International success for British combinations at Herning World Cup and CDI Devon

CDI Herning (12 – 18 October) saw Harrison Ashton defend his title from 2025 in the Lövsta Future Challenge classes, while Annabella Pidgley claimed triumphant top-ten finishes in her World Cup debut. Meanwhile, Charlotte Osborne delivered impressive personal bests across two levels at CDI Devon (21 – 28 September).

© Pernilla Hägg Photography

Harrison Ashton made a spectacular return to the iconic Herning stage for the Lövsta Future Challenge with his European medal winning mare Million Dreams (Millennium x Sandro Hit). The formidable pair finished second CDIU25 Grand Prix with a score of 69.615%, before going on to defend their 2025 title for the Freestyle. They achieved a spectacular international personal best of 76.060%, despite only been reunited as a partnership just under a month ago. Speaking about their emotional return to the white boards, Harrison explained that “As some people may know, Millie was sold following her win at Herning last year and only arrived back with me three weeks ago. To come back to such a big show, with that atmosphere and so little preparation, was a huge ask. But if there was one horse I felt I could do it with, it was Millie. To come away with those results after being apart for so long really showed the strength of our partnership and how well we know each other.”

Speaking about their performance, Harrison reflected that “The highlight was definitely being back in the arena with Millie. I know her so well now, and having started our journey together when we were both so inexperienced, I really feel that we hold each other’s hands through the test. She trusts me, and I trust her, and I think that partnership is what ultimately showed in our results at Herning.”

Based in Germany with trainer Henri Ruoste since 2024, Harrison and Millie were part of the British quartet that earned team bronze at the 2025 FEI U25 European Championships, joining Annabella Pidgley, Lilah Gibbs and Charlotte Lutener on the podium. Harrison was re-selected for this year’s U25 European Championships with Spectre, where the team narrowly missed out on a medal to finish fifth overall. “For me, his season has been about gaining experience with other horses, all with different strengths, weaknesses and challenges. It has been a huge learning experience for me, and I genuinely feel I have developed so much as a rider over the past year.

“Guiding Millie through the tests at Herning made me realise just how much I have learnt from the other horses. Being in that situation, with so little preparation and such a big atmosphere, required a level of confidence and experience that I don’t think I had a year ago. It was something I was really proud of, and it reinforced exactly why I made the decision to move to Europe in the first place. There is still so much for me to learn, but I am incredibly happy with the progress I have made and the experience I have gained.

“Above all, I am just so proud of Millie. She was once again the youngest horse in the class, and she still has relatively little experience. After her first season in 2025, she had essentially had a year away from competition, yet she came back and performed as she did. I think that says everything about the horse she is. Watching her develop from a very green, inexperienced horse at the beginning of 2025 into the horse she is today, and seeing everything we have achieved together, is honestly one of the proudest accomplishments of my riding career so far. She has given me so much and played such a huge part in my journey, and I will never be able to thank her enough for that. Seeing what we have achieved together also motivates me enormously to develop other horses and hopefully build similar partnerships in the future.

“I think our partnership is a great reminder of what can happen when you believe in a horse and give them the time and opportunity to develop. I hope I can recreate that feeling with many more horses in the future.”

Looking forward to 2027, Harrison hopes to debut some of his young horses in the white boards, and to continue training them through the levels. At the other end of the scale, Harrison will also continue to work towards his long-term goal of making the step up to senior international competition: “I feel that this year has given me a much stronger foundation as a rider, and I am excited to build on that, continue learning and see what we can achieve with the horses coming through.”

Alongside Harrison's success, European Championships teammate Annabella Pidgley, who is based in Denmark, made a memorable World Cup debut aboard Sarah Pidgley’s Gio (Apache x Tango). Annabella achieved two top-ten finishes alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, finishing seventh in the Grand Prix on 70.913% and tenth in the Freestyle on 75.910%, despite a costly miscommunication in the half pass. This was the pairings first international competition since the U25 European Championships in July, where Annabella and Pumpkin were the highest-scoring British combination, and finished in fourth place in the Freestyle competition. Speaking after the competition on social media, Annabella stated that “to be competing against all these amazing riders was so inspiring and I am so grateful to get all these wonderful experiences with my main man.”

The World Cup event was dominated by the current World Ranked Number One combination Catherine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) with Mount St John Freestyle (Fidermark x Donnerhall), who won the Grand Prix competition on 82.413% and achieved a sparkling 90.000% in the Freestyle to claim the double-header. Marieke van der Putten (NED) finished in second place in both classes with Zantana RS2 Old N.O.P. (Zonik N.O.P. x Sir Donnerhall) with 75.957% and 86.235% respectively.

Annabella also presented her World Breeding Championship ride Flirtfaktor (Fürst Samarant x Sir Donnerhall) in the Danish Young Horse Championships, which runs alongside the World Cup Event at Herning. Annabella and Flirty contested the six year old classes, where they finished sixth in both the opening round and finale. They scored 84.857% in Thursday’s qualifier before going on to score 81.857% in the Championship Final.

Moving over to the States, US-based Charlotte Osborne campaigned two horses at CDI Devon in the 1* and World Cup qualifier events. Starting with Lisa Carol’s Fruhlingszauber (Fortino 12 x Rubinstein), Charlotte finished in ninth place in both the CDI-W Grand Prix and Freestyle competitions. The duo scored 66.065% in the Grand Prix before going on to achieve an incredible international personal best in the Freestyle with 72.960%. With her other ride Nadal W (Just Wimphof x Westpoint), owned by Chantelle Noble, Charlotte piloted the eight-year-old gelding to three top-ten finishes over the three days of competition in the CDI1*. In the opening Prix St Georges, the duo finished in ninth place on 66.794%, before going on to compete in the Intermediate I where they scored 66.471% to finish in sixth. They then rounded off the young gelding’s third international competition with the Intermediate I Freestyle, where Charlotte achieved yet another international personal best of 71.130% to finish in second place. 

Congratulations go to each of the riders and their teams on their brilliant results.

Results – top three and British riders

CDI Herning 

Friday 16 October

U25 Grand Prix

1. Marie Sohler and Queolito, 70.128% (GER)

2. Harrison Ashton and Million Dreams, 69.615% (GBR)

3. Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen and KGS. Hoergaard Tabasco, 69.188% (DEN)

World Cup Grand Prix

1. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle, 82.413% (DEN)

2. Marieke van der Putten and Zantana RS2 Old N.O.P., 75.957% (NED)

3. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Flash Gordon 37, 75.652% (DEN)

7. Annabella Pidgley and Gio, 70.913% (GBR)

Saturday 17 October

U25 Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Harrison Ashton and Million Dreams, 76.060% (GBR)

2. Maja Hermansson and Diva Pilekaer, 72.875% (SWE)

3. Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen and KGS. Hoergaard Tabasco, 72.690% (DEN)

World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle to Music

1. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle, 90.000% (DEN)

2. Marieke van der Putten and Zantana RS2 Old N.O.P., 86.235% (NED)

3. Maria Von Essen and Invoice, 81.475% (SWE)

10. Annabella Pidgley and Gio, 75.910% (GBR)

FULL RESULTS

CDI Devon

Friday 25 September

1* Prix St Georges

1. Silva Martin and Farouche, 70.941% (USA)

2. Beatrice Boucher and Mystery, 69.559% (CAN)

3. Ali Potasky and Johnnie, 68.412% (USA)

9. Charlotte Osborne and Nadal W, 66.794% (GBR)

Saturday 26 September 

1* Intermediate I

1. Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Next Pleasure, 70.088% (USA)

2. Silva Martin and Farouche, 69.647% (USA)

3. Silva Martin and Irintha, 69.618% (USA)

6. Charlotte Osborne and Nadal W, 66.471% (GBR)

CDI-W Grand Prix

1. Camille Carier Bergeron and Finnländerin, 70.565% (CAN)

2. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo, 70.174% (CAN)

3. Kevin Kohmann and Sonata MF, 69.522% (USA)

9. Charlotte Osborne and Fruhlingszauber, 66.065% (GBR)

Sunday 27 September

1* Intermediate I Freestyle

1. Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Next Pleasure, 74.045% (USA)

2. Charlotte Osborne and Nadal W, 71.130% (GBR)

CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Kevin Kohmann and Sonata MF, 77.105% (USA)

2. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo, 76.515% (CAN)

3. Camille Carier Bergeron and Finnländerin, 76.505% (CAN)

9. Charlotte Osborne and Fruhlingszauber, 72.960% (GBR)

FULL RESULTS