National Dressage Championships under-21s results

Annabella Pidgley lands first and second in the under-21s championship at the National Dressage Championships — (Image credit: Kevin Sparrow)

Junior European medalist Annabella Pidgley achieved a stunning one-two in the British Dressage Under 21 Championship at the Lemieux National Dressage Championships. Her winning ride, finishing on a total of 75.657%, was the exceptional Chestnut Sultan Des Paluds.

Annabella, 16, and Sultan — the silver medal winner at the 2017 World Young Horse Championships — made it into the history books earlier this year when they brought home a pair of silver medals at the FEI junior European Dressage Championships held in Olivia Nova, Spain, making Annabella the first British rider to claim an individual podium place.

Her second placed horse was Dibert L who nailed another impressive score of 72.929%. The Vivaldi 13-year-old is an up-and-coming ride for Annabella and the duo recently enjoyed a hat trick at the DI Grote-Brogel in Belgium, winning the junior team and individual tests as well as the freestyle, winning the latter on 79.18%. He was bought two years ago by Sarah Pidgley as a future prospect for Annabella.

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Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.

‘It’s nice to back on home ground’: Junior European medalist lands top two spots in under 21 championship

The 11-year-old French-bred Hanoverian gelding, by the Sandro Hit son Soliman De Hus, joined the Pidgley family in March 2021.

“He’s not really a two test horse,” said Annabella, who headed the Andrews Bowen Advanced Medium Gold Championship aboard Sultan earlier in the day. “He was a little tired but he’s a trier and gave me his all.”

At the Europeans the pair produced personal-best scores in every test – topping the leaderboards in the team test on 75.45%, and going on to clinch double silver success in the individual and freestyle contests with scores of 75.38% and 80.11% respectively.

Annabella was delighted with the performance “Dibs” gave her at the National Dressage Championships and she opted to ride him during the final presentation:

“I was so, so pleased with him,” said enthused. “His trot is a highlight and he stayed with me the whole way through. His flying changes are always so expressive and lovely to ride during a test. It’s been nice to be back on home ground.”

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