British Equestrian Interviews

Sophie Wells (Grade 5) is another athlete to make her fourth Games appearance in Paris. She took three golds and three silvers across London 2012 and Rio 2016, followed by team gold and individual silver at Tokyo 2020 with new ride Don Cara M. Wells, who has represented ParalympicsGB at every Paralympic Games, World Championship and European Championship since 2011, said: “I’m thrilled to be selected for Paris 2024 as my fourth Paralympic Games. It still feels surreal when we get to this poin...

Mari Durward-Akhurst (Grade 1) will make her Paralympic Games debut in Paris. Previously a team silver medallist at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2019, she now partners experienced horse Athene Lindebjerg, who contested Rio 2016 with Sophie Christiansen to win triple gold. Durward-Akhurst, who in June became the world number one ranked athlete across all five para dressage grades, said: “I am so incredibly excited to have been selected for my first Paralympics – it’s a dream ...

Natasha Baker (Grade 3) has been selected for her fourth Games and her second with Keystone Dawn Chorus. As a new partnership in Tokyo, they won team gold, individual silver and freestyle silver, adding to the five golds that Natasha previously won at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Baker, who is contesting her first Games as mother to one-year-old son Joshua, said: “I’m ecstatic to be part of the ParalympicsGB team heading to Paris. A lot has happened since Tokyo – not least the arrival of Joshua ...

with Van Olst Horses and her own Glamourdale (black, stallion, 13yrs, 16.3hh, Lord Leatherdale x Negro, Breeder: J. Rodenburg NED) Groom: Richard Hauwaerts

with Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s Imhotep (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Everdale x Vivaldi, Breeder: T. Huizing NED) Groom: Francesca Gorni

with Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai du Loir (chestnut, gelding, 13yrs, 16.2hh, Nouma D’Auzay x Livarot, Breeder: Pierre Gouye FRA) Groom: Alison Bell

with Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 17hh, Birkhof’s Grafenstolz x Rock King, Breeder: Lordships Stud, Writtle College GBR) Groom: Sarah Charnley

with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and her own London 52 (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.3hh, Landos x Quinar, Breeder: Ocke Riewerts GER) Groom: Tilly Hughes

with James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin (dark brown, gelding, 13yrs, 16.2hh, Diarado x Cantano, Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze GER) Groom: Adam Short

with Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s Hello Jefferson (bay, gelding, 15yrs, 16.1hh, Cooper van de Heffinck x Irco Mena, Breeder: Bernard Mols BEL) Groom: David Honnet

with Joy Cocklin and Laura Stockdale’s Cacharel (bay, mare, 13yrs, 17hh, Cachas x Quinar, Breeder: Bohm Helmut GER) Groom: Charlotte Attwell

with Ann Thompson and his own Romeo 88 (bay, gelding, 15yrs, 17hh, Contact van de Heffink x Orlando, Breeder: Picobello Horses BEL) Groom: Georgia Ellwood

with Jo Cooper and her own Jagerbomb (bay, gelding, 10yrs, 17.1hh, Dante Weltino x Jazz, Breeder: Becky Moody GBR) Groom: Kim Masson

with Charlotte Rossetter, Pamela Wright and his own Point Break (bay, stallion, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Action-Breaker x Baloubet du Rouet, Breeder: Nya Äppelvikens Ridskola AB SWE) Groom: Derren Lake

with Fiona Bigwood, Mette Dahl and his own Fame (bay, stallion, 14yrs, 16.2hh, Bordeaux 28 x Rhodium, Breeder: V. O. F. G. and M. Gerritsen NED) Groom: Lucy Scudamore.