News
FEI European Championships 2026: Meet the Young Rider team
- Written By: British Dressage | Maddie Hinchliff
- Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00
As the Youth European Championships draw closer, it is time to meet the team that is heading out to represent Great Britain at Pilisjászfaluin Hungary from 6 – 12 July.
Mette Dahl
From West Sussex, Mette will be campaigning her fifth European Championships, this time aboard Fiona Bigwood’s 15-year-old Gelding Daytona Platinum, affectionately known as Dino at home. The combination have been training together for around nine months, and over this season, Mette has been balancing the horses with University, as well as training with her father, Anders Dahl.
Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?
A: It’s an incredible opportunity, which I am thankful that I have the support behind me
Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?
A: Winning the final observation trial on 72%
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: Your true friends value for who you are not the results you get
Myles Graham
Based in Wiltshire, this will be Myles’ fifth European Championship. Having previously competed every year since 2022, Myles has been a part of three bronze medal winning teams, as well as winning a bronze medal individually. Myles has been partnered with Dan Sherriff and Lindsey Roberts’ Fred Astaire WD for around eight months. Known as Freddie at home. Myles and Freddie have been a duo for eight months, Freddie and Myles have had a busy season, building on confidence and going from strength to strength.
Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?
A: I feel incredibly proud to represent my country for the fifth consecutive time
Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?
A: Achieving a PB of over 70% at final selection
Q: Who is somebody you look up to and why?
A: Michael Eilberg- because of his wide range of knowledge and training skills
Demi Howard-Cartwright
Demi, who is based in Berkshire, will be campaigning her third Europeans, having been a part of the 2023 Pony team and bronze medal winning 2025 Junior team with Myles. Newton Astro Nascente, known at home as Anton, is the sole British-bred horse on the team, bred by Lorna Wilson at the Newton Stud in 2016. The duo have been partnered together with for the last three years, making the step up to Young Riders this year and rapidly rising to the challenge, showing exciting promise for the future
Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?
A: It still feels slightly surreal to have been selected for the young rider team this year as it is mine and Anton’s first year at the level and more then I could have ever hoped for.
Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?
A: The highlight of my season so far has been gaining mine and Anton’s first international win together at Hartpury CDI in the young rider team test.
Q: Who is somebody you look up to and why?
A: Catherine Dufour as she makes dressage look so effortless and harmonious but still so full of presence and power.
Ruby Hughes
Based in Warwickshire, Ruby has already made her mark in the British Dressage community competing and campaigning a range of horses from Young Horse classes through to Grand Prix, as well as featuring on the European Teams in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Ruby was also a part of the 2023 Bronze Medal winning Junior team. Aboard Emma Blundell’s 12-year-old mare Mount St John Jazz Dance, known at home as Jillz, the duo has been training together since July 2025.
Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?
A: To be selected for another championship is such a privilege and I feel beyond proud. I owe this achievement all to Jillz, this mare has given her all this season and it’s hard to put in to words how grateful I am for her.
Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?
A: Taking home a double win at Aachen CDI, as well as winning at Hartpury CDI and Wellington CDI
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: You have to break a few eggs to make a cake!
Morgan Haerr
From Conwy, Wales, non-travelling Reserve Morgan Haerr has been selected with her own 15 year old gelding, Grolschstar, known at home as Grolsh. Grolsh and Morgan have been a partnership for five months, and this is Morgan’s first time being selected for the teams. In only their second Premier League together, the pair won the U25 Grand Prix at Myerscough in March and finished third in the Young Rider individual test at the Hickstead Premier League in May.
Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?
A: Unbelievable! I am truly honoured even if I’m only a reserve. After only having Grolsch for such a short time, I never imagined we would come this far, this quickly. To be named first reserve for the British team is something I am unbelievably proud of and incredibly grateful for
Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?
A: Getting to ride U25 Grand Prix
Q: Who is somebody you look up to and why?
A: Becky Moody- everyone might say that, but she truly is inspirational and is always there supporting me
Keep up to date with all the European action via the BD Youth social media accounts over the next month:
Photo: Tom Hobday | British Dressage 2026
