British Equestrian has announced the dressage team that will represent Great Britain at the 2026 World Championships Dressage in Aachen on 11 - 15 August 2026.
Great Britain are hot favourites for team and individual medals alongside Denmark, Great Britain and Belgium.
The British team includes
- Fiona Bigwood (50) from Haywards Heath, West Sussex with her own Donna Bella (chestnut, mare, 10yrs by Don Juan de Hus x Gribaldi, breeder: Fiona Bigwood GBR)
- 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 by Lord Leatherdale x Negro, breeder: J. Rodenburg NED)
- 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 by Bordeaux x Rhodium, breeder: M. Gerritsen NED)
- Becky Moody (46) from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with Jo Cooper and her own Jagerbomb (bay, gelding, 12yrs, by Dante Weltino x Jazz, breeder: Becky Moody GBR)
British Equestrian names three riders reserve:
- Charlotte Dujardin (40) from Newent, Gloucestershire, with Ellen McCarthy, Spencer McCarthy and Bridget McCarthy’s Brave Heart (bay, gelding, 12yrs by Bordeaux x Tuschinski, breeders: Shirley and Titian Wilaras GER)
- Sadie Smith (36) from Fareham, Hampshire, with her own Swanmore Dantina (dark bay, mare, 11yrs, by Dante Weltino x Charatan W, breeder: Ben St John James GBR)
- Susan Pape (63) from Hemmoor, Germany, with Harmony Sporthorses and her own Giulilanta (chestnut, mare, 15yrs, by Jazz x Flemmingh, breeders: A. Vogelaar and J. Knol GER)
Short-listed Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC were dropped from the reserve list.
Eurodressage got exclusively confirmed that Dujardin/Brave Heart is the official first reserve but their status if they are going to be travelling to Aachen was not disclosed.
Judy Harvey, International Director at British Dressage commented, "the decision for the fourth spot was an extremely close call, with Fiona Bigwood and her gorgeous homebred Donna Bella, daughter of her Rio Olympic team medal ride Atterupgaards Orthilia, being given the opportunity. The mare is very talented, and Fiona has a great partnership with her, so we are confident the duo will rise to the occasion. With a strong pool of reserve combinations, we're incredibly pleased to have the strength in depth to rise to the challenge of competing against the Germans on home soil in Aachen and are looking forward to superb riding and horsemanship.”
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
British Short Listed Riders for the 2026 World Championships Dressage
Eurodressage Coverage of the World Championships Dressage