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

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

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

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

Magical moments

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

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

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

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

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Tokyo Paralympic individual bronze and team silver dressage medal-winners Rixt van der Horst and Findsley have withdrawn ahead of tonight’s freestyle finale (30 August).

The Dutch combination are the reigning grade III freestyle champions, having won triple gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. They were among the favourites to take home the title from Tokyo and scored a huge new personal best in the run-up to the Games, with +80% performance in Doha in February.

The pair already scooped individual bronze on Friday (28 August), with a score of 75.77%, and helped the Dutch side to silver with a score of 76.24% in the team test.

The 11-year-old Bellissimo mare was withdrawn ahead of the second horse inspection this morning.

“The past few days have been great, riding with the Dutch team and being here in Tokyo,” said Rixt in a statement on her Facebook page.

“We have already had amazing results that we are happy and proud of. Today is a different day though; we have had to decide to withdraw Finn for the kür final. Due to a small unfortunate stumble while walking, she is not ‘fit to complete’. As a precaution, a number of diagnostic studies have been conducted in the clinic and we are positive, but Finn’s health and wellbeing is above all else.

“Finn is well cared for and is in good hands here. Lots of hugs and love for this amazing horse. We’re glad the whole team is here to support us.

“Together we are all here, physically or in mind, encouraging Frank and Sanne in their [freestyle] to music. Thank you for all your attention, encouragement and support!”

As a result of the withdrawal, Canada’s Lauren Barwick and Sandrino, who finished ninth in the individual competition, move off the reserve spot and onto the start list for tonight’s freestyle.

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Britain’s Natasha Baker has shot into the lead with a super test in the grade III individual Paralympic dressage at the Tokyo Games.

Natasha and the 10-year-old Dimaggio mare Keystone Dawn Chorus, who is owned by Joanna Jenson, Christian Landolt and the Baker family, are competing at their first championship as a combination, but produced an assured, and very harmonious performance to earn 76.32% – enough to put her ahead of the Netherlands’ Rixt van der Horst and Findsley.

Natasha’s test was mistake-free and gorgeously fluent, with smooth transitions, expressive medium trot and lots of suppleness shown by this lovely mare, who is known as Lottie at home, and was purchased from Beth Bainbridge in 2019 for Natasha to aim at the Tokyo Paralympic dressage. The pair gelled fast, and here they scored highly across the board, with at least one eight for almost every movement.

“I’m so, so happy with Lottie; she was amazing out there and did me proud,” said Natasha. “I don’t think it was the best test we’ve done this year. But the most important thing was she went in there and she let me ride her, and I gave her a nice, confidence-giving round.”

There was some concern shortly after Lottie’s arrival in Tokyo, with Natasha explaining that the mare didn’t eat during her journey to the Games, so the team was keeping a close eye on her. Thankfully her appetite quickly returned and the pair have been thriving in the Tokyo heat.

However, there is still some stiff competition to come in this very competitive grade III class, with the likes of Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Jorgensen, Germany’s Steffen Zeibig and the USA’s Rebecca Hart yet to come.

Natasha will be hoping to hold on to a podium place, and add another medal to those won yesterday by the other members of the British squad.

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Dutch rider Rixt van der Horst has opened her bid to become the Paralympic dressage grade III champion at the Tokyo Games.

She and her world champion mare Findsley produced a very smart test to earn 75.76% and take an early lead in the grade III individual class, the final of the individual competitions at these Paralympics.

“I was really happy with the feeling of my horse and the transitions were really smooth,” said Rixt, adding that the extra year has been beneficial for her training with the 11-year-old Belissimo mare. “We had a bit of quiet time and then we trained really hard on the basics and from there we really perfected things.”

Rixt faces a long wait until the end of this big class to find out if she will reach the podium at what is her first Paralympic Games. She would certainly have started the class as one of the favourites, but with the likes of Britain’s Natasha Baker, Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Jorgensen, Germany’s Steffen Zeibig and the USA’s Rebecca Hart yet to come, there is plenty of potential for Rixt’s dominance to be challenged.

Britain’s Natasha will ride Keystone Dawn Chorus at 8.36pm (12.36pm UK time), aiming to add to her haul of Paralympic dressage medals. This is however the Dimaggio mare’s first championship.

Currently holding the silver medal position at the midway point is France’s Chiara Zenati with Swing Royal on a score of 71.06%. Just behind her in the provisional bronze medal spot is Belgium’s Belgium Minneci with Stuart, who posted 70.85%.

Keep up with all the Paralympic dressage results as they come in.

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Britain’s para dressage riders have finished in a comfortable silver medal position at the European Para Dressage Championships, despite fielding a team featuring three championship first-timers.

The quartet of Sophie Wells and championship debutantes Mari Durward-Akhurst, Nicky Greenhill and Georgia Wilson exceeded expectations, all producing excellent scores in the team test to take silver behind home side the Netherlands, who have added a European gold to their World Equestrian Games title from 2018. Denmark clinched the bronze medal, edging out Belgium by 0.4%.

“Historically we’ve been the strongest team but other nations have put money and time into developing and we will be hungry to hunt them down in Tokyo,” said Sophie, for whom this is a 10th team medal for Britain.

Individual silver medal winners Georgia and Midnight were the first pair to kick off Britain’s charge, scoring 74.76% in the grade II team test on Friday (23 August). The same day, Mari posted a well-timed personal best of 70.89% with Sky O’Hara to contribute another valuable score and keep the team well in the hunt overnight.

A grade V score of 75.65% for individual silver medal winners Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction boosted Britain’s silver medal chances, with Nicky Greenhill and King Edward IV posting 69.58% in the grade IV.

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Dutch combination Sanne Voets and Demantur Rs2 NOP kept the Netherlands’ dream of a second consecutive gold alive with a stunning personal best performance in the grade IV, posting 77.15%. With all other team riders — Frank Hosmar, Nicole den Dulk and Rixt van der Horst — achieving in excess of 73%, the home side scored a resounding victory, consolidating their place as the new world leaders of para dressage.

“We didn’t feel more pressure this year exactly, but winning silver would have felt like we’d lost something,” said Frank. “Once we had won gold we wanted it again!”

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

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Britain’s para dressage team sits in a strong position overnight, with a medal well within their grasp at the European Para Dressage Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Two Brits were in action on the first day of the team competition. Mari Durward-Akhurst got the campaign off to a great start with a personal best of 70.83% on Sky O’Hara, taking sixth place in grade I ranks. The 20-year-old gelding was far more relaxed in the arena that in Wednesday’s individual championship, with only one tense moment.

“Just as I halted someone dropped something but overall it was much better. He has an amazing walk but it is hard to get it spot on in there,” said Mari.

Having already claimed the grade II individual silver medal, Georgia Wilson pulled out another cracking score on the 10-year-old Midnight, producing 74.76% to top her section and give Britain real confidence in their chances of a medal.

“She felt very good in there; her trot was amazing outside but it is so much harder to keep that in the arena because of all the transitions in this test — although we practise so many of those at home,” said Georgia.

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Home team the Netherlands look set to take gold in a repeat of their World Equestrian Games result. Rixt van der Horst and Nicole den Dulk each laid good scores on the table today and their two biggest scorers are expected to be Frank Hosmar and Sanne Voets, who both ride tomorrow.

Britain are expected to fight it out for silver, along with Denmark and Belgium. Nicky Greenhill will ride for Britain in grade IV tomorrow at 3.55pm (2.55pm UK time), while Sophie Wells will be hoping to pull out a chunky team score in grade V at 9.09am (8.09am UK time).

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

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Opinion

I rushed back from work to watch Sophie Wells fight for her individual grade V title online at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon. To be able to watch world-class para dressage live is a dream.

Across all grades, from a walk-only test to the advanced movements of the grade V, the overall picture needs to be harmonious. A para judge will forgive lack of expression and power if it makes them smile.

It was easy to forget that Natasha Baker has only had the ride on Diva for 8 months. I’m excited to see what the future holds with the partnership, as test riding and experience will easily tidy up the places where she can gain marks. The spook in the freestyle was really unfortunate and reminds us that we are working with living animals and nothing can be taken for granted.

I really hope that Natasha has started something new for British para riders by teaming up with Mount St John’s Stud.

Horsepower has shot up massively and we can no longer afford to buy the calibre of horse required to defend our titles. We need to bring in owners and breeders to the sport, and think about how we fundraise.

Erin Orford also did amazingly, considering the wrong freestyle music was played. I’m not sure I would have been so cool and collected!

It takes quite a lot to impress me, but Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup always does. To do leg-yield with no legs is quite something. Talented and articulate, she is a brilliant ambassador for para dressage. I remember her bursting onto the scene at Kentucky in 2010, where she won silver. She is now world champion.

Interesting judging

There were 17 riders in the grade I, which was great, though I predicted the top three beforehand. Italy’s Sara Morganti on the faithful Royal Delight was consistent and correct, meaning the judges couldn’t give her anything below a seven. Laurentia Tan and Elke Philipp’s horses have more impressive walks, but as the movement gets bigger, it is more difficult for us as the most disabled athletes to keep the consistency.

The judging was interesting in the grade I — the top four competitors were ranked from first to eighth across the five judges.

The judges need to collectively decide what they are looking for in a walk test, which it appears they did for the rest of the week. But it also begs the question whether we should drop the highest and lowest score when we have five judges.

This would have meant that the USA’s Roxanne Trunnell, who came fifth, would have won individual bronze to add to her freestyle medal.

Finding Horsepower

The Brits did remarkably well to hold on to the silver medal. When Rixt van der Horst and Sanne Voets won the individual titles in grades III and IV, and with Frank Hosmar not far behind Sophie, I did think it was going to be tight.

The Dutch have been knocking at the door since 2015 and with new combinations on our team this year, it was a tough ask to hold on to our undefeated record.

But this should be the wake-up call we need to keep on pushing for those marginal gains, and we need the help of the public in finding and financing horsepower for the talent we have in this country. The squad has gone through change recently and it will take time to build up experience.

With two years until Tokyo we have work to do, but I’m ready for it!

Ref Horse & Hound; 27 September 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Natasha Baker successfully defended her individual grade II title from London, when she rode Cabral into the gold medal spot again in Rio. Natasha — the only British rider from London 2012 to have been selected again on the same horse — scored 73.4% to finish ahead of Dutch riders Demi Vermeulen and Rixt van der Horst, who took silver and bronze respectively.

After a difficult team test in which a large spook before entering the arena left ‘JP’ tense and nervy during the first half of the routine, Natasha was completely overcome at how well the 15-year-old gelding coped with the atmosphere today.

“I said to him as we were trotting round in the 10 minute box, ‘just trust me, JP’, and he did. He worked with me and was so relaxed and the whole thing felt lovely,” said the 26-year-old.

“Winning gold is a dream come true but this is his last championship, so I really just wanted to come here and show the world what he can do and I’m so grateful that he has let me do that today. I cried coming out of the arena and there have been endless tears since.”

Dutch triumph

The Netherlands had double reason to celebrate with Demi Vermeulen and Burberry claiming silver ahead of their teammates Rixt van der Horst and Caraat.

Burberry is an expressive, rhythmic horse, with a beautiful swinging trot, and their test — which earned 71.6% — was only marred by the 10-year-old Lord Loxley mare throwing her head up in one transition to walk.

“It wasn’t a faultless test but I was so pleased with the score. I just wanted to get any medal so silver is amazing,” said Demi, for whom this is the first championship on this horse.

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Rixt held the lead for a long time from first draw, after an uphill and correct performance. But the Gribaldi mare broke to canter in her final medium trot, pulling her mark down to 70.7%.

Sophie Christiansen will ride this afternoon in a bid to defend her grade Ia individual title, with Anne Dunham also in action for Britain.

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

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

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Report by Madeleine Hill in Deauville

Team GBR won a gold and four silver medals during the last day of the FEI European Para Dressage Championships in Deauville, France, returning once again as the undefeated world, European and paralympic champions with a haul of 11 medals in total.

Today (Sunday 20 September) was freestyle day and the British team won medals in every class they contested. Sophie Christiansen, riding in grade 1a, rode an outstanding freestyle to win the gold medal on her young Gribaldi mare Athene Lindebjerg. Sophie was the only rider in the competition to break the 80% barrier, but ever modest she came out saying “It wasn’t perfect…” but later admitted: “She was absolutely fab, it was amazing even if I hadn’t won!.”

Sophie’s team mate Anne Dunham, finished in silver medal position riding the Lady Joseph Trusts’s Knapstrupper stallion Lucas Normark. In the 1b test, the Austrian rider Pepo Puch on his chestnut mare Fine Feeling, beat long term rival Lee Pearson into silver medal position, winning his second gold of these championships. Lee was philosophical to finish second. “The sport has developed so much,” he said. “My aim was to be in the medals, not necessarily to win. I’m really pleased for Pepo.”

Individual rider Natasha Baker was thrilled with her silver medal, as she was less than satisfied with her test. She was beaten by the Dutch rider Rixt Van Der Horst, who went home with two gold medals. It was an exciting championship for Natasha as it was her ride, Christian Landholt’s seven-year-old mare Sookie St James, first major championships.

Another happy silver medallist for Great Britain was grade IV rider and H&H blogger Sophie Wells. She had to decide a week ago to bring her own young ride – Charlotte Hogg’s powerful eight-year-old Fidertanz gelding C Fatal Attraction – and she was also delighted with how the horse dealt with the championship atmosphere.

There was no British grade III rider at these championships, and the class was won by the consistent German combination of Hannelore Brenner and her own chestnut Walt Disney mare Women of the World.

Read the full report from the FEI Para Equestrian European Dressage Championships in H&H magazine, on sale 24 September

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Report by Madeleine Hill in Deauville

After an intense first day of competition at the FEI Para Equestrian European Dressage Championships, Great Britain are top of the team rankings in Deauville, France.

Team GBR is just over three points ahead of the Netherlands with 223.487, while the Dutch team is on 219.738, followed by the Norwegians on 216.581.

The Brits know they are always the ones to beat and the pressure was on from the start with the Dutch taking the first honours of the day in the Grade II test. Double WEG gold medallist Rixt Van Der Horst won the class with over 72% on Uniek N.O.P, beating British individual rider Natasha Baker on her new horse Sookie St James into second.

The veteran German multi-gold medal-winning combination, Hannelore Brenner and Women of the World, won the Grade III on 71.47%. The British squad does not include a rider in this grade.

Lee Pearson and Zion were knocked into fourth place in the Grade 1b after some very close marking; Nicole Den Dulk of the Netherlands scored 73.12% on Wallace N.O.P to take the class.

The Dutch also won the Grade IV when Frank Hosman and Alphaville N.O.P scored 74% to beat Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction by just under 2%.

But Britain’s great strength in Grade 1a triumphed when multi-gold medallist Sophie Christiansen and Athene Lindebjerg (pictured top) notched up the highest score of the day, winning the class with an emphatic 76.13%, with team veteran Anne Dunham (LJT Lucas Normark) close behind on 75.26%. These two scores helped secure Britain’s lead position at the end of day one.

“Tomorrow we’ll go in a lot more confident,” said a delighted Sophie Christiansen. “The 1a was a very strong class – the top four all scored more than 75%, which shows how the sport is growing and the great depth of the British riders.

“But as a team all four of us know we are really good and that we can get the top percentages, just because other countries do well doesn’t mean we can’t get the top scores.”

The team competition continues tomorrow with the individual tests, which also count towards the overall team results.

Read the full report from the FEI Para Equestrian European Dressage Championships in H&H magazine, on sale 24 September

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