Sophie Wells

Sophie started riding at the age of eight at her local riding school and took up dressage at the age of twelve. In 2008, she became the first para dressage rider to win a non-disabled international competition, after she finished first in the Junior international class at the Hickstead Under-21 international. She was the first para dressage rider to compete on both an able-bodied Junior team and the para dressage team in the same year (2010), competing on the dressage Young Rider European team, as well as being selected as part of the World Equestrian Games para dressage squad.

Sophie was selected for her first Paralympic Games in London 2012, where she won team gold along with silvers in the individual and freestyle competitions. She was also picked for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, where she took individual gold and freestyle silver, and helped the team defend their team gold. She has been on the British team at every senior championship since 2011, picking up an impressive 35 medals along the way. 

Sophie was selected for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with World and European medallist C Fatal Attraction, but a late fitness concern for 'Jorge' saw inexperienced Don Cara M step up to take his place. The pair pulled out all the stops to help the British team retain their Paralympic title, and also took individual silver. 

Sophie and Don Cara M travelled to Tokyo for the 2020 Paralympic Games, where they succeeded in helping the team gain a gold medal, plus an individual silver medal. The pair joined the squad again in Herning for the FEI Para Dressage Word Championships in 2022, missing out on a team medal but managing to qualify for Paris 2024. 

In 2023, Sophie brought forward new ride LJT Egeberggards Samoa for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Riesenbeck, where they took team and freestyle bronze. The following year, they were selected to represent ParalympicsGB at Paris 2024, picking up individual and freestyle bronze. This brought Sophie's career championship medal tally to 40 – and she's showing no sign of stopping there! 

In addition to her para dressage career, Sophie competes in able-bodied dressage and has a busy coaching schedule, training a number of athletes to podium placings at the highest level. She also hosts a number of clinics and demonstrations with her partner, Joe, which focus on how horsemanship and dressage training can overlap. Away from the yard, Sophie is dedicated to her personal fitness and enjoys spending time with her two Chihuahuas, Bailey and Ginny.