Thursday, 20 August 2026
All three arenas at Aachen were in action today and the British contingent delivered some outstanding performances in their respective disciplines. In the individual para dressage competition, it was the turn of the Grade 4 and 5 riders, with Nicola Naylor and Sophie Wells in action for medals. In the jumping, it was a day of high pressure as the huge, global field was narrowed to the top 10 nations and best 60 individuals, while the driving action started with the first dressage phase.
Over in Stadium 3, it was the turn of the para dressage grade 4 and 5 riders to ride their individual tests, which brought World Championship debutante Nicola Naylor into action alongside Sophie Wells, who is competing in her fifth FEI World Championship.
Grade 4 – Individual: Nicola Naylor and Humberto L
Visually impaired Nicola Naylor rode and jumped in her youth but, as her sight deteriorated and family, life and work took over, her connection to horses began to fade. However, when her daughter had some riding lessons, the horse bug bit once again and she’s never looked back. In fact, she’s honed her riding skills to such an incredible degree that she regularly rides at small tour at able-bodied dressage and is the first visually impaired rider ever to compete at Grand Prix level.
She made her British team debut at last year’s FEI European Championships in Ermelo, taking individual bronze with Humberto L, the horse she also rides here in Aachen and co-owns with Ros Emery Kay.
With Slovakia’s Lucia Krivosudska withdrawing, Nicola was promoted to being the first Grade 4 in between the whiteboards. Nicola navigates the arena with the help of Julie Riches, who stands in the middle and calls the letters as Nicola approaches them – it’s the ultimate in trust and relationship, and the duo have it down pat.
They started brightly, with ‘Humbo’ flowing in the early trot work in a good rhythm, and the scores averaging over seven. There was a small spook in the corner by the Cachet L-sired bay gelding, but Nicola was quick to get him on his way. The walk tour showed good purpose but, once they hit canter, the marks began to clock up, with plenty of eights being awarded. A good halt brought the test to an end for a score of 73.861%, setting the bar for the remaining combinations to better.
After her test, Nicola commented; “I thought he was fabulous. Obviously, I was first to go and it’s my first World Championships, so I can’t say that I wasn’t a bit nervous, and Humbo was a bit nervous, but I’m super-pleased. It felt like a real partnership in there and he really trusted me. He really settled, but for one moment, and he was super.
“In the trot, he was really good, but canter is his super pace and once he got going, he was on fire. He just covers the ground – he’s got such a big, bouncy canter and he enjoys it.
“It’s amazing to be here at a World Championships and it’s amazing to be the first Grade 4 rider [at a championship] since 2012, so I feel that’s a real step forward, which is great. It’s more amazing because it’s at Aachen – it’s always been the place I’ve wanted to ride” explained Nicola.
One of the favourites to land a place on the podium, Kate Shoemaker from the USA, clearly read the form book and rode Vivanne for a stunning 78.889% to overtake Nicola. Anna-Lena Niehues was the next threat with Vive l’Amour for Germany and the scores were trending at similar levels to Nicola throughout their test – it was going to be close. However, the final score was 74.639%, relegating Nicola to third place.
With eight more in the class, it was going to be a nervous wait. None of the remaining combinations could better the leader, so it was debut World Championship individual bronze for the Kent-based rider.
“Incredulous!” was Nicola’s feeling on winning bronze. “But also really proud, and proud of my pony, and really proud of the whole team. It was just such a team effort – it’s never one person, it’s the whole team. I’ve watched all the tests and had someone describing every movement to me, so I’ve been a pain in the neck really while waiting,” she joked.
Grade 5 – Individual: Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standard
After missing last year’s European Championships as a rider – although still being there as coach – it was great to see Sophie Wells back in the British team. Since making her senior para dressage team debut at the World Championships in 2010 in Kentucky, Sophie has only been absent on that one occasion. In those 16 years, the Nottinghamshire rider has produced an incredible seven horses to championship level and, at Aachen, she debuted number eight – MSJ Gold Standard.
Bred in Yorkshire by Emma Bludell of Mount St John Stud and still in her ownership, 10-year-old ‘Gracie’ came to Sophie early in 2026. They’ve formed an instant rapport and improve each time out, posting new personal best scores in all three para tests at their last outing to Hartpury, which earned them selection for Sophie’s fifth World Championship.
On paper, Gracie isn’t Sophie’s typical horsepower. At a show, she usually spends the first few days acclimatising and encouraging relaxation in her rides, but Gracie just takes everything in her stride. For their first trip in the undercover arena, Sophie rode her in a jumping saddle and just gave her a walk, trot and canter on a long rein. How would this pared back preparation translate into her test today?
Drawn eighth of 21 combinations, Sophie and Gracie had a score of 71.436 to beat, set by Australian Lisa Martin. They started their trot work with an active approach and open frame. Sophie is a master at producing a test, provided she has a horse that’s with her, and Gracie was receptive and with her every step of the way. The neighboring main arena crowd of 30,000 erupted following a clear round in the jumping just as they started a medium trot, but Gracie didn’t bat an eyelid and appeared totally unfazed, carried on with her work. It was a picture of harmony and relaxation, expertly executed. The final centre line was super and, all the way through, Sophie had been trending slightly higher than Lisa – the final score of 74.949% confirmed she’d taken the lead in convincing style.
“I’m not going to lie, waiting until the last [grade] to go on the second day doesn’t get any easier – you just want to crack on and get started. I was definitely more nervous than I thought I’d be,” declared Sophie post-test. “She’s such a good girl – every test I go and do, the scores just get a little better. She’s been so chilled, which is what I kind of expected because she’s not that type of horse. But you still don’t know what they’re going to be like until you get them in this sort of environment. I’m just so proud of her. Our partnership is still quite new and I want her to trust me in there – my biggest goal was to give her a good experience in the arena and for her to just enjoy it. Hopefully, she did.
“I wasn’t worried coming her about atmosphere and that’s a nice change because the past couple of horses I’ve had have been a bit more on edge and more tense. She’s the opposite – I have to do less and keep her fresh, keep her willing. At home, she hacks and jumps and there’s nothing here, so I’m just trying to keep in fun and light-hearted,” she explained.
An agonising wait then followed and Sophie did her best to stay busy because she couldn’t bear to watch. Her main rivals came from riders from Germany, Regine Mispelkamp, and the Netherlands in Britney de Jong. The German posted 72.974%, so not quite enough and the Dutch rider topped out at 73.154, meaning she was also just short. The three final riders couldn’t match the British duo, so it was championship medal number 41 for Sophie – a first individual gold since 2018.
On hearing confirmation of her placing, Sophie said; “I’m quite emotional – which is quite rare for me. I’m over the moon. I think it’s just really special because I lost my dad last year. He would have been thrilled – he’d be down the pub telling everybody.”
With the initial speed test out of the way, the main focus in the FEI Jumping World Championships for the next two days will be medals and all-important qualification for LA28. Today was about jumping clear rounds in search of a place in Friday’s team finale under the floodlights. The field featured 137 combinations, with teams from 31 nations, which would be narrowed by the end of the day to the best 10 teams and 60 individuals.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger of Germany set a technical course that was up to 1.65m in height, covering a huge amount of the expansive arena. There were 13 fences with 16 jumping efforts and the 560m track had a time allowed of 84 seconds.
For Britain, Performance Manager and Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard decided to swap Scott Brash and Adrian Whiteway in her running order, so the Scot would go last as the team anchor – a role he has taken on numerous occasions before.
Ben Maher and Point Break
After yesterday’s superb clear with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Swedish-bred stallion Point Break, Ben Maher was simply aiming for a repeat performance. Nations ran in the order they finished in yesterday, meaning our riders would be fourth last to go in each rotation. Ben has said that ‘Bodhi’ is a ‘confidence horse’ and their round 24 hours earlier would have helped build that feeling in the stallion. Ben is the epitome of a championship rider and duly delivered a faultless round to boost the team and his individual chances.
“It was good. Not quite as smooth as yesterday – he was making strides up early on, which is a good thing for him, but it’s my job to give him a good ride to create what we need at the right time. Perhaps it was a little stronger riding today, but he felt great and I don’t’ think he touched a jump. He feels very, very confident and forward, which is a big thing for him. I trust his quality. It was a bit up and down, the route plan we had today, but I guess it was the right choice,” Ben said of his round.
Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda
The partnership between Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda is still a very new one in elite level jumping terms, and even more so at a championship. Yesterday’s rail down showed that every round notches up more experience as a partnership, so Harry was hoping to use that towards a clear today.
They received a warm welcome from the crowd as they were announced and set off. The first three were taken in fine style, but they took the pole at fence four – a wide spread with a water tray. It was crucial that Harry kept his nerve with 12 more efforts to be jumped. He did and the remainder of the round was super and inside the time allowed.
“The horse jumped amazing, but I’ve just not been on it all week. She jumped a bit left on the plank [at three] and at any other show your mind works quickly and you’d put nine in, but I was so stuck on the number and chased on the eight. When you land that far away, the distance is never going to be there. I wish I could tell you what went through my mind, I just don’t know,” said a despondent Harry.
Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo
As a championship debutant, yesterday’s speed class was a new proposition for Bristol rider Adrian Whiteway with Deborah Cox’s Chacco Volo. The bay stallion has proven to be a great Nations Cup team horse, where clear rounds are vital, but speed isn’t his forte. They did their best, but had an unlucky rail. Today, it was back to their happy place – a big, technical track with a time allowed.
By the time the third rotation went, the crowd was substantial and reaching fever pitch. The duo started well, taking each fence out of their stride but, at the treble at nine, they jumped in quite bit. This led to them just toe-tapping the middle element and it fell. However, they were clear the rest of the way.
“I’m very, very happy with my horse,” declared Adrian. “An unfortunate one down, but he tried his absolute heart out for me. The combination was short for me, I knew that – I’ve been watching 110 horses all day and I was thinking that I’m really going to need him to back up. I jumped in well and said ‘whoa’ with my body, my voice, everything, but just ran out of room and he put a toe on it.
“I’m very happy with him, he’s a legend – he just goes in there and eats it up, takes everything in his stride. He helps me, holds my hand a bit, I’m proud of him,” said Adrian
Scott Brash and Hello Mango
Scott Brash has serious championship credentials and, most years, he meticulously plans his campaign around representing his country. When she was a seven-year-old, he spotted something in Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s delightful grey mare, Hello Mango. Scott has taken her steadily and given her the time to strengthen but, this year, he felt it was her time. Yesterday’s stylish and impressive clear put them in good stead individually, but was also a huge boost for the team’s chances.
As they cantered into the Main Stadium, the French rider before themhad two rails and the crowd reacted with loud gasps. Mango seemed unbothered, remaining totally focused on her rider and the task at hand. She was keen, but responsive, and they left all the fences standing to finish inside the time – it was another valuable clear.
“I’m delighted with Mango, I thought she jumped incredible. In the warm-up, she felt a little bit more tense today with the atmosphere and I went quick yesterday, so maybe that was why, but when she went in the ring, she was fantastic. The course rode quite well – it’s why there’s so many clears – but it’s big. The verticals are the top of the wings, but horses jump well in this ring and it shows the standard we’ve got here.
“It’s amazing, but I’m under no illusions because there’s a long way to go. We’ll take one day at a time, but I’m super happy with Mango and looking forward to the rest of the week,” Scott said knowingly.
When the final rider went, the picture of the day became clear. In the team stakes, Germany is still in the ascendency, adding nothing to their overnight score to stay on 3.84. The USA move up a place to second with three clear rounds, while Belgium drops a place to third on 7.69, equal with Italy who also had three clears today. Britain is fifth on 8.98 and France are just 0.01 behind in sixth, while Sweden is seventh on 9.64. Switzerland, Denmark and Ireland round out the top 10 teams who go through to tomorrow’s finale.
Scott’s clear today has moved him to the top of the leaderboard on 0.80 penalties, while home heroine Sophie Hinners is just 0.04 behind, with Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Germany’s Daniel Deusser tied on 0.86 and sitting on the third rung of the podium. Ben sits close behind in fifth on 1.01.
Friday night is team medal night
Thirty nations have been whittled down to 10 and we now know the 60 leading combinations who will come forward for the team decider under the lights in front of a 40,000-capacity crowd tomorrow night.
The competition continues at 18:50 CEST on Friday with Round 2 of the Team Final and Second Individual Qualifier – where the team medals will be decided and the individual contenders move one step closer to Sunday’s individual title.
Two of Britains four-in-hand driving competitors got their first taste of action at the FEI World Championship in the dressage phase.
First up was the vastly experienced Karen Bassett, who’s competing as an individual. Driving the all-dark bay quartet of Flora, Galvani Hedegaard, Skyfall and Thit Hedegaard, Karen did a great job in difficult circumstances because two of the horses were very unsettled. She scored 56.167% or 674.00 points to finish on 70.22 penalties. She later revealed that she’d be forced to make a very last-minute change of horse and this foursome hadn’t regularly driven together.
The second Brit, and first for the team, was Daniel Naprous, who is taking part in his first multi-discipline World Championship. He brought forward his chestnut Gelderlander team of Ippon, Jack, Lord P.C, and Onno. Their test was assured and well-managed to score 61.708% or 740.5 points to end on 61.37 penalties.
Afterwards, Dan said; “As always, it could have gone better, but I’m really pleased with the boys, who gave their all. It’s their first cycle round – this is his [Onno] first world championships and in the walk section he got a little bit tense but, apart from that, I’m very pleased. It could have been the atmosphere because this is an amazing venue. It usually takes four years to get a team to the top so, in their first year, I’m pleased with them.”
After 27 tests completed, Dan sits 14th overall and Karen is 23rd.
Tomorrow, Robert Wilkinson will do his dressage at 10:41 (09:41 BST) with his chestnuts Fernando, Kamore, Muwandro and Norwold. It’s then the turn of Peter Bennett at 14:50 (13:50 BST), who’ll be driving Dirk, Kroonprins, Lodewijk and Lutiano.
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