Today, British Equestrian and the British Dressage Selectors confirm the 12 para dressage athlete and horse combinations that will be submitted to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as nominated entries for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Only the combinations that appear on the nominated entries list (closing date Wednesday, 19 June 2024) may be put forward to the British Paralympic Association for selection to the Games.
The Para-dressage nominated entries for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, listed by classification grade and then in alphabetical order by athlete surname:
Grade 1
- Gabriella Blake (31) from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, with her Gavin and Estelle Blake and her own Strong Beau (grey, gelding, 15yrs, 15hh, Spinway Blacktorn x Balda Beau, Breeder: Mrs S. Amos GBR)
- Sophie Christiansen (36) from Farnborough, Hampshire, with her own Gladstone (bay, stallion, 13yrs, 17.1hh, Bodyguard Moorland x Santano, Breeder: J. H. Dekker NED)
- Mari Durward-Akhurst (30) from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine’s Athene Lindebjerg (black, mare, 17yrs, 17hh, Gribaldi x Alberte Lindebjerg, Breeders: Mr and Mrs Bech DEN)
Grade 2
- Georgia Wilson (28) from Abergele, North Wales, with Geoff and Julie Wilson and her own Faside Got the Love (bay, gelding, 8yrs, 16hh, Grey Flanell x San Amour, Breeder: V. Sandison GBR) and Sakura (chestnut, mare, 10yrs, 16hh, Supertramp x Rockstar, Breeder: G. Eilberg GBR)
Grade 3
- Natasha Baker (34) from Uxbridge, Middlesex, with Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, Phil and Lorraine Baker and her own Keystone Dawn Chorus (bay, mare, 13yrs, 16.1hh, Dimaggio x Escudo 19, Breeder: S. Lavendera GBR)
- Erin Orford (35) from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with Neil and Jackie Walker and Sophie Wells’ Dragons Fire (dark bay, gelding, 8yrs, 16.1hh, De Niro x E. H. Hohenstein) and Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction (dark brown, gelding, 17yrs, 16.1hh, Fidertanz x Tolivi, Breeder: E. E. Brandon NED)
Grade 4
- Nicola Naylor (63) from Ashford, Kent, with Rosalind Emery Kay and her own Humberto L (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.2hh, Cachet L x Haarlem, Breeder: J. Lamers NED)
Grade 5
- Charlotte Cundall (39) from Sherburn, North Yorkshire, with The Veyron Partnership’s FJ Veyron (chestnut, gelding, 14yrs, 17.2hh, Vivaldi x Fidermark, Breeder: Active Equestrian GBR)
- Sophie Wells (34) from Harby, Lincolnshire, with Rowland Kinch’s Don Cara M (dark bay, gelding, 15yrs, 16.3hh, Don Jovi x Rafurstinels, Breeder: H. M. Melis NED) and The Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (black, mare, 8yrs, 16.1hh, St Schufo x Gribaldi, Breeder: Anders Green Hansen DEN)
At the time of release, the travelling grooms who will accompany the horses to Paris had not been confirmed, but they will be included in the final squad announcement.
Selection decisions are subject to the athletes and horses maintaining fitness and performance, and this list may be amended at any point up to 19 June 2024. The selected squad of four combinations to travel to Paris as part of ParalympicsGB, plus reserves, will be announced in July.
Nominated entries lists for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have already been announced and are available here.
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. The World Class Programme is grateful for the support from our team partners and suppliers – Bates Saddles, Dodson & Horrell, Fairfax & Favor, NAF, Toggi, Equi-Trek, Horseware, Lotus Romeo, Marksway Horsehage and Point Two.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.