Flying Fry does CDI-W London double

British starlet Lottie Fry secured a brace of festive first placings in the fourth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League at the London International Horse Show (18 - 19 December 2025), with her fellow countrywomen also earning the high marks hot on her heels. 

The London International Horse Show is always a high point in the calendar for a British dressage fan, and the perfect way to close out the year with shopping, entertainment and high quality sport. The action at this year's show didn't disappoint, with five of Britain's leading ladies in the line-up, alongside some established and rising stars from the continent. 

In the Grand Prix test, Lottie Fry and her 2022 World Champion Glamourdale returned to top form, producing a beautiful test for 80.783% in front of Peter Storr (E - GBR), Marietta Almasy (H - FRA), Elke Ebert (C - GER), Susanne Baarup (M - DEN) and Clive Halsall (B - GBR). Charlotte Dujardin returned to the London International - where she enjoyed much success with the late Valegro - to take second place in the Grand Prix with rising star Alive and Kicking (All At Once x Furst Piccolo) on a score of 76.544%; whilst Becky Moody completed an all-British top three with 75.043% on board Jagerbomb, recovering from a challenging warm up where the bay gelding pulled a shoe. German-based British rider Susan Pape showed her special mare Harmony's Guililanta to the home crowd, earning fifth and 72.044% on her first appearance at the show; and National Champion Sadie Smith produced a fantastic London debut performance for sixth place with a promising 71.739%. 

Returning for Friday's afternoon performance; a high standard class saw all five British riders once again place inside the top six, with the standard set in the first half of the class by impressive overseas combinations Marieke van der Putten (NED) and her young talent Kuvasz RS2 - sired by Glamourdale - and U25 European Freestyle Champion Moritz Treffinger (GER) who danced to boy band tunes with Gestut Bonhomme's Cadeau Noir. 

Sadie Smith earned a second sixth place rosette of the week, dancing to elegant music with her own British-bred mare Swanmore Dantina; the pair, who've come of age at the level this season, earned 76.900% and high marks of eights for their extended trot, which was without doubt a highlight in their harmonious performance. 

In fifth place on a score of 79.230%, Charlotte Dujardin rode to a new freestyle programme featuring Jazz-style music well matched to her light-footed mare Alive and Kicking; the duo scored well in their canter pirouettes, canter half pass and two-tempi changes, with a strong canter tour all-round. 

Susan Pape stepped up the placings from her Grand Prix test, concluding her show with a wonderful fourth on 79.805%; riding to a Tom Jones programme, Susan showed off her 14-year-old mare's elasticity and talent with plenty of harmony and partnership. 

Norway's Isabel Freese was best of the non-Brits in third, securing a podium spot with her powerhouse Total Hope (Totilas x Blue Hors Don Schufro); the pair enjoyed successful results at this year's FEI European Championships and followed this up with a well-rehearsed routine which saw them earn 81.695%. 

The top placings were shared between Britains top ranked female riders. Becky Moody stepped into Christmas with a special festive themed programme produced by Tony Hobden of Equidance especially for the London International Horse Show; with challenging lines and a top degree of difficulty, Becky delivered movement after movement in emphatic fashion, set to an assortment of much-loved Christmas classics. Their performance impressed the judges, led by President of the Ground Jury Peter Storr, and earned a top mark of 86.410% for second place. Their technical work raked in eights, from pirouettes and passage to halts and half pass. For their artistic marks, the pair achieved three tens for choreography, and four tens for music and interpretation. 

"I’m incredibly lucky to have such a phenomenal horse, he has a heart of gold," Becky said at the press conference following the prize giving, "I loved doing the (Christmas) music. I just wanted everyone to have fun in there and for it to be a little bit different. We did pick the music more to entertain the crowd than necessarily to get the best score in the world.”

After her Grand Prix win, Lottie Fry returned to the top step of the podium in the Freestyle, wowing the London crowd with a polished and powerful performance. The 14-year-old stallion looked in top flying form to suit his 'Glamourdale Airlines' programme which opens and closes with Lottie announcing her arrival and departure in air hostess style. Dancing in harmony, the combination delivered an outstanding technical performance, with the panel rewarding nines for trot and canter half pass, extended trot, and tempi changes, along with tens for a breath-taking extended canter. Every line was full of presence coupled with balance, with both horse and rider enjoying their time in front of an adoring home crowd. With not a single artistic mark below a nine, the final total for Lottie and 'Glammy' would be an immense 89.170%. 

A delighted Lottie commented, "This is one of Glamourdale’s best ever performances. He loves the crowd here and the support was just amazing today, Glammie really rises to that. The crowd seemed to love our new Freestyle. The way he felt today was just the most incredible feeling. We both really got our confidence back here; I think we finished this year on the highest of highs." The busy professional had her own flight to catch too, ending a busy show with a flight back to the Netherlands in time for stallion competitions on Saturday. 

Following the London qualifier, Raphael Netz (GER) remains at the top of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League standings. Becky Moody made the biggest move up the leaderboard and now sits third with 37 points. The series continues on 28 and 29 December in Mechelen (BEL), with all eyes on April's Fort Worth finale. 

FULL RESULTS

Photo: FEI / Jon Stroud Media