last updated on September 30, 2010 09:51

All seven para dressage horses have safely arrived in Kentucky in preparation for the competition which kicks off at the games on October 5. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky is the first in history to host the discipline as an inclusive part of the event, alongside the other seven disciplines of dressage, eventing, show jumping, endurance, reigning, driving and vaulting. As reigning champions at World, Paralympic and European level all eyes will be on Team GBR to see if they can defend their unbeaten record – the Brits have taken team gold at every major championship since the sports inception.

Alongside team medals, hopes are also high for the squad to feature in the mix for a number of individual medals along the way. Each member of the seven strong squad is in fine form and has been demonstrating the competitive talent this summer that led to their Kentucky selection.

Strength in depth in the British team is no more evident than in the grade 1a category for the most disabled riders; three riders Emma Sheardown, Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham have been locked in fierce battle throughout the 2010 season and have all impressed the selectors to be given the chance to ride in Kentucky.

Multiple medalist Anne Dunham, 62, made a spectacular return to the sport in 2010 after taking 18 months out of competition for heart surgery following the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. With Sally Ann Brown’s chestnut gelding Teddy, Anne secured first place in both the individual and freestyle classes at Manheim and Hickstead with consistent plus 70% scores, and won the team test at Hartpury CPEDI with a substantial 75.09%, declaring she has never felt better.

A relative newcomer to the international stage, 25 year old Emma Sheardown has been carving a name for herself with a run of top placings at home and abroad. Riding her own 12 year old gelding Purdy’s Dream, Emma took first in the team and freestyle events at Moorsele CPEDI with 70% and 73.33%. She followed this up with a first in the team test at Hickstead Premier League with strong plus 70% scores and achieved an incredible high of 76% in the Hartpury CPEDI freestyle to earn her place in Kentucky.

At just 22 years old Sophie Christiansen is a seasoned competitor with numerous World, Paralympic and European gold medals to her name. She won her place at WEG amongst the three grade 1a riders after consistently scoring above 70%, securing second place in the team selection event at Hickstead with 72.35%, second place at Hartpury CPEDI with 74.70% and placing third in the individual and freestyle classes with 72.50% and 75.08% respectively. Aboard the Berkeley Group’s Rubinstein I gelding Rivaldo of Berkeley, the Ascot based rider has been battling head to head against fellow Brits Dunham and Sheardown throughout the 2010 season.

In Grade 1b Lee Pearson will be looking to add to his 24 times gold medal tally with his Paralympic partner Gentleman, a 17.2hh Hanoverian gelding by Gullit. All season he has competed the gelding alongside his second ride and WEG reserve horse Zion and enjoyed unwavering success with the pair. The geldings stole first and second places at Moorsele CPEDI, Hickstead Premier League and Hartpury CPEDI with the German-bred Gentleman scoring incredible highs of 80.58% and 81.75% at Moorsele and Hartpury respectively.

With Pearson as his role model, 23 year old rider Ricky Balshaw has had a consistent 2010 season, enjoying plus 70% scores and second and third place finishes just behind Lee in the grade 1b category. Riding Mrs Hoeg’s Academy Award he finished third in all three tests at Moorsele CPEDI with scores of 71.36%, 76.08% and 75.08% in the team, individual and freestyle classes respectively. At Hartpury CPEDI Balshaw and the chestnut gelding settled into second place, just ahead of Pearson and Zion with 73.04% in the individual event.

Grade II contender Jo Pitt has had a rewarding year with Mrs Pitt’s Estralita; never straying out of the top two throughout their international outings the pair have shown incredible talent and a step up in form for 2010. Taking first place in the individual and team events at Hickstead with 72.86% and 72.38% Jo then went on to clinch top spot at Moorsele CPEDI in the team and freestyle classes with 71.19% and 75.50%. Jo and the Danish gelding impressed again at Hartpury taking pole position in the individual and freestyle events with 72.22% and an impressive 77.16%.

Grade IV rider Sophie Wells,20, made history in 2010 by becoming the first rider ever to represent Great Britain in both para and able bodied competition. Triple gold medalist at the para-equestrian dressage European Championships in 2009, this year she was also part of the young rider European championship team, finishing a respectable 22 and 23 with her WEG ride, Dr Walker’s gelding Pinocchio. Sophie stole the show at Hickstead Premier League taking first and second place in both the individual and team Grade IV events with Pinocchio and her own Dutch-bred Valerius on plus 70% scores and also placed fifth in the able bodied young rider class here. She went on to capture a double win at Hartpury CPEDI, taking the individual test with 73.54%. 

> View a full competition timetable here
> View more information on the Para-Equestrian Dressage format for WEG here
> For more information on the GBR Para-Equestrian Team click here