Friday, 05 September 2025
With two days of fierce competition completed for the individual honours across the five grades, the focus today turned to the team medal battle at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2025. The day started with cloudy skies and glimpses of the sun over the Dutch National Equestrian Centre but, with the threat of thunderstorms in the area, it was set to be an unpredictable day – both in terms of the weather and which nations would be in the medal mix after day one.
The team competition features three or four riders from each of the 13 nations fielding a team. Each team should include at least one rider from grades one, two or three, and no more than two athletes from any one grade. All combinations ride the Grand Prix B test for their grade and three best scores for each nation are added together – the highest total takes the gold.
Hampshire-based rider Jemima Green has had a whirlwind few days. From the apprehension of competing in her first championship to the elation of stepping onto the podium, she now faced the expectation of riding in a team when medals are on the line. With her equine partner of three years, Fantabulous – or ‘Fanta’ to his friends – she has really caught the eye in Ermelo and gained a legion of fans for Fanta. There was also an extra special surprise for their test today, when Fanta’s breeders, Rainer and Angelika Ahlers, turned up especially to watch the duo in action.
Jemima and Fanta had to manage their warm-up carefully with personal coach Georgie Nicholls due to the weather – just as they were heading for the 10-minute box, some torrential rain caused competition to be halted for 20 minutes, meaning Fanta and his entourage had to return to the stables. When play resumed, they returned to their previous position and tried to get Fanta’s head back in the game. However, this was made more difficult when the crowd showed their appreciation for Heidemarie Dresling and Poesie 143, who posted a huge 77.533% for the German team, causing Fanta to spook. As a result, the seven-year-old gelding wasn’t as settled as Jemima would like as they entered the main arena and the tension showed in the early movements, with a trip on the centre line pegging back the scores.
Given his age, Fanta is a relative novice on such a big stage, but such is the partnership between these two that he looked to his rider for reassurance and Jemima held his hand. Together, they took a deep breath and put the nervy start behind them. As the movements flowed, so the relaxation returned. This is a more technical test than the Grand Prix A version that decides the individual medals, and the increased intensity actually seemed to help because their communication was working so well. The leg-yielding in walk was attentive and responsive, and an excellent mid-test halt was awarded by three of the five judges with an eight.
In the trot work, Jemima had more power and swing than she’d had on Wednesday, with a really pleasing fluency. She expertly used the corners of the arena to give herself as much time as possible to set up for each movement to keep that power. The walk that followed kept the momentum and suppleness, with a few more eights coming from the judges. Jemima was riding with great purpose, her eyes visualizing every turn and line to garner every mark she could. A final medium trot was bravely ridden and gave a glimpse of Fanta’s full potential as he matures into the level.
As they came down the centre line, a few minor adjustments with her seat gave Fanta the signal to plant his four hooves square. It was a test which proved the relationship and trust between the duo – from nervy start to confident end. The score was announced as 72.100% – just half a percentage point off their personal best and, most importantly, a good score on the board for the British team.
“It was certainly a new experience for us,” declared Jemima. “He felt very, very good, but he just was a little bit on edge, I would say. He got a little bit disturbed in the 10-minute box by the applause but actually, he had a reaction, then took a breath. So, I'm really pleased because we didn't have what we would say is an ideal warm-up or preparation.
“After our test the other day, I felt like I gave us a little bit more time and used the arena a little bit more, and I think he really needed that from me today. He listened to my aids at the leg-yields and stayed on me on the transitions,” she added.
“I'm thrilled with the score, considering how I thought it could have potentially gone, because he's never experienced weather like it. You never know what you're going to get and there's probably never going to be your ideal what you want, so I hope that's good enough and I know we tried our best in there,” said Jemima.
Having earned her place in the British team, super-competitive Gabriella Blake may have been a bit downhearted for missing out on a podium place in Wednesday’s individual competition. However, she had to take a huge boost of confidence from the way she dealt with a memory mishap in her test to recover and deliver a competitive performance. The rider from Wolverhampton would be looking to produce a good score today with her unicorn, Strong Beau, who ‘Gabby’ owns with her parents Gavin and Estelle Blake.
As the Grade 1 competition got underway, the threat of thunderstorms loomed large and, just as Gabby entered the final 10-minute box, officials took the decision to suspend competition for safety reasons. It certainly was not ideal for Gabby’s preparation, but the right decision because the skies promptly delivered an epic downpour and thunder rumbled. Times were altered and nearly two hours later than scheduled, the duo entered the arena with trainer Sophie Wells leading them in.
Heading towards the judges, it was clear Gabby had her ‘game face’ on – she meant business and a medal for Britain was her intended goal. Beau, his coat still resplendent white despite the rain, was also laser-focused on his rider, with his walk absolutely clockwork. The intricate test was smoothly ridden by Gabby, with Beau totally regular and on her aids, listening intently for every subtle communication – except for one cheeky spook at the astroturf around the edge of the arena! The serpentine was well placed and the halt over the centre line absolutely square, with rock-steady immobility.
The concentration and focus from the duo never waivered and, as they approached the end, they pushed for every mark possible. The final halt brought a look of relief and joy to Gabby’s face and she was quick to reward Beau with well-earned fuss for a job well done. The final score was a 74.000% – a huge boon to the British tally, with two judges awarding scores over 75%. That put Gabby second at that stage in the class, but also moved Britain onto the podium out of the nations that had two riders gone.
“I am very pleased with that – having a little gap in between, then to come back like he did, he was unbelievable. He coped really well and it's the first time I've had to deal with that,” explained Gabby. “I got the walk that I wanted to get on the first day, so he felt incredible.”
Asked about the highlights in the test, Gabby was quick to choose; “My halts because I've put a lot of practice, and his bends, so I'll take that. Everything I've put into practice has come out today.
“He really looks after me, besides his little blip! I think that was him being a little bit fresh and a bit excited, I don't think it was him being naughty. You know, he does love what he does and I've got a fantastic partnership with him – I absolutely adore him.
“I just want to thank the National Lottery because I would not be here today without them, and also the World Class Programme – none of this would be possible without them,” she said appreciatively.
The storm delays also impacted Buckinghamshire-based Paralympian Mari Durward-Akhurst and her seasoned partner Athene Lindebjerg. However, working with coach Rob Waine, they reworked their warm-up plan so they’d be on point at just the right moment. Mari and ‘Athene’, owned by Diane Redfern, Romilly Hart and Mari’s dad Nick Durward-Akhurst, know each other exceptionally well after three years as a partnership and the hours of training back at South Buckinghamshire RDA in Fulmer are just what moments like this are for.
By the time the bell rang to head down the centre line, the rain clouds made way for brilliant sunshine, which lit up the black mare’s coat. Mari entered with visible purpose, using Athene’s slinky, active walk to great effect as they prowled around the area, hitting every marker. Mari’s disability means she not only has to communicate with Athene, but also battle with her body, which doesn’t always cooperate to deliver the aids to complete the movements. Today, however, it appeared Mari had complete control, which meant she could be pinpoint accurate.
The serpentines were super, with fluent steps and clear changes of bend through the body. As they approached the halt over the centreline, Mari gave a quick glance to get the perfect placement, asked for the halt and Athene planted perfectly. The free walk was one of the best of the day, with Athene searching down the rein well. A strong final tour brought a flurry of eights from the judges, ending the test on a high note. The score had been trending around the mid 70s throughout, so it was down to the final paces marks, which were strong – 75.167% was announced. It was a tremendous score for them individually, and the team.
“I'm pleased they've got it done. It's been a long day,” said a relieved Mari. “It’s difficult because I kind of geared myself up and fitted everything in, then it got delayed the first time and that was fine. Then it got delayed the second time and by that point, my body was like, ‘it's five o'clock, it's sleep time now!’, so it was quite hard. But I had Athene and she's just incredible. She helped me out so much in that test,” she beamed.
“I think she's just such a show queen and we've got a real partnership now. The minute she goes in those boards, she just knows her job and I honestly think something could go off and she wouldn't know.”
When asked about her Ermelo experience so far, Mari lit up; “It's incredible, it's gone so much better than Paris – like, the first day to get that medal and the team's done really well. We're a new team together and we've all supported each other today and obviously Nicola tomorrow – we're all behind each other.
“I just want to say a massive thank you to my home team, and British Equestrian and the National Lottery, because without any of them this just wouldn't be possible, and to Di and Athene because, like I said, she's just incredible. There's not many words to sum up Athene,” she ended.
As we reach the halfway point of the battle for team honours, it’s Denmark who sits out in front of those team who’ve posted three scores. Great Britain is hot on their heels in the silver medal position, while the Netherlands – who are strong favourites for gold – sit in third. However, tomorrow is a new day and there are still plenty of top-class combinations still to make their contribution, so anything could happen.
Here are the provisional standings…
Tomorrow sees the culmination of the team competition, when the Grade 4 and 5 athletes head down the centre line. Great Britain has one final combination still to go before the final placings are decided, in the form of Nicola Naylor and Humberto L. Here’s when they’ll ride their Grade 4 Grand Prix B test…
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.