Great Britain is always a force to be reckoned with at title meets, but is particularly awesome with its teams in the Olympic disciplines, announced Wednesday for next month’s FEI World Championships at Aachen, Germany.
Was there even a question that reigning dressage world champion Lottie Fry (Glamourdale), reigning World Cup Champion Becky Moody and her homebred Jaegerbomb, as well as the architect of British dressage success, Carl Hester (Fame) would be the heart of the team. The identity of the fourth squad member was a cause for speculation, however, and in the end, Fiona Bigwood and her homebred, Donna Bella, got the nod.
It was close, with Olympic multi-medalist Charlotte Dujardin and a relatively new mount, Brave Heart, having to settle for inclusion as an alternate. Charlotte missed the Paris Olympics two years ago after her suspension for using a longe whip repeatedly on a student’s horse, leading to a scandal seized upon with fervor by the tabloids.
Charlotte did her pre-championships competition in Britain, while Fiona had an outing abroad in France to her credit. In terms of overall scores, Charlotte was only 0.26 percent ahead of Fiona, so it was the selectors’ call. Charlotte is on the list of alternates.
Britain’s Becky Moody and Jagerbomb on the way to their World Cup win.
Britain will be in the heart of the medals battle with Germany, which enjoys a home-side advantage, and powerful Denmark in the most predictable Olympic discipline. The U.S. doesn’t figure to be near the podium with a team missing its top horses, Jane (rehabbing from an injury) and Indian Rock (resting) and the rest of the squad lacking top-level credentials.
Britain’s eventing team is led by three-time Badminton winner Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who were stunning in their victory at that British 5-star last spring. The country’s power triumvirate also includes Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen with the reliable JL Dublin. That’s three quarters of the British gold medal team from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The others with the Union Jack on their saddlepads are Caroline Harris (D.Day) and Gemma Stevens (Flash Cooley). Reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham (Gypsie du Loir) and world number two Harry Meade (Cavalier Crystal) are among the reserves. Talk about depth!
With that lineup, the Brits will be hard to beat, but they will have to get by several other countries, includinga formidable U.S. team of 2026 Kentucky 5-star winner, Will Coleman (Diabolo); Phillip Dutton (Possante), Boyd Martin (Cooley Nutcracker), Caroline Martin Pamukcu (HSH Blake) and Tamie Smith (Lillet Three).
Can we expect to see the U.S. on the podium beside Britain, along with Germany (the irrepressible Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH, as well as Julia Krajewski on Uelzener’s Nickel). And don’t forget New Zealand and its world number one Tim Price. Though remember, eventing is the least reliable sport to predict because anything can happen on cross-country.
Will Coleman and Diabolo.
The British strength also is displayed in impressive fashion for the show jumping, with two-time Olympic team gold medalists Scott Brash (Hello Mango) and Ben Maher–the 2021 Olympic individual gold medalist (Point Break), joined by another member of the 2024 Olympic gold medal team, Harry Charles (LT Holst Freda); Jack Whitaker of Britain’s most famous show jumping family (Jack JL) and Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), who would be making his championships debut.
The Brits will have major competition from Germany, again with a home-side advantage and the formidable European Champion Richie Vogel, though Aachen grand prix winner DSP Chakaria was withdrawn last week. Even without world number one Kent Farrington, who declined a chance to go to the championships, the U.S. also could be in for a prize, with Olympic multi-medalists Laura Kraut (Bisquetta) and McLain Ward (High Star Hero) leading the way.
But then there are the Swiss and the French to consider for a spot. Brazil also loooks good. The European champion Belgians, meanwhile, lost their top combination when European individual bronze medalist Gilles Thomas’s Ermitage Kalone was sidelined recently with an injury.
