Dressage Life Teams for Europeans announced and top young horses prepare for Ermelo
The squads are announced for the para, pony, junior and young rider Europeans this summer, while top British young horses prepare for Ermelo
THIS week was a selection bonanza, with riders for the para European Championships being announced, as well as young rider, junior and children on horses Europeans squads picked and the crème de la crème of young horse talent getting the nod for Ermelo.
Spearheading the para team for the forthcoming Europeans in Gothenburg, Sweden (21-27 August) is triple 2016 Paralympic medallist Sophie Wells with her European 2015 multi-medallist C Fatal Attraction. The all-female quartet is completed by three first-timers: Natasha Adkinson, Julie Payne and H&H blogger Suzanna Hext.
British Dressage’s (BD) Jason Brautigam said: “It’s always a special occasion to get your first call up to represent your country at a major championships, so it’s a pleasure to welcome our three debutantes to the fold.”
Non-travelling reserves:Izzy Palmer and Susanna Wade.
YOUTH TEAMS
THE young rider and junior selectors Andrea Smith,
Leanne Wall and Nikki Herbert announced the names of their chosen riders to attend the youth Europeans in Roosendaal, the Netherlands (9-13 August).
Non-travelling reserves: Holly Kerslake and Jessie Kirby
YOUNG HORSES
THE young horses who will travel to Ermelo to represent Britain at the World Young Horse Championships (3-6 August) have also been selected.
Lottie Fry continues her tremendous run of form and will present Don Joe (Diego x Lord Leatherdale) in the five-year-old class, Graaf Leatherdale T (Lord Leatherdale x Kennedy) in the six-year-olds and Fendi T (Negro x Lester) in the seven-year-olds. Amy Woodhead will make the trip with Mount St John Stud’s Zonetta (by Zonik) for the fiveyear-olds and Tom Goode flies the flag in the six-year-olds on Ulla Smirnova’s Saint Julian (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall).