Saturday, 06 September 2025
After the unsettled weather of Friday, the second day of the team competition dawned bright and clear at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship. Blue skies shone over the Dutch National Equestrian Centre as the Grade 4 and 5 combinations rode their Grand Prix B tests in a final push to decide the medals. It was a quieter day in the British camp – with three strong scores already on the board from Jemima Green, Gabriella Blake and Mari Durward-Akhurst, it was down to Grade 4 pair Nicola Naylor and Humberto L to sew up the campaign.
The team competition takes the top three scores from each nation and adds them together to form a final tally. Although Great Britain had held silver position overnight, there were still a number of key challengers from Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark who could upset the leaderboard. With Nicola and ‘Humbo’ drawn as the final pair of the whole competition, the final result would go down to the wire.
With some top notch scores coming in from the Grade 5 and early Grade 4 riders from Germany, Denmark and the home nation, the Netherlands, the pressure was building for a place on the podium. As the Grade 4 class progressed, it was clear that the gold was going to the pre-championships favourites of Germany, but the silver and bronze would be a three-way tustle between the Netherlands, Denmark and Great Britain. The Netherlands posted a final total of 221.974, thanks to a strong 74.395% Grade 5 athlete Britney de Jong, which gave the benchmark for the two remaining nations to chase.
Denmark’s final rider, Pia Wulff Jelstrup, who went just before our final rider, Nicola Naylor, scored 72.108%, which would be a counting score for their team. While Kent-based rider Nicola entered the arena to do her familiarisation, the calculators were working furiously and determined that Nicola, riding her own and Ros Emery-Kay’s Humberto L, would need 72.10% or more to snatch the bronze from Denmark’s grip. Something over 72.80% would get silver. However, Nicola – who was determinedly not watching the scoreboard, only knew she needed to go in and ride the test she and ‘Humbo’ are very capable of producing.
The climax of the day couldn’t have been more perfectly poised – the final rider of the team competition would decide the fate of three nations. Visually impaired riders are permitted two circuits of the arena on each rein before the bell and, in a finely rehearsed routine, long-term supporter Julie Riches called the letters as Nicola cantered around to get a feel for the arena. However, just as Nicola was part-way through her second lap, the bell rang from the judge at C, Jeannette Wolfs from the Netherlands – although still not completely orientated, Nicola gathered up Humberto and made for the centre line.
They started with a good halt and moved off in a pleasing, active working trot. The five-metre loop was well-positioned, with a rhythmical ten-metre circle to follow. The first medium trot could have shown a bit more difference, but was well managed, as was the shoulder-in left which followed. The halt wasn’t just quite square and the rein-back showed a bit of tension – today the duo looked a bit unsettled compared to the picture of Thursday. Nicola was working hard to get the relaxation and, as the trot work continued, the bay gelding began to listen to his rider.
It was then into walk and, again, Nicola rode with great empathy to get the tricky turn-on-the-haunches, extended walk, turn-on-the-haunches sequence, which scored well. As she ask for trot and then canter, Humberto gave a small spook at something outside the arena, but it was well recovered in time for the medium canter, which was pleasing. The change of lead in canter was very obedient and relaxed, and the loops showed good balance – the repeat movements on the other rein were even better, with the marks climbing. The turn down the centre line in canter and transition to trot was super, before a square halt brought the test to an end. Nicola looked relieved and pleased, with plenty of praise for Humbo.
It was going to come down to the wire – the score needed to be over 72.10% to win a medal. It was a tense moment while the final paces marks were punched in by the judges, before 71.406% came up on the scoreboard. It was agonisingly close, but Britain had narrowly missed out on a medal.
“I’m feeling pleased with him. I went in there today looking for a bit more expression and, when I got in there, I could feel that he was a bit nervous, so it was a quick decision on how much to go for it and how much to just hold his hand. I ended up holding his hand quite a lot! You could feel he was just that little bit more unsure,” reflected Nicola.
“I think his medium canter was really lovely. I was pleased that he was able to relax when we went into the walk work and I think he did one really nice pirouette – those stuck in my mind for him being a really good boy. He took a moment where he breathed and that was really nice.
“Of course, we got the spook down the bottom – the problem is that I can’t see whatever it is that he sees. I can just feel it in his body and I know he’s nervous and looking at something but, by the time I know it, it’s probably too late,” she expanded.
When asked about her equine partner, Nicola lit up and knowingly said; “Humberto is very clear about what he wants and what he needs. He’s really clear when he’s happy and he’s really clear when he’s actually a bit nervous, like today. If he goes in and feels confident, he’s a real showman. He is really communicative – that’s the word I’d use for him. I also completely trust him. Yes, he might be nervous at something, but he’s genuine – he’s not looking to be naughty, he’s just a bit nervous sometimes.”
The entire British team and support crew had crammed on the ‘kiss and cry’ to watch Nicola, showing what a close-knit unit they are. “It’s what dreams are made of and just lovely to be part of the team. One of the downsides is that I can’t see who’s watching, but that’s just lovely. We’ve had such good team back-up and support, which is lovely.
“I think the point is that we’re a completely new team, and we’ve come together and really pulled together. Of course, it would have been wonderful to walk home with a team medal but, actually, it was all so close. We’ve got everything to look forward to and nothing to complain about,” said Nicola.
“I think it’s fabulous that it was so close – I think it’s better. If everyone is really fighting for their places, hopefully it’s going to be more exciting, more encouraging and more nations will take part, and more riders will take part. The sport has revolutionised in terms of the quality of the horses and what riders are now able to do. I think it’s great because it’ll make people think they’ve got a chance. It’s an amazing way to start the next cycle, that everyone is so competitive. For all the nations, it’s been exciting, which is how it should be. You never know, we might make it more of a spectator sport!” she quipped.
As the dust settled, it was Germany who reigned victorious, spearheaded by a huge +77% score from Grade 2’s Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143. The host nation, the Netherlands had to settled for silver, while Denmark took bronze by fractions of a percent over Great Britain.
“I’ve got mixed emotions, but I’m incredibly proud of this group of riders,” said Performance Manager Georgina Sharples. “We’ve obviously got a new team here, with two championship debutantes and a seven-year-old horse, but the fact that they came out and performed the way that they did, and the fact that we had three medals and a fifth place from four individual tests, is phenomenal.
“However, I’m disappointed for the team – we’re ambitious and I think it was well within our grasp, and you can see how close it is. It’s points of percent that actually make the difference, so I’d be lying if I didn’t say that. That said, these guys are going to learn so much by coming here. We did have a bit of a disrupted day yesterday with what felt like a very British thundercloud – we seemed to be in the 10-minute box every time the storms arrived, which was a bit of an extra added challenge. I’d have loved the judge not to have rung the bell before Nicola went round twice, too, but they’re bits and they’re details and they’re things that athletes learn to cope with – they will go away and learn from these experiences.
“We’ve got everyone through to the freestyle, so we’ve got another day to come and we will very much be looking forwards. I’m convinced that it will have lit the touchpaper even more – these guys are working as hard as they possibly can and they’ll be hungry for more. We’ll go away, digest and come back from it. At this point in the championship, we’re thrilled with the medals that they’ve taken and the performances they’ve given, and we’ll be fully on for it on Sunday.
“The whole team atmosphere has been great. It takes a team – let’s not underestimate the challenge of just travelling horses here post-Brexit, then there’s the whole team going in behind the team, fixing things, repairing scooter electrics, lifting and shifting and carrying. We’ve had amazing support for our equine athletes, who are all looking fabulous. It’s been a full-on team effort, but they have been fantastic, which does make it a pleasure to travel, and they’ll be hungry for more.
“I think we’re allowed to be gutted when we’re proud, we’re positive and we’re really upbeat. We’re also gutted because we have got some really talented riders and new horses. Yes, it could have been a different story here today, but that’s sport. It’s been fractions of a percent and a bit of a rollercoaster!” she reflected.
Tomorrow, the FEI Para Dressage European Championship reaches its finale. The top eight combinations in each grade will go forward to the Para Grand Prix Freestyle, where they’ll ride tests that they’ve choreographed themselves based on a list of required movements, set to music of their choice.
First, though, the qualified Grade 1, 2 and 3 horses had to go before the ground jury once more to ensure they’re fit to compete. Jemima Green’s Fantabulous, presented by coach Georgie Nicholls, Mari Durward-Akhurst’s Athene Lindebjerg, presented by coach Rob Waine, and Gabriella Blake’s Strong Beau, presented by Sophie Wells, all passed with flying colours. Nicola Naylor’s Humberto L will have his second horse inspection tomorrow morning with the rest of the Grade 4 and 5 horses, before the start of competition.
Here’s when they’ll go down the centre line:
You can watch all the action live on FEI.TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, with a subscription or via the FEI YouTube channel. All the start lists and results are available via the Equipe platform and everything you need to know about the British squad and how the competition will progress on our online Para Dressage Hub.