A freestyle medal each for Britain’s para dressage riders on the final day of the World Championships

Taking the Great British World Para Dressage Championship medal tally up to a phenomenal seven, riders signed off in style making their final freestyle forays count

One silver and three bronze medals were added to the Great British para dressage riders’ World Championship stash today (Sunday 14 August) as they came away from their week on a high. Having secured Paris 2024 qualification in the previous day’s team finals, today each rider was back on the hunt for their own individual glory – and it’s fair to say, not one of them disappointed.

In the Grade II freestyle, it was a Great British one-two, headed by Sir Lee Pearson and his homebred gelding, Breezer. Finishing with a strong 77.860% – behind Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quarter on 80.354% – Lee commended the “really fierce competition” he’s experienced this week and was delighted with the day’s achievement.

“Remarkable,” Lee said afterwards. “I was quite adamant I wouldn’t win gold, so to me this silver is my gold really, today.

“I love my horse, like I do anyway,” he continued, “and I loved the way I rode. I think there’s nothing worse than being disappointed with your own riding, but I rode every inch of that test. Really, really pleased.”

“I’m very grateful for being here. I’m very grateful that they’ve made a real effort to bring audiences in. It’s nice to show off what we do and how amazingly talented and inspiring the other riders are.”

Measured in his reflections, Lee highlighted there’s still plenty to be done in his bid for Paris 2024 selected. “[Breezer] has got spectacular trot work but we’re aware that the walk work has to be more supple – even when he’s relaxed,” he commented, “and with the great audiences we’ve had, that just tightens the walk a bit.

In the same grade, Welsh wonder, Georgia Wilson came away with 75.834% on the lovely Sakura and a fantastic bronze medal. This partnership has certainly grown throughout the week, each test looking, feeling and, importantly, scoring better than the last, and Georgia certainly felt her and her mare’s efforts were being rewarded.

“It was really good,” she commented after her test. “I feel a bit like I want to start all over again, she’s got better and better! But it’s time to go home and get better and come back next year.”

Georgia added that, at only eight years old, Sakura’s still got plenty of strengthening up to do – and she’s excited to see how much better their trot work is going to become in future tests.

Earning a bronze medal in the Grade V was Sophie Wells with the effortlessly expressive Don Cara M. The pair looked to be the headline act of the class but ultimately were knocked from the top spot she held after her test by Belgian rider Michèle George and Netherlands rider Frank Hosmar. Regardless, they’ve performed consistently throughout the week and ended their World Championships campaign on a high with their best score of the week, a fantastic 79.255%.

The trot just felt amazing! He was just another level today. If I can get that and keep it consistently throughout the tests and throughout the straight tests, he’s got so much potential. It’s just timing, I don’t want to ask too much too soon and lose his confidence because it’s taken so long to get him confident.

Scoring six percent more than her Tokyo freestyle, Sophie was elated with the gelding’s performance, adding that he’s “far exceeded” last year in every test and admitting that coming to the World Championships was about so much more than winning a gold medal.

“I suppose realising the importance of other things that make you happy,” she explained. “I’ve been so fortunate I’ve won 20 golds in my career, but actually has it made me happy? No. But actually the horses’ going amazingly and seeing them progress and building confidence – most of mine I’ve had from babies bringing up. Don’s been slightly different but that’s been a different challenge because he’s had different issues.

“There’s just so much more that actually brings you genuine happiness and contentment and you can go to bed at night thinking ‘I’m so happy with that’ regardless of the score. To come away with a medal the other day, and today – I was really proud of him.”

Grade III rider, Natasha Baker, equalled Georgia’s achievements by bringing home a bronze medal of her own – her first bronze medal in what was actually her first-ever world championships freestyle finish, and it definitely proved to be the third time lucky.

“It’s a certain improvement,” Natasha reflected. “The first time in Caen I couldn’t get down one end of the arena. The second time in 2018, I did two movements and got decked in the arena!”

Continuing, Natasha explained: “To be honest, I’m just pleased I went in! That was the worst warm-up ever, she was so tense. She’s come into season, which I think is actually why we had the sassiness and why the sassiness is increasing. I was so close to saying ‘I can’t do this’.

“However, it was the best of the three tests, for sure, I’m just so proud of her because she looked after me,” said an emotional Natasha. “She’s just amazing and I love her to pieces. I know that she’s super talented and she’s such a good girl.”

Reflecting on the speed that had felt a little hard to handle this week, Natasha with pleased with how she’d managed that in today’s test, too. “I think I had better control of that today,” she explained, “so I’m going home with a real positive, which is lovely.

“Obviously it’s not the result I really wanted coming here,” she continued, before nodding to the health difficulties she’s experienced this year, too. “But the result I wanted coming here I set earlier in the year and everything’s happened since. So, I couldn’t be more pleased with her and how she’s been. She’s awesome.”

Photo credit: Lee Pearson and Breezer © British Equestrian / Jon Stroud Media