never get used to that.

“Yesterday I decided just before I went to bed that, OK, the results are what happens but it’s just a test but I just want to be the best rider I can be for my horse now.”

Sanne and the 14-year-old gelding arrive in Denmark for their sixth senior championship, having won gold – and a rainbow of other medals – at every past Paralympic, world and Europeans.

They scored individual and freestyle gold at Tokyo, where they helped the Dutch side to team silver. Their outstanding medal haul also includes triple gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and 2019 Europeans, plus gold medals at Rio 2016 and the 2017 Europeans.

Reflecting on what another title would mean, Sanne added: “Each one is different of course, but if I look back to the five years leading to Tokyo my preparations and the way I handled the sport and championships when I look back was quite obsessive. I did hardly anything but ride and prepare and make sure he was fit.

“My focus has changed a little, though of course it’s still a championships – you still want to win and gold is still my favourite colour, but the focus has changed even more to being a good rider, horse welfare and making him happy and fit and that’s what I really realised yesterday.

“At the vet check I realised this might be the first championship [we] could lose, but there’s no way you can lose if you have such a horse. Such an amazing partner who is happy and fit and having a good ride there is no way you can lose.”

Can the Brits reclaim the para dressage World title in Herning?

Polly Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 07:32:21 +0000

In 2021, four inexperienced British horses set off for Tokyo, their para dressage championship riders aiming for little more than to give them exposure on the world stage, perhaps picking up one or two medals along the way. What actually unfolded in Japan last summer was something very different – the Brits’ rookie horses rose to the occasion in tremendous style, beating the crack Dutch side to team gold, and each picked up at least one individual medal to boot.

The same four British World Championships para dressage riders and horses will head to the Herning World Championships, Denmark, with rather more expected of them this year – with success comes increased pressure after all. But Sophie Wells, Sir Lee Pearson and Natasha Baker have been in the game a long time, while the less-experienced Georgia Wilson possesses an enviably cool head under pressure; these four riders know better than most how to rise to an occasion. And the para dressage World Championships promises to be something of an occasion.

It was at the last World Championships that the Netherlands succeeded in finally toppling Britain from their para dressage throne, forcing them to settle for silver

for the first time in history. It stung, for sure, but no one could argue that it wasn’t good for the sport. The years that followed have seen the Netherlands dominate the international arena, but with Britain’s euphoric Paralympic triumph, is the tide turning once again?

In both 2018 and 2021, the winning margin of the gold medal team was under 0.7 of a point; the Netherlands creeping ahead in 2018, and Britain coming out on top by an almost identical margin at their latest championship meeting. Get ready for another tantalisingly close finish in 2022.

But while the Brits have only got stronger since Tokyo, their young horses having gained in confidence and experience – and Georgia Wilson no longer a rookie but a seasoned member of the team – the Dutch side of World Championships para dressage riders will look a little different this year.

Reigning grade IV world champion Sanne Voets will be back on her trusty crusader Demantur RS2 NOP. However, the team will be without their Tryon and Tokyo talisman Rixt van der Horst, whose world champion grade II ride Findsley returned to her owner for rehab, after having to withdraw from the Paralympic freestyle last year.

Frank Hosmar will be another familiar face, riding the multi-medalled Alphaville, but Demi Haerkens and Lotte Krijnsen will be championship first-timers, although both have posted excellent results coming into the worlds.

The point difference between bronze medallists USA and fourth-placed Denmark in 2021 was as excruciatingly close as that between gold and silver. The USA will field a strong side in Herning, but they’ll be without their top horse from Tokyo, with grade I world number one Roxanne Trunnell bringing her young stallion Fortunato H2O rather than Paralympic record-breaker Dolton.

This could open the door for Denmark to cruise onto the podium, something they will be desperate to do in front of the home crowds.

Tobias Thorning Jørgensen is sure to bring in chunky scores in grade III with his delightful grey mare Jolene Hill. And although Katrine Kristensen brings forward a new ride in the 14-year-old Quaterback gelding Gørklintgaard’s Quater, this pair will be ones to watch in grade II, with some serious scores on their record this year.

Belgium also showed their hand in Tokyo and look set to be in the mix this year, while Germany and France cannot be ruled out among the World Championships para dressage riders.

Expect to see familiar nations pushing for the podium, but the order in which they will finish is anybody’s guess. One thing is for sure though: Britain will be up there.

World Championships para dressage medal predictions

World Championships para dressage riders: individual favourites

Tobias Thorning Jørgensen

You’d be brave to bet against this young man continuing his run of championship form, especially on home soil with his beloved grey mare Jolene Hill. This pair have never been beaten in international grade III competition, and scored a personal best of 84.35% when winning their second individual gold medal of the Games in Tokyo last year. How much higher can their star rise with the support of a home crowd behind them?

Sophie Wells

Don Cara M, aka “Donnie”, has had to step up to become Sophie’s top horse in the past year, and he came of age at the Tokyo Paralympics. The pair are almost unbeaten internationally in 2022, with straight test scores around the 75% mark and freestyle scores close to 80%. Few would bet against them being on the podium.

Michèle George

Belgium’s Michèle and the 12-year-old mare Best Of 8 proved unstoppable in Tokyo, with double grade V gold, and she looks set to be Britain’s Sophie Wells’ strongest rival in Herning. Michèle’s scores have been growing all year, with over 80% in the freestyle and consistent mid-70s in the straight test. Michèle brings plenty of experience and showmanship to the arena – she could score big.

Sir Lee Pearson

Having blown everyone – including Lee himself – away with their success in 2021, Lee and Breezer have continued their run of good form as the horse has matured into the horse his rider (and breeder) always knew he could be. He is still uber sensitive and can be reactive, but his record speaks for itself: two wins in Deauville in April were followed by a hat-trick at Hartpury CPEDI in July. This pair are on fire right now.

Roxanne Trunnell

The USA rider swept the board in grade I ranks at the Tokyo Paralympics, winning double individual gold on Dolton, as well as team bronze, and setting a new Paralympic record as she did so. However, this year she brings forward a new ride in the six-year-old Floriscount stallion Fortunato H2O, whom she had been riding for just six weeks before being shortlisted for the World Championships. Their only international outing together so far has been the USA team selection event at Tryon in June, but three wins and a score over 73% means that despite their fledgling partnership, Roxanne and “Fish” should not be ruled out of the medals in Herning.

Natasha Baker

With limited runs this year, quality over quantity has been key for Natasha and Keystone Dawn Chorus; they had a double win at Wellington Festival of Para Dressage in June with chunky scores, and although Natasha had to withdraw midway through Hartpury CPEDI due to illness, their win in the team test shows they are as strong as ever.

Demi Haerkens

While Sanne Voets may have been the queen of grade IV in recent years, her Dutch compatriot and fellow grade IV rider Demi Haerkens looks set to shake things up in Herning. This will be Demi’s first championship and she’s joining a team intent on retaining their world title from 2018 – and closure after being pipped by Britain to Paralympic gold in Tokyo. Demi and the 14-year-old EHL Daula have really made their presence known on the circuit recently, beating Sanne in the individual and team tests at their last two shows. Herning could see a Dutch showdown – get ready!

Georgia Wilson

Sakura and Georgia have been nudging at Lee Pearson’s grade II heels during the 2022 season, and were unbeaten at both Keysoe CPEDI shows over the winter. They competed as individuals in Tokyo, but will form an integral part of the British team in Herning.

Rodolpho Riskalla

It was at the last World Championships that Brazilian grade IV rider Rodolpho (below) burst into the limelight, winning his first medal with the same horse he’ll take to Herning, Don Henrico. This Don Frederico stallion is 19 now, but doesn’t show it – they scored 78% on their last outing. Rodolpho, who works for Dior in Paris, has spoken out recently about the importance of disability inclusion and opportunity in the workplace, and has become a well-known face in para equestrian, both in and out of the saddle.

Michael Murphy

As Michael and Cleverboy have got to know one another better, they have become more secure as a partnership and it definitely shows. After mixed results in Tokyo, this Irish partnership have posted plenty of wins and good scores in 2022, including a hat-trick at Hartpury. Expect big things in Herning.

For Horse & Hound’s full preview of the Herning World Championships, see 28 July edition of the magazine – order your copy online

A bluffer’s guide to the para dressage World Championships in Herning – and the new format for 2022

Polly Bryan — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:58:00 +0000

The Para Dressage World Championships take place in Herning, Denmark, from 10-14 August, with the world’s best para dressage riders set to do battle.

Athletes are classified across five grades, according to the impact their disability has on their ability to ride. Grade I is for those who are most severely impaired and grade V is for those who are least severely impaired.

While the basic format of the competition follows that of previous World Championships, this year will feature a key difference, namely in the tests that riders will perform at each stage.

There are 83 para dressage combinations set to start in Herning, and all athletes will ride in the individual competition over the first two days, with medals awarded in each grade. Grades I, II and IV will compete on Wednesday, 10 August, and grades III and V on Thursday, 11 August. However, this year, it will be the “team” test that is ridden for the individual medals, with combinations in each grade performing their respective version. This test also serves as the first qualifier for the individual final – the freestyle.

The team competition for the team medals will run over the following two days, with grades I, II and IV in action on Friday, 12 August, and grades III and V on Saturday, 13 August. Horses and riders will perform the more difficult “individual” test, and the team medals will be decided based solely on this test, with the lowest score in each team dropped. This test also serves as the second qualifier for the individual final.

Each combination’s results from the team and individual tests will be combined to determine the top eight athletes from each grade, who will then go forward to compete in the freestyle, with all grades on Sunday, 14 August. Riders must have achieved at least 60% as an average of the two tests to be eligible to compete in the freestyle. Individual medals will be awarded for the freestyle in each grade.

Para Dressage World Championships: facts and figures

The first FEI World Para Dressage Championships took place in 2007 at Hartpury, in Britain. In 2010, para dressage was incorporated into the World Equestrian Games (WEG) format, and this remained until 2018, when the last WEG took place, in Tryon, USA.

Britain has by far the strongest track record when it comes to para dressage World Championship medals, having won team gold on three out of four occasions to date. The British team was beaten to gold by the Netherlands at WEG in 2018, the first time Britain had not won gold at any para dressage major championship. This means that the Netherlands are the reigning world champions going into Herning.

Aside from Britain and the Netherlands, the only other nations to have won para dressage World Championship team medals are Germany (two silver and two bronze), Denmark (one bronze) and Norway (one bronze).

Latest from Horse & Hound in Para-dressage-world-championships

Organisers praised as grooms put to the forefront at World Championships

“They stabled all the teams together, which is always really good at a championship. A WhatsApp group was created and the stable manager put any information we needed and there were at least three or four messages a day keeping us updated,” he told H&H.

“The restaurant was one of the best I’ve ever seen, this is my 12th championship in a row and the food was tip-top. They did fantastic buffets and supplied eco-friendly boxes so you could take food away, and there was always fresh fruit and salad available.”

Alan added that the recognition on the televised screen – each groom was pictured along with each horse and rider – “meant a lot”, and said the event was a “massive improvement” on previous ones he had been to.

“Herning did a really good job and the level of care for grooms is getting better, but it’s going to be keeping those standards up that’s difficult. The cost of living is creeping up, so it’s not going to be easy.”

The IGA, which launched at the end of April, met the Herning organising committee before the championships, and IGA executive director Lucy Katan told H&H she was “delighted” with their “forward-thinking approach”.

“Historically, many shows plan everything and then say, ‘and the grooms’, as kind of an afterthought, but that was not the case here. The organising committee really put the grooms at the forefront of their planning and it created such a different atmosphere of positivity,” she said.

Although the majority of feedback was very positive, some issues around accommodation were highlighted when some grooms had to share caravans with grooms from other nations.

The championships’ sport chief executive Jens Trabjerg confirmed to H&H the committee was “let down at the last minute” with the accommodation, but this was “solved” on 3 August. He added that the committee was “very pleased and proud of the many positive comments” they received.

Alan, who opted to stay in a horsebox with Gareth Hughes’ groom Steph Sharples, said the accommodation was a “bit of a problem” but the committee tried to resolve the issue.

“I feel for them that it went wrong on that level because everything else they were trying so hard to do right for us,” he said.

Lucy said the IGA “firmly believes” grooms should only be sharing with their own national federations, and will be highlighting this to the FEI. She would also like to see “minimum standards” set for grooms at FEI events.

“It was a big team effort with the organising committee, IGA and FEI working together in the build-up and throughout the championship to fulfil a shared vision whereby grooms got the recognition they fully deserved.”

The spokesman added there will be a “thorough debrief” with stakeholders, and the FEI will continue to liaise with the IGA on all matters regarding grooms.

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“When he came to me, he was difficult in the beginning, and we have had tough times because he’s very sensitive. But he’s always been there for me and he knows when he’s here for a big thing and he gives his heart for me. We’ve built an amazing bond.”

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‘That’s why we ride horses; to become one’: Belgium takes grade V freestyle gold in Herning, plus a medal for Britain

“That’s why we ride horses, you know, just to become one, and to feel the harmony. It’s my second world title and I’m so happy that I can do it again with another horse, because it’s not always easy to stay on the top. But I’m back, and that is only the start.”

The Netherland’s Frank Hosmar and 17-year-old gelding Alphaville N.O.P took silver after performing a 80.78%-worthy test. The expressive dark bay gelding coped brilliantly with the tense atmosphere and listened intently to his rider’s commands for a pleasing round.

Britain’s Sophie Wells and Don Cara M gave it everything they’ve got to pull off a stunning test for just shy of 80% to land grade V bronze for Britain.

“Last year in Tokyo, it went really quite wrong, and we’ve done loads and loads of work on it. To get 6% more today is just fab. He’s far exceeded last year in every test.”

Sophie admits that her mindset has changed over the years, and although she is still as competitive as ever, what matters to her now more than medals is how her horses perform for her.

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The Netherlands’ Lotte Krijnsen claimed her first World Championship medal when scoring 76.67% for silver riding her stunning 16-year-old black mare Rosenstolz. The pair demonstrated their strong connection with beautifully supple and expressive transitions, and floating medium trots.

Lottie looked more settled than earlier in the week and Tash was able to ride for every mark, including powerful medium trot strides across the diagonal, super rhythmical trot circles and a super, over-tracking free walk.

“That was the worst warm up ever,” said an emotional Tash after her test. “She was so tense and it’s probably because she has come into season. I then got my foot caught in the flower pot in the A marker as I went in, but luckily, she’s not spooky and we managed to catch up with my music.

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After playing the bridesmaid all week in the grade I, Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight stepped up their game to complete a fantastic freestyle with 80.65% and finish at the top of the podium.

Royal Delight coped impeccably with the buzzy atmosphere of the arena, leaving Sara to concentrate on pulling off beautifully positioned half-passes and rhythmical work.

“This is just too beautiful to be true, I’m so happy,” said Sara. “I’m delighted with Royal Delight. It felt really good with the music and I couldn’t have wanted more from his performance.”

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“I was a bit behind with the music after the collected trot so I had to cut one of the corners, but I managed to get back on track. I felt like I wanted to start all over again because she just got better and better as the test went on.”

The remaining two British riders will be performing their freestyle tests this afternoon: Natasha Baker in the grade III at 2pm UK time and Sophie Wells in the grade IV at 3.21pm.

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“I always try and think of something I want to say, but I’m pretty much speechless today,” said an overcome Sanne after her freestyle performance. “I’m just so proud of him and how he’s put in such a brilliant performance on the final day after such an intense week.

The pair certainly share a special bond – their performance was rhythmical and smooth with fluid transitions created from a secure contact and frame.

Sanne’s plans are to continue to improve with the Paris 2024 Games in mind.

“I want to be a better rider for my horse, because there is so much more that he can give if I handle it right,” she said. “If I ride him perfectly, I know he can be so much better.”

The USA’s Kate Shoemaker pulled off a cracker of a test with her stunning eight-year-old mare Quiana, to better their individual fourth and take freestyle silver with a personal best of 80.28%.

The mare’s expressive paces and fluid movement earned her high marks, their highlights being their rhythmical half-passes.

Another super performance saw Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla’s 19-year-old Don Henrico earn his second bronze medal of the World Para Dressage Championships and finish his career on a high.

“It’s been a roller coaster week between the preparation and coming here, but he was so good to ride today,” said an emotional Rodolpho. “I’m emotional that is was his last championship test, but also so happy that he gave me so much. It’s been amazing.”

The pair have enjoyed a hugely successful career with many accolades to celebrate.

“When he came to me, he was difficult in the beginning, and we have had tough times because he’s very sensitive, but he’s always been there for me and he gives his heart for me. We’ve built an amazing bond.”

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Sophie rode a masterful test, showing exactly why she has been part of every senior championship squad since 2009.

“Obviously it’s hard to go last in the team anyway, and the other guys didn’t have their perfect rides, so I just tried to stay focused on what me and Donnie could do,” she said, adding she was mindful not to push him and “over try”, while doing everything they could.

“Waiting to go and then trying not to think about what we might need [was hard], because you really can’t do anything about it, can you? You’ve got to go in there and ride the best dressage that you can, and to be able to look back and be proud of the ride that you had.”

Their trot extensions were a real highlight. Sophie has this horse in such beautiful balance and he showed a lovely uphill frame throughout.

The scrimmage for bronze was close – the Brits finished 1.94 marks adrift of the US, with Belgium snapping at their heels, just 0.2 marks behind.

“I think at my first championships, I wasn’t thinking about [being in the anchor spot] at all, and like it’s hard not to think about it now,” she said, reflecting on how the sport has grown globally in recent years.

“I think as our partnership grows, he will trust me more and I’ll know him more and how we have to prepare him,” she said, adding it’s “all part of the process”.

“He’s still got loads more in there, which is what’s really nice,” said Sophie. “I don’t want to push too hard too soon, and then upset him and upset the balance.

“Qualifying for Paris, that’s what we came in here to do. I think overnight, we were quite aware that gold and silver were out of the question, but we thought that we might be able to push for bronze.

“Qualification for Paris is a tick. We go home, regroup, and get them into some good competitions.”