As good as set: the British Olympic team from Paris 2024 - who will be number four at the World Cup

The British dressage team for the World Championships in Aachen is as good as set. At least that’s how Richard Davison put it in a recent column for the British equestrian magazine Horse and Hound. Davison, himself once a championship rider for the UK, is well connected and is certain: Carl Hester, Charlotte Fry, Becky Moody – these are the three who should definitely be in the British line-up for the WEG Dressage in Aachen in August. You don’t have to be a prophet to recognize these three as a certainty: The multiple Olympic rider (and winner) Hester, the 2022 World Champion Fry and the reigning World Cup winner Moody were also team bronze medalists at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The only question is who will be in contention for the fourth team spot? There are several candidates who have already staked a claim with their performances this season.

Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina

For example, there is Sadie Smith, who has worked her way into the limelight with Swanmore Dantina at Horses and Dreams in Hagen. Her black mare, one of the Oldenburgers Dante Weltino, who is also becoming more and more prominent in breeding, has been consistently placed in the high 71 percent range in Grand Prixs, and the trend is rising. However, the school dropout in the saddle of the petite mare is modest. In the world rankings, which always look at the past twelve months, Smith is currently listed in 202nd position.

Millionaires with ambitions

She is not the only one, as Fiona Bigwood, who competed in Fontainebleau, also has a promising horse. Donna Bella, ten years young, home-bred from the European Championship participant Atterupgaards Orthilia, has not yet competed in so many international Grand Prix competitions. Her best placing and score to date was 72.217 percent at Hartpury in Great Britain. The millionaire, whose family has made a fortune with frozen food, won in Hickstead, also with limited international competition, with 73.13%, which was worth a press release from the British Dressage Federation. This fact alone suggests that the British rider has a good chance of being nominated for the World Championships.

Two former medal winners under the saddle

Annabella Pidgley, heiress to Tony Pidgley, who made his fortune in real estate, has two medal-winning horses under her saddle: Gio, formerly ridden by Charlotte Dujardin, and Vamos Amigos, who won silver in the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle in Herning at the 2022 World Championships under current world number one Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN). Plus the title of World Team Champion.

The girlfriend of Alexander Yde Helgstrand, the son of Danish horse dealer Andreas, recently acquired a 50 percent share in the gray stallion Proud James. Her best Grand Prix result with Vamos Amigos is 71.413 percent. With Gio, she achieved 71.717 percent as her best performance in senior sport.

From Stade for UK to Aachen

Germany-based Susan Pape, who was born in Great Britain and competes internationally for the United Kingdom, also has two top horses in Giulilanta and V-Plus. The mare Giulilanta has already cracked the 81 percent mark in the freestyle and achieved many high placings and victories in the Grand Prix in the first few months of the year in Florida. The best Grand Prix result for the combination from Hemmoor in northern Germany: 73.63 percent in Wellington/Florida as part of the CDI5*.

And otherwise

Gareth Hughes, who has competed several times in championship teams, is also a force to be reckoned with. However, the Brit does not currently have a top horse.

Laura Tomlinson, the Olympic team champion at the London 2012 Games, is also still in the running. However, she has not yet managed to get over the 71 percent mark in international Grand Prix competitions with the home-bred Full Moon II.

It will be the last appearance in white breeches for Britain’s Carl Hester. He has declared that he will retire from active sport after the World Championships in Aachen.