Para dressage squad
Gabriella Blake
- Grade: 1
- Age: 32
- Based in: Wolverhamption, West Midlands
- Grade world ranking: 9
Gabby was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but moved to West Sussex when she was six – this is where she got her first pony, Silver. In 2012, after a short spell back in South Africa, Gabby moved to the Cotswolds and got her second pony, Geronimo, who helped to spark her love for dressage and copmeting, even though Geronimo was originally trained for reining and had no dressage background. It was during this time that she competed in her first ever RDA dressage competition. In 2017, Gabby moved again, this time to Nottinghamshire. Here she started her para journey and competed at the RDA National Championships.
In July 2018, Gabby partnered with Strong Beau, and her para dressage career really took off. The two have been familiar faces on the circuit since their international debut at Bishop Burton CPEDI in 2019, and have collected plenty of podium placings along the way.
Gabby made her senior championship debut in 2023, when she and Beau headed to the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Riesenbeck, Germany. They picked up individual and team bronze, and finished fourth in the freestyle.
The pair were part of the nominated entry list for Paris 2024 – although they weren't selected, Gabby still made it to the Games as part of ParalympicsGB's 'Paralympic Inspiration Programme', which aims to give potential future Paralympic athletes an experience of the Games environment.
Previous senior championship appearances
- FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2023 (team and individual bronze)
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Strong Beau
- Known as: Beau
- Owner: Gavin and Estelle Blake and Gabriella Blake
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Gelding
- Age: 16
- Height: 15hh
- Sire: Spinway Blackthorn
- Breeder: Ms S. Amos GBR
A Connemara x Irish Sports Horse, Beau was previously an eventer, but came to Gabby in 2018 after stepping down to become a pleasure ride. They started competing internationally together the following year and finished first in all three tests at their first CPEDI2* at Bishop Burton.
Gabby and Beau haven't finished off the podium since April 2024. As part of their campaign for selection for Ermelo, they've competed succesfully at Addington, Hagen in Germany and Hartpury.
Beau has quite a quirky personality and can be cheeky at times, but Gabby says that it’s hard to stay cross at him for long because he always looks after her when she's riding him – he's her 'unicorn'.
International Personal bests
| Grand Prix A | Grand Prix B | Grand Prix Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 74.583% | 76.111% | 78.940% |
| Riesenbeck (2023) | Wellington (2024) | Hartpury (2025) |
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Mari Durward-Akhurst
- Grade: 1
- Age: 31
- Based in: Amersham, Buckinghamshire
- Grade world ranking:
Mari started riding with at her local Riding for the Disabled Association group as a form of therapy in 2005. Her disability had made it difficult for her to make friends because she couldn’t keep up with other children, but she found that riding not only helped her on a physical level, but also improved her mental wellbeing because it was something she could excel at. Once she started competing, she was hooked.
Mari made her British team debut in 2007 at Junior International level. Since then, she has achieved a number of national and international titles.
In 2019, Mari was selected for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Rotterdam, the Netherlands with Sky O’Hara, where they helped the British team take silver.
Mari formed a partnership with Athene Lindebjerg at the start of 2023 – the experienced mare, famed for her exceptional walk, previously took triple European and Paralympic gold with Sophie Christiansen in 2015 and 2016, then another three gold medals with Julie Payne at the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in 2017. In all their competitive outings, Mari and Athene have never finished off the podium, helping them in their selection campaign for Paris 2024 – a Paralympic debut for Mari.
In Paris, they pulled out three great performances, coming away with a freestyle bronze medal on the final day and achieveing Mari's childhood dream of becoming a Paralympic medallist.
Out of the saddle, Mari can often be found in the gym. She enjoys para rowing and has won multiple medals representing Wales at home international level. She’s also a keen public speaker and enjoys mentoring up-and-coming para dressage riders.
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Previous senior championship appearances
- Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (freestyle bronze)
- FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2019 (team silver)
Athene Lindebjerg
- Known as: Athene (although Mari also calls her 'the Duchess')
- Owners: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Romilly Hart
- Colour: Black
- Sex: Mare
- Age: 18
- Height: 17hh
- Bloodlines: Gribaldi x Alberte Lindebjerg
- Breeder: Mr and Mrs Bech DEN
Athene began her dressage career with Jessica Thompson in 2014, competing at Novice and Elementary level. She made her both her para dressage debut in May 2015 with Sophie Christiansen and they remained virtually unbeaten throughout their partnership, which included the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where they won triple gold in what was then Grade 1A.
In 2017, the reins were passed to Julie Payne, who was also a grade 1 athlete. After just one international outing, they were selected for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Gothenberg, Sweden, where they took three gold medals.
In 2018, Athene had a period away from the competition arena, which included some injury recovery and a spell as a mother.
Her maternity leave came to an end in June 2023, when owner Di Redfern offered her to Mari Durward-Akhurst. They had one international outing that year, to Hartpury CPEDI3*, where they finished third in all three tests.
After a winter spent consolidating their partnership, they returned to the white boards in 2024 with their eyes firmly fixed on selection for Paris 2024. Of their five international outings, which included a trip overseas to Waregem, Belgium, they've never finished outside the top three.
Selection for the Games meant that Athene helped Mari achieve her childhood dream of becoming a Paralympic medallist, when they picked up freestyle bronze together.
| Grand Prix A | Grand Prix B | Grand Prix Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 76.666% | 78.958 | 82.089% |
| Wellington (2024) | Wellington (2024) | Wellington (2024) |
_-_201 Jemima Green Fantabulous.jpg)
Jemima Green
- Grade: 2
- Age: 36
- Based in: Arlesford, Hampshire
- Grade world ranking: 7
Jemima grew up in Devon on the family farm with her parents and three brothers. She quickly developed a love of horses and got her first pony, Dinky, when she was two. As she grew up, she took part in Pony Club activities, gymkhanas and grooming for her dad when he played polo. In school, she was very sporty and particularly enjoyed rounders and hockey.
After completing her GCSEs, Jemime went to college for an equine studies course, afterwhich she got a job on an eventing yard. She progressed from a working pupil position to head girl and second rider, which was a dream come true. She worked and competed on the eventing circuit for a number of years, reaching Intermediate and the former CCI1* level.
In 2015, Jemima was involved in a vehicular accident that left her paralysed from the waist down and in a wheelchair. The doctor's didn't believe she'd ride again, but this wasn't an option for Jemima – she worked hard to improve her strength and balance, with help from a neuro physio and lots of Pilates and gym sessions. She progressed to riding three times a week, even if it was just for short periods, and eventually discovered para dressage as a way to continue with her competitive ambitions.
In 2021, Jemima was selected for the World Class Programme – this was also the same year she married her now-husband, Ed. Her biggest goal is to be on a British team and win medals for a country – the first of these has now been achieved with her selection for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Ermelo this year.
Jemima and Ed now live in Hampshire with their pack of poodles, while Jemima's horses are based with her coach, Georgie Nicholls.
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Fantabulous
- Known as: Fanta
- Owner: Jemima Green
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Age: 7
- Height: 16.1hh
- Bloodlines: Foundation 2 x Furst Romancier
- Breeder: Rainer and Angelika Ahlers GER
Fanta was purchased by Jemima as a young horse. He was first competed in 2022 by Jemima's trainer at the time, dressage rider Anna Miller, before Jemima started competing with him in para dressage classes in 2024. They won both classes on their first outing at Hartpury in January of that year, followed by another two wins at Wellington in February.
Their first international outing was at Hickstead CPEDI3* in May of 2024, where they finished third in the Grand Prix A and B, and second in the Para Grand Prix Freestyle. They also contested Wellington and Hartpury later that year.
This year, with eyes on selection for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship, they started strong with a second at Addington in April, followed by two wins at the same venue just a month later. In June, Fanta and Jemima contested their first overseas competition together at Hagen, Germany, where they finished third in the Grand Prix A and fourth in the B test and Para Grand Prix Freestyle.
Their final selection event was Hartpury CPEDI3*, where they were third in the Grand Prix A and second in the Grand Prix B and Para Grand Prix Freestyle. Three personal best scores helped to secure Jemima's coveted place on a British team.
International personal bests
| Grand Prix A | Grand Prix B | Grand Prix Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 73.138% | 72.733% | 76.047% |
| Hartpury (2025) | Hartpury (2025) | Hartpury (2025) |
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Nicola Naylor
- Grade: 4
- Age: 64
- Based in: Ashford, Kent
- Grade world ranking: 7
Nicola grew up with horses and began riding when she was very young – her mum was a BHSAI and her dad was a polo player. She started at her local riding centre and had ponies throughout her childhood.
Her passion was jumping but, with her visual impairment, this became increasingly difficult when she moved onto horses and had to work to see a stride into fences. At the age of 18, she gave up any hope of an equestrian future and went away to university.
Her remaining sight gradually faded through university, and Nicola spent her twenties and thirties building a non-equestrian career. It was only when her daughter started having riding lessons that the desire to get back in the saddle was reignited. She became classified as a para dressage rider and developed a system that allowed her to compete successfully navigate the arena without the benefit of sight.
In 2022, she was selected for the reserve list for the FEI World Championship and has since appeared on nominated entry lists for European and Paralympic championships.
Nicola also competes in Small Tour dressage and became the first blind rider in the UK to contest a Grand Prix class in January of this year.
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Humberto L
- Known as: Humbo
- Owners: Rosalind Emery Kay and Nicola Naylor
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Age: 13
- Height: 16.2hh
- Bloodlines: Cachet L x Haarlem
- Breeder: J. Lamers NED
Humbo and Nicola began their competitive partnership in 2021, although he had previously ridden two international Grade 5 tests in Germany with Italy's Alessio Corradini.
The pair have been competing consistently since then and have a number of overseas trips on their record, including Deauville (2022), Waregem (2023, 2024), Kronenberg (2023) and Hagen (2025).
On only one occasion have they not finished on the podium since April 2024, including whe, they made the trip overseas to Hagen in June 2025, where they achieved two seconds and a third.
International Personal bests
| Grand Prix A | Grand Prix B | Grand Prix Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 73.889% | 74.775% | 78.560% |
| Hartpury (2025) | Wellington (2024) | Hartpury (2025) |