Six sports, one flag: British Equestrian announces definite entries for FEI World Championships 2026
Wednesday 22 July 2026
British Equestrian can today confirm the 23 athlete and horse combinations that will be submitted to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as our definite entries for the FEI World Championships 2026, set to take place from 11–23 August in Aachen, Germany. Between them, these entries represent the six disciplines of dressage, driving, eventing, jumping, para dressage and vaulting.
Dressage
The definite entries for the British Equestrian dressage team, announced in collaboration with the British Dressage selectors and World Class Programme principal partner Agria, are listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Fiona Bigwood (50) from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, with her own Donna Bella (chestnut, mare, 10yrs, 16.3hh, Don Juan de Hus x I. P. S. Gribaldi, breeder: Fiona Bigwood GBR) and groom Sally Williams.
- Charlotte Fry (30) based in Den Hout, the Netherlands and originally from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, with Van Olst Horses and her own Glamourdale (black, stallion, 15yrs, 16.3hh, Lord Leatherdale x Negro, breeder: J. Rodenburg NED) and groom Richard Hauwaerts.
- Carl Hester (58) based in Newent Gloucestershire and originally from Sark, The Channel Islands, with Fiona Bigwood, Mette Dahl and his own Fame (bay, stallion, 16yrs, 16.2hh, Bordeaux 28 x Rhodium, breeder: V. O. F. G. oM. Gerritsen NED) and groom Lucy Scudamore.
- Becky Moody (46) from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with Jo Cooper and her own Jagerbomb (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 17.1hh, Dante Weltino OLD x Jazz, breeder: Becky Moody GBR) and groom Kim Masson.
Reserves
Listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Charlotte Dujardin (41) from Newent, Gloucestershire, with Ellen McCarthy, Spencer McCarthy and Bridget McCarthy’s Brave Heart (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.1hh, Bordeaux 28 x Blue Hors Zack, breeders: Shirley and Titian Wilaras GER)
- Susan Pape (63) from Hemmor, Germany, with Harmony Sporthorses and her own Harmony’s Giulilanta (chestnut, mare, 15yrs, 16.2hh, Broere Jazz x Flemmingh, breeders: A. Vogelaar and J. Knol GER)
- Sadie Smith (36) from Fareham, Hampshire, with her own Swanmore Dantina (dark bay, mare, 11yrs, 16hh, Dante Weltino OLD x Charatan W, breeder: Ben St John James GBR)
Driving
The definite entries for the British Equestrian driving team, announced in collaboration with the British Carriagedriving selectors, are listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Karen Bassett (63) based in Holbeck, Nottinghamshire, with Flora (black, mare, 16yrs), Galvani Hedegaard (black, gelding, 10yrs), Gratia (black, mare, 15yrs), Skyfall (black, gelding, 14yrs) and Thit Hedegaard (black, mare, 13yrs) and grooms Mick Etherington, Alex Loveman, Sanchia May and Eva Williams.
- Peter Bennett (63) based in Tarporley, Cheshire, with Dirk (black, gelding, 18yrs), Elmo Almire (bay, gelding, 17yrs), Kroonprins (bay, gelding, 11yrs), Lodewijk (black, gelding, 10yrs) and Lutiano (gelding, 10yrs) and grooms Pearl Gott, Charlie Jenkins, Charlotte Mansi and Pheobe Matthews.
- Daniel Naprous (49) based in Mursley, Buckinghamshire, with Ippon (chestnut, stallion, 13yrs), Jack (chestnut, stallion, 12yrs), Lord P.C (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs), Lyzander .V (bay, gelding, 10yrs), Maystro (chestnut, gelding, 9yrs) and grooms Mason Bertram, Carolyn Gayle, Felix Naprous and Cuairidh Stephen.
- Robert Wilkinson (64) based in Rolleston, Leicestershire, with Fernando (chestnut, gelding, 16yrs), Kamore (chestnut, gelding, 11yrs), Luxor S (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs), Muwandro (chestnut, gelding, 9yrs) and Norwold (chestnut, gelding, 8yrs) and grooms Ned Andrew, Lisa Mitchell, Weronika Pastwa and Owen Pilling.
Eventing
The definite entries for the British Equestrian eventing team, announced in collaboration with the British Eventing selectors and World Class Programme principal partner Agria, are listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Rosalind Canter (40) from Hallington, Lincolnshire, with Archie and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 17hh, Birkhof’s Grafenstolz TSF x Rock King, breeders: Lordships Stud and Pennie Wallace GBR) and groom Sarah Charnley.
- Laura Collett (36) from Salperton, Gloucestershire, with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and her own London 52 (bay, gelding, 17yrs, 16.3hh, Landos x Quinar, breeder: Ocke Riewarts GER) and groom Tilly Hughes.
- Caroline Harris (36) from Stroud, Gloucestershire, with Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie-Anne Richardson and Heather Royle’s D. Day (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.1hh, Billy Mexico x Dilum XX, breeder: Fiona Olivier GBR) and groom Nellie Smith.
- Tom McEwen (35) from Stroud, Gloucestershire, with James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin (dark brown, gelding, 15yrs, 16.2hh, Diarado x Cantano, breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze GER) and groom Adam Short.
- Gemma Stevens (41) from Horsham, West Sussex, with Pru Dawes’ Flash Cooley (grey, gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, CSF Mr Kroon x OBOS Quality, breeder: Jim O’Neill IRL) and groom Georgie Driver.
Reserves
Listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- David Doel (33) from Chippenham, Wiltshire, with Mary Fox, Gillian Jonas and his own Galileo Nieuwmoed (dark bay, gelding, 15yrs, 17hh, Carambole x Harcos, breeders: J. W. and A. P. Jurrius NED)
- Yasmin Ingham (29) based in Nantwich, Cheshire and originally from the Isle of Man, with Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund’s Gypsie du Loir (dark bay, mare, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Herald 3 x Canaletto, breeder: Pierre Gouye FRA)
- Tom Jackson (33) from Godalming, Surrey, with Michael Stenning’s United 36 (bay, gelding, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Ucello x Espiri, breeder: Heinrich Bohmke GER)
- Harry Meade (42) from West Littleton, Wiltshire, with Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s Cavalier Crystal (bay, mare, 16yrs, 16.3hh, Jack of Diamonds x Cavalier Royale, breeder: Thomas Horgan IRL)
Jumping
The definite entries for the British Equestrian jumping team, announced in collaboration with British Showjumping and World Class Programme principal partner Agria, are listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Scott Brash (40) based in Horsham, West Sussex and originally from Peebles, Scotland, with Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s Hello Mango (grey, mare, 11yrs, 16hh, Untouchable 27 x Numero Uno, breeder: H. P. H. Vaessen NED) and groom David Honnet.
- Harry Charles (26) from Alton, Hampshire, with Eve Jobs and his own LT Holst Freda (grey, mare, 12yrs, Colman x Casall Ask, breeder: E. Mackintosh NZL) and groom Georgia Ellwood.
- Ben Maher (43) from Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Point Break (bay, stallion, 12yrs, 16.2hh, Action-Breaker x Baloubet du Rouet, breeder: Nya Äppelvikens Ridskola AB SWE) and groom Gwen Bellamy.
- Jack Whitaker (24) from Whatton, Northamptonshire, with Candice Reilly’s Jack JL (grey, stallion, 12yrs, Bessemeind’s Quasimodo Z x Astrello, breeder: J. E. Lammerts-Weide NED) and groom Paul Collier.
- Adrian Whiteway (35) from Wraxall, Somerset, with Deborah Cox’s Chacco Volo (bay, stallion, 13yrs, 16.1hh, Chacco-Blue x Cathago, breeder: Gestut Lewitz GER) and groom Rhi Watson.
Direct reserves
Listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname, then alphabetically by horse name:
- Scott Brash: Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s Hello Folie (chestnut, mare, 11yrs, 16.2hh, Luidam x Diamant de Semilly, breeder: Claire Gouin FRA), Hello Jefferson (bay, gelding, 17yrs, 16.1hh, Cooper van de Heffinck x Irco Mena, breeder: Bernard Mols BEL)
- Ben Maher: Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Catelly (bay, gelding, 14yrs, Catalido x Ephebe For Ever La Silla, breeder: H. Wulf-Hinrich GER) and Enjeu de Grisien (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.2hh, Toulon x Andiamo, breeder: Elevage de Grisien S.C.E.A. FRA)
Reserves
Listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Tim Gredley (40) from Newmarket, Suffolk, with Rachel Gredley, William Gredley and Unex Competition Yard Ltd’s Medoc de Toxandria (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.2hh, Der Senaat III x Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle, breeder: Werner Dierckx BEL)
- Jessica Mendoza (30) based in Wellington, Florida and originally from Horsham, West Sussex, with Pernilla Amman, Georgia Kipp, Jessica Mendoza, Kristi Mitchem and Melissa Skowlund's Summerhouse (bay, gelding, 11yrs, 16.2hh, Induparts Guidam Sohn x VDL Indoctro, breeder: C. Den Boer NED)
- Joseph Stockdale (26) from Roade, Northamptonshire, with Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s Ebanking (chestnut, stallion, 12yrs, 16hh, Etoulon x Aranebel, breeder: E. Vriend GER)
Para dressage
The definite entries for the British Equestrian para dressage team, announced in collaboration with the British Dressage selectors and World Class Programme principal partner Agria, are listed in numerical order by athlete grade:
Grade 1
- Mari Durward-Akhurst (32) from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Romilly Hart’s Athene Lindebjerg (black, mare 19yrs, 17hh, Gribaldi x Diamant, breeder: Ulla and Kristian Bech DEN).
Grade 2
- Jemima Green (37) from Arlesford, Hampshire, with her own Fantabulous (chestnut, gelding, 8yrs, 16.1hh, Foundation 2 x Furst Romancier, breeder: Rainer and Angelika Alhers GER).
Grade 4
- Nicola Naylor (65) from Ashford, Kent, with her own Moulin Rouge (chestnut, mare, 9yrs, 16.2hh, Ferdinand x Dorado, breeder: P. Buwalda NED).
Grade 5
- Sophie Wells (36) from Harby, Lincolnshire, with Emma Blundell’s MSJ Gold Standard (chestnut, mare, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Governer x Furstenball, breeder: Mount St John Equestrian LLP GBR).
The travelling grooms who will accompany the para dressage horses to Aachen are Maisie Hodge, Beth Revell and Julie Riches.
Direct reserves
Nicola Naylor: Rosalind Emery Kay and her own Humberto L (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.2hh, Cachet L x Haarlem, breeder: J. Lamers NED).
Reserves
Listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
- Sir Lee Pearson (52) from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with Jenson Guest, David Pearson, Linda Pearson and his own Breezer (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, s. Barcardi, breeder: Sir Lee Pearson GBR).
- Erin Orford (37) from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with Carl Hester, Anne Barrott, Rowena Luard and The Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Nutbush (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, Negro x Sion, breeder: Mr A. Gregory GBR).
- Sophie Wells (36) from Harby, Lincolnshire, with The Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (black, mare, 10yrs, 16.1hh, Blue Hors St Schrufo x I. P. S. Gribaldi, breeder: Anders Green Hansen DEN).
Vaulting
The individual female definite entry for the British Equestrian vaulting squad, announced in collaboration with the British Equestrian Vaulting, is:
- Ursula Levett (21) based in Aachen, Germany and originally from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, with Pauline Riedl’s Soel’rings Million Voices (bay, gelding, 13yrs, Mangold N x Sando Paso N, breeder: Heidi Schurek) and lunger Pauline Riedl.
Selection decisions are subject to the athletes and horses maintaining fitness and performance.
“As we head to Aachen with one of the most competitive teams assembled for an FEI World Championships in many years, our primary focus for all disciplines is securing qualification for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games at this first opportunity,” commented Helen Nicholls, Performance Director for British Equestrian’s World Class Programme.
“However, it would be remiss not to mention the medal potential of the horse and rider combinations that are representing Great Britain. We bring together a squad that balances championship experience and previous podium placings with exciting new talents keen for success on the world stage.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our fantastic horse owners, sponsors and supporters and, of course, The National Lottery and UK Sport, whose support is critical in delivering success.
“Aachen will be a rare opportunity for equestrian fans to witness six sports competing together under one flag, as the best of British driving and vaulting represent their country alongside our World Class Programme athletes over a two-week period.
“With incredibly talented horses at the top of their game, piloted by hugely skilful athletes, we can’t wait to get going in Germany. With an exciting summer of sport across the globe already well underway, we’re quietly confident that British Equestrian really can bring it home!”
The funding that the British Equestrian World Class Programme receives from the National Lottery and UK Sport is pivotal in preparing our teams for senior championships and supporting them on the ground.
British Equestrian is also extremely grateful for the support we enjoy from our partners – Agria, Bates Saddles, Dodson & Horrell, NAF, SEIB and Toggi – and team suppliers – Equi-Trek and Lotus Romeo. We’re indebted for the year-round support they provide to the World Class Programme and British teams, which helps us to best prepare for senior championships.
