Rider biographies: Saturday
Read the full biographies of our Saturday riders, ahead of their demo rides.
Abbie Newbury
Previous winner of the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in 2022 onboard her Keith Taylor’s beautiful British-bred Seagry Firstamour (For Romance x Stedinger). Abbie, who holds her UKCC Level 2 coaching qualification and is working towards her Level 3, runs a livery and training yard at home near Chippenham and also works as a rider at Seagry Stud.
Riding: TBC | Session: Novice
Sophie Wallace
2022 FEI European Championship bronze medallist Sophie Wallace is aiming for 2024 European selection with First Light, previously owned by Ursula Bechtolsheimer and Laura Tomlinson. She also won the U21 Junior class at the LeMeiux National Championships.
Riding: First Light | Session: Novice
Height: 16.3hh | age: 7 years old | grey | gelding | breeding: Furstenball x Don Davidoo
Owner: Sophie Wallace
Breeder: Ursula Bechtolsheimer
Ruby Hughes
Having a very successful Pony and Young Rider career, on her debut for the Junior team Ruby helped Great Britain achieve a bronze medal at the Junior European Championships 2023, riding Classic Goldstrike who she co-owns with her parents Gareth and Rebecca Hughes and Julia Horning.
Riding: TBC | Session: Medium and Advanced Medium
Angharad Harries
Rider and Groom at Hughes Dressage, Angharad has a number of title wins under her belt, including winning the BETTALIFE Novice Gold Championship at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships in 2022 riding Jack Brown who is owned by Ruby Hughes.
Riding: TBC | Session: Medium and Advanced Medium
Scarlett Lai
Scarlett who is currently training with Gareth Hughes, is only at the beginning of her partnership with Retanach Request 'Rocco', attending their first British Dressage competition in May 2023, the combination have seen success since at Advanced Medium with an impressive collection of wins at this level.
Riding: Retanach Request | Session: Prix St Georges & Inter I
Height: 14.2hh | age: 16 years old | chestnut | gelding | breeding: Derwen Gentleman x Derwen Emma
Owner: Nicola Diane Heale
India Durman Mills
India has had incredible success in the Junior team, helping Great Britain achieve a team bronze medal in 2022. On her Young Rider team debut, she helped her team once again to medal success, achieving a team bronze medal in 2023. India also holds her BHS coaching qualifications.
Riding: TBC | Session: Prix St Georges & Inter I
Hayley Watson-Greaves
Hayley up to this point has had a wonderful national and international career, with highlights such as her 2017 LeMieux National Championships title win, riding the outstanding Rubins Nite 'Squeak', who will be in attendance to celebrate his retirement from his competitive career. Hayley who trains with Carl Hester, is also a professional trainer herself.
Riding: Rubins Nite | Session: Grand Prix Freestyle
Height: 17.2hh | age: 19 years old | black | gelding | breeding: Rubin Royal x Little Wixi x Limbo
Owner: Hayley Watson-Greaves
Special guest: Valegro
Dressage legend Valegro will be joining the celebrations, the triple Olympic medallist ‘Blueberry’ has had an illustrious career ridden by Charlotte Dujardin, still holding the Olympic record in individual freestyle with a score of 93.857%.
The dressage wonder horse owned by Carl Hester, Rowena Luard and Anne Barrott, has lived at Carl Hester’s yard since he was two-years-old after being born in the Netherlands in 2002. Charlotte was given the ride on Valegro as a young horse to bring on for Carl to ride, but there was no denying how special their partnership was, leading to the incredible achievements the combination have to date.
Their record of success has immortalised Valegro in the history books, having won 49 of their 61 international Grand Prix starts and a stunning medal collection including:
Individual and team gold at the 2012 London Olympics, individual gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, double individual gold medals at both the 2013 and 2015 European Championships and individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2014.