Tuesday, 26 August 2025
The second in this summer’s series of FEI European Championships is officially underway. Taking place Jiva Hill Stables in Crozet, France, the FEI Dressage European Championship 2025 is set to be a showcase of top-class action, as the continent’s best battle it out for team and individual glory.
However, before all that can happen, there was the small matter of the first horse inspection – an important welfare check that ensures those horses competing are doing so in the best possible health. Therefore, bright and early this morning, a total of 62 combinations representing 21 nations came before the ground jury of Raphaël Saleh (President, FRA), Janet Lee Foy (USA), Katrina Wuest (GER), Christof Umbach (LUX), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Peter Storr (GBR) and Maarten Van Der Heijden (NED).
The British contingent was split into two, with Carl Hester’s Fame and Becky Moody’s Jagerbomb being presented as part of the third group, while Andrew Gould’s Indigro and Charlotte (Lottie) Fry’s Glamourdale – both sensitive stallions – were presented at the end of the inspection, when it was a bit quieter. All four were passed by the ground jury, meaning that they’re deemed fit to compete.
First up was team stalwart Carl Hester, with Fiona Bigwood, Mette Dahl and his own 15-year-old stallion, Fame. This marks Carl’s 13th FEI European Championship appearance since 1991, while Fame – who looked an absolute picture, thanks to the efforts of groom Lucy Scudamore – returns as a defending European team gold medallist from 2023. The pair are currently ranked fifth in the equivalent human and horse FEI Dressage World Rankings, and have won all three of their outings this year in the run-up to selection for Crozet.
In contrast to Carl’s championship experience, Becky Moody – who was next to go with Jo Cooper and her own Jagerbomb – is competing at her first FEI Dressage European Championship, after making her championship debut at last year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Since then, Becky has soared to fourth in the FEI Dressage World Rankings, while Jagerbomb has gone one better to sit third in the horse rankings. In this morning’s bright sunshine, the 11-year-old gelding, the gelding’s bay coat gleamed, courtesy of the ministrations of travelling groom Kim Masson – who, if you saw our or Becky’s Instagram account this morning, had a little plaiting help from team mascot Agria Anton.
Almost an hour later, it was the turn of Andrew Gould with Tatiana and Max Skillman’s Indigro. The pair are making their senior championship debut here in Crozet, after taking the travelling reserve slot in Paris 2024. Thanks to the hard work of groom Natalie Campbell, Indigro’s coat glowed in the morning light as Andrew brought him forward. Their journey up the strip was rather lively, as the 12-year-old stallion felt all the watching eyes upon him, so the ground jury sent them back to have another go. A third attempt showed that, while certainly on his toes, there were no concerns over Indigro’s soundness and, after a few moments in the holding area to calm down in the company of Natalie and equine physio Sam Daplyn, Indigro and Andrew headed back to the stables.
Last, but by no means least, it was the reigning world number one, Glamourdale. As is customary, the 14-year-old stallion – who Lottie co-owns with her employers, Van Olst Horses – was presented by the Van Olst’s ‘stallion man’ Niek Haarlink. Groom Richard Hauwaerts had worked his customary magic on Glamourdale’s coal-black coat, leaving it mirror-bright as they trotted down the strip. The stallion and his rider, who also holds a world number one ranking, were gold medal-winning teammates of Carl and Fame at the last Europeans, so will be hoping to replicate that feat this year – and maybe improve on the silver Grand Prix Freestyle medal they picked up on the final day.
With all four combinations passed and ready to compete, it was time to find out where they’d fall in the order. The draw for the team competition, which comprises two days of Grand Prix action, took place this afternoon. Fortune smiled on the British, giving us the penultimate slot of the 14 nations taking part.
The final order of the day was the official arena familiarisation session, where horses and riders have a chance to experience the main arena while it’s fully dressed and the television cameras are in place – the aim is to give the horses a chance to acclimatise to the environment before the pressures of competition. Our British contingent were one of the last groups to enter the arena, although the day’s high temperatures were still in force.
Tomorrow’s Grand Prix action gets underway at 10:00 local time (09:00 UK time). Here’s where you’ll find our British combinations in the draw (UK times):
Carl Hester and Fame, and Lottie Fry and Glamourdale, will ride their tests on Thursday.
You can watch all the action live on FEI.TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, with a subscription. All the start lists and results are available via World Sport Timing, and everything you need to know about the British squad and how the competition will progress on our online Dressage Hub.