Great Britain has made its decisions—the teams for the World Championships in Aachen

Dressage

Even though Charlotte Dujardin and Brave Heart gave it their all once again in their final competition appearance before the nomination, the fourth pair representing Great Britain at the World Championships in Aachen will be another student of Carl Hester’s: Fiona Bigwood riding Donna Bella, whom she bred herself. Her dam, Atterupgaards Orthilia, had accompanied the 50-year-old British rider in 2015 at the last championship held at Aachen’s Soers, the European Championships. At that time, Great Britain won silver behind the Netherlands and ahead of Germany.

Carl Hester was also part of the team back then, riding Nip Tuck. This year, he’s riding his Olympic horse, Fame. Here’s an overview of the team:

The team

Fiona Bigwood (50) with the ten-year-old Donna Bella by Don Juan de Hus, whom she bred herself from her former champion mare Orthilia by Gribaldi.

Personal Best:

Grand Prix – 74.609 percent

Grand Prix Special – 73.447 percent

Grand Prix Free Skating – Not Yet Started

Carl Hester (58) with Fame, a 16-year-old KWPN by Bordeaux-Rhodium (breeder: V. O. F. G. oM. Gerritsen)

Personal Best:

Grand Prix – 78.540 percent (2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck)

Grand Prix Special – 80.106 percent (2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck)

Grand Prix Free Skate – 85.461 (2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck)

Charlotte Fry (30) with Glamourdale, a 15-year-old KWPN stallion by Lord Leatherdale-Negro (breeder: J. Rodenburg)—the defending champions

Personal Best:

Grand Prix – 81.258 percent (2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck)

Grand Prix Special – 82.508 percent (2022 World Championships in Herning)

Grand Prix Free Skating – 92.379 percent (2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck)

Becky Moody ( 46) with her home-bred Jagerbomb, a KWPN by Dante Weltino OLD-Jazz

Personal Best:

Grand Prix – 77.239 percent

Grand Prix Special – 78.404 percent

Grand Prix Freestyle – 88.330 percent (during his World Cup victory in Fort Worth)

The Reservists

• Charlotte Dujardin (40) riding Brave Heart, a 12-year-old Oldenburg by Bordeaux-Blue Hors Zack (breeders: Shirley and Titian Wilaras)


• Gareth Hughes (55) riding Mowgli-Olympia MC, a nine-year-old KWPN by Rousseau (breeder: M. Van Summeren)


• Susan Pape (63) with Harmony’s Giulilanta, a KWPN by Jazz-Flemmingh (breeders: A. Vogelaar and J. Knol)


• Sadie Smith (36) with Swanmore Dantina, an 11-year-old British Hanoverian mare by Dante Weltino out of Charatan W (breeder: Ben St John James)

Jumping

A minor surprise in the British team’s lineup is the fact that Scott Brash will not be riding his Olympic partner Hello Jefferson, the Geneva and Paris winner Hello Chadora Lady, or the European Championship mare Hello Folie, but rather that the 11-year-old Hello Mango is his first choice. Although the gray mare placed fourth in the CSI4* Grand Prix at Chantilly the weekend before last, she had one knockdown in each of her two rounds last weekend in Riesenbeck and, overall, does not have a record as impressive as that of her stablemates.

The team

Scott Brash (40) riding Hello Mango (11, by Untouchable-Numero Uno, breeder: H. P. H. Vaessen, NED) >, Hello Folie, and Hello Jefferson were named as direct alternates for Brash.

Harry Charles (26) with his new horse, LT Holst Freda (12th by Colman-Casall Ask, breeder: E. Mackintosh, NZL)

Ben Maher (43) with Point Break (12, by Action-Breaker-Baloubet du Rouet, bred by: Nya Äppelvikens Ridskola AB, SWE) and groom Gwen Bellamy > The stallion has recently been in impressive form, clearing all obstacles in the League of Nations show jumping competition in Rotterdam and placing fifth in the Falsterbo Grand Prix. > Ben Maher also has two “reserve horses.” Catelly, now ridden by Marco Kutscher, and Enjeu de Grisien were named as direct reserves.

Jack Whitaker (24) with Jack JL (12, by Quasimodo Z-Astrello, breeder: J. E. Lammerts-Weide, NED) > For the son of Michael and grandson of John Whitaker, this will be his debut at a senior championship. However, he has represented his country at six European Junior Championships, where he won two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals in individual and team competitions.

Adrian Whiteway with Chacco Volo (13, OS by Chacco-Blue-Carthago, bred by Gestüt Lewitz, GER) > —this will also be their first appearance at the Championship. They have distinguished themselves, among other things, with their rounds in the Nations Cups at St. Gallen and Falsterbo, where they did not make a single fault at any obstacle.

Reservists

• Tim Gredley ( 40) with Medoc de Toxandria (14, by Der Senaat III-Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle, breeder: Werner Dierckx, BEL)


• Jessica Mendoza (30) with Summerhouse (11, by Guidam Sohn-VDL Indoctro, breeder: C. Den Boer, NED)


• Joseph Stockdale ( 26) with Ebanking (12, Westphalian by Etoulon-Aranebel, breeder: E. Vriend, GER)

Versatility

The British eventing team is among the title contenders. No wonder, given the team’s lineup.

The team

Rosalind Canter (40) riding Lordships Graffalo ( 14, by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz TSF-Rock King, bred by: Lordships Stud/Pennie Wallace, GBR) > —the record-breaking Badminton pair —were double European champions in 2023, fourth at the 2022 World Championships, and Olympic team champions in 2024

Laura Collett ( 36) and London (17, sired by Landos-Quinar, breeder: Ocke Riewarts, GER) >, Badminton champion, 2025 European champion, Olympic team champion, and 2024 Olympic individual bronze medalist; longtime rivals of Michael Jung and Chipmunk

Caroline Harris (36) with D. Day ( 12, by Billy Mexico-Dilum xx, breeder: Fiona Olivier, GBR) >, and others—winners of the CCI5*-L at Luhmühlen in 2026

Tom McEwen (35) riding JL Dublin (15, sired by Diarado-Cantano, breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze, GER) >, the third pair to have been part of every British medal-winning team in recent years, including the victorious 2024 Olympic team, the 2025 European Championship bronze medalists, and various top-three finishes in CCI5*-L

Gemma Stevens (41) with Flash Cooley (14, by CSF Mr Kroon-OBOS Quality, breeder: Jim O’Neill, IRL) > Gemma was a member of the British Olympic team in 2016 and, riding Arctic Soul, was part of the winning World Championship team in Tryon in 2018. Flash Cooley was trained by Liz Halliday; he has no five-star or championship experience yet, but has secured three wins and two second-place finishes in his most recent four-star competitions. He also placed third in the individual standings at the 2025 Aachen event.

Reservists

• David Doel ( 33) riding Galileo Nieuwmoed (15, by Carambole-Harcos, bred by ZG J. W. and A. P. Jurrius, NED)


• Yasmin Ingham (29), 2022 World Champion, with Gypsie du Loir ( 10, by Herald-Canaletto, breeder: Pierre Gouye, FRA)


• Tom Jackson (33) with United ( 10, Hann. by Ucello-Espri, breeder: Heinrich Bohmke, GER)


• Harry Meade (42) with Cavalier Crystal (16, by Jack of Diamonds out of Cavalier Royale, bred by Thomas Horgan, IRL)