News
Team spirit shines as last Quest Semi-Final winners crowned at Bury Farm
- Written By: British Dressage | Maddie Hinchliff
- Published: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:00
The Team Quest Semi-Finals reached an exciting conclusion at Bury Farm, Buckinghamshire (17 – 18 October), where teams from across the country came together to compete for their place at the championships.
Speaking to the members of the team following their victory, Victoria told us “What a blast! I was thrilled to bits that the fabulous Prancing Queens won the competition. Bury Farm made it really special, using the indoor arena and preparing a spectacular mounted presentation of the prizes. It was a pity it was all a bit too much for some of our four-legged friends! I have found BD Team Quest very inviting and inclusive and would recommend it to anyone although not everyone will be lucky enough to be in our Prancing Queen team.”
Esther, who shared her brilliant 24-year-old Irish gelding Mr Bentley II with teammate Katherine, told us that “I was so proud of my 24-year-old horse, who made up two parts of the winning team. He's an ex-team chaser, pony clubber and hunter. It just proves that Team Quest is for absolutely everyone on absolutely any horse or pony, given enough work and commitment. The spicy old boy found the prize giving far too exciting and lived up to the name of his team Prancing Queens!”
Following this, Eleanor revealed that “It was my first sash at 56! The goal has always been to achieve a win. To train to improve, to be better than yesterday, to enjoy, and to have fun. Team Quest has given me all this, and The Prancing Queens have had the win. Left hand up, look up, pull up through core, hold the shoulders, ride to the points, be accurate, ride forward, smooth transitions, and pose! Once I've remembered all that in my fuzzy menopausal brain once I went down the centre line, I knew that the sash would come!”
Finally, Katherine reflected on what the experience meant to her, telling us that “What a lovely weekend at the Quest Semi Finals with my dressage team! It is such a fun and enjoyable experience in a really friendly, supportive atmosphere, where there is lots of encouragement and team spirit. It was a lovely touch to receive a sash, rosette and goodie bag filled with wonderful gifts from Equitech. Everything was so well organised and ran smoothly, making it a truly enjoyable experience from start to finish. It really was a day to remember!”
Finally, the team captain Andrea Moxey added “As a non-riding Queen this time, I just wanted to add that we also had a great time. Bury Farm is a stay-away weekend for us as it not doable in a day, and we have such fun as a team. Whether it's riding, grooming for others, or team bacon butties from the lorry, there is lots of laughter and tears from all involved. There aren't many opportunities to do team competitions, so Quest has given us a fresh interest in dressage.”
“Saturday was all about supporting each other through the individual tests with our full cheer squad out in force, followed by the team tests on Sunday. A huge shoutout to Gracie, who is in her very first year with us – she’s played a vital role in getting the team to the semi-finals. It was an extra special weekend for Amber, qualifying individually in the Novice and marking her final year competing on Paddy before bringing on her new young horse next season. Connie showed incredible progress, posting some of her best scores of the year at the finals, while Kiera scored a fantastic 70.21% on her new horse, helping to seal the deal and secure the win! The highlight was definitely the mounted prize giving and wearing those sashes with pride.
“A special mention and huge thank you to our other teammates Ellie, Charlotte, and Lillianna, whose qualification scores throughout the year made getting to the semi-finals possible.”
Connie went on further to tell us about how this team of young riders came together, explaining that “We all originally started Team Quest as our first step into British Dressage. Over the last two years, our team has grown naturally – mostly by chatting to people at Quest shows and encouraging them to join in!”
A special mention and huge thank you to our other team-mates Ellie, Charlotte, and Lillianna, whose qualification scores throughout the year made getting to the semi-finals possible.
Many teams will now be waiting with eager anticipation for the wildcards to be released, which will be announced in due course. Thanks go to the organisers and team at Bury Farm for delivering a superbly run championships, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout.
Results – top five
Open
1. Prancing Queens, 67.07
2. The Dream Team, 66.91
3. Beds Berry Bunch, 66.77
4. Eastwell Eagles, 66.64
5. Hungerford Hooligans. 66.53
U21
1. Wey Valley Junior Team, 68.94
2. HHN Hot to Trot, 67.43
3. Eastwell Eaglets Equipe, 67.18
4. Stargazers, 66.67
5. The GALS, 65.74
