World Equestrian Games British team: all you need to know
The British team for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) is in high spirits ahead of the championships, which get underway on Wednesday 12 September at Tryon Equestrian Centre in North Carolina in the United States.
The first of the British horses have arrived on site as part of the massive airlift of horses from around the world, and they will be followed shortly by the remainder.
So who did the selectors choose to make up the British squads across the various disciplines? Here’s all you need to know…
World Equestrian Games British teams
Eventing
- Ros Canter with Allstar B
- Tina Cook with Billy The Red
- Piggy French with Quarrycrest Echo
- Tom McEwen with Toledo De Kerser
- Gemma Tattersall with Arctic Soul
Dressage
- Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John Freestyle
- Emile Faurie with Dono Di Maggio
- Carl Hester with Hawtins Delicato
- Spencer Wilton with Super Nova II
Showjumping
- Amanda Derbyshire with Luibanta BH
- William Funnell with Billy Buckingham
- Holly Smith with Hearts Destiny
- William Whitaker with Utamaro D Ecaussines
Para dressage
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- Sophie Wells on C Fatal Attraction (grade V)
- Lee Pearson on Styletta (grade II)
- Erin Orford on Dior (grade III)
- Natasha Baker on Mount St John Diva Dannebrog (grade III)
Endurance
- Rachael Atkinson with her own Tannasg Psyches Realm
- Caroline Cowley with her own HS Bellini
- Dominique Freeman with her own Rising Heat (reserve: Carla Eigenauer’s WCF Atillah)
- Nicola Thorne with Heather and Jeremy Reynolds’ Grand Ku
Vaulting
NB: Britain is contesting the squad and individual female vaulting sections at WEG.
Squad: English Vaulting Squad with Ben Aucott’s British-bred Demezza, lunged by Julie Newell
- Imogen Bexon
- Ricky Davies
- Romilly Hayton
- Carys Morgan
- Lucy Phillips
- Sara Shortland
- Luke Smith
The squad also has the British-bred River Of Thyme, owned by Julie Newell and previously by Mr and Mrs Tibbetts, selected as a reserve horse, with reserve lunger Suzi Cusick.
Individual female:
- Rebecca Norval will compete on a borrowed horse
- Lucy Phillips with Ben Aucott’s Demezza, lunged by Julie Newell
Reining
- Alison Bucknell with her own Jac Barbee Dream
- Francesca Sternberg with Rosanne Sternberg’s Spook N Sparkle
Driving
There will be no British drivers taking part in the World Equestrian Games this time, due to the costs of transportation, which is considerably higher for this discipline than the other sports.
World Equestrian Games: British team support staff
Chef de Mission
Overseeing the Team GBR’s performance at WEG in his role of chef de mission is David Holmes, who is also chief executive of British Eventing.
Keep up to date with the latest news in the run-up to, and throughout, the World Equestrian Games here on HorseandHound.co.uk. Horse & Hound’s full WEG preview can be found in 30 August issue.
Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.