Para equestrian squad
Grade 1: Mari Durward-Akhurst
- Age: 30
- Based in: Amersham, Buckinghamshire
- World ranking: 1 (all grades) / 1 (Grade 1)
- Riding: Athene Lindebjerg (black, mare, 17yrs, 17hh, Gribaldi x Alberte Lindebjerg, Owners: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine, Breeders: Mr and Mrs Bech DEN)
Mari started riding with at her local Riding for the Disabled Association group as a form of therapy in 2005. Her disability had made it difficult for her to make friends because she couldn’t keep up with other children, but she found that riding not only helped her on a physical level, but also improved her mental wellbeing because it was something she could excel at. Once she started competing, she was hooked.
Mari made her British team debut in 2007 at Junior International level. Since then, she has achieved a number of national and international titles.
In 2019, Mari was selected for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Rotterdam, the Netherlands with Sky O’Hara, where they helped the British team take silver.
Mari formed a partnership with Athene Lindebjerg at the start of 2023 – the experienced mare, famed for her exception walk, previously took triple European and Paralympic gold with Sophie Christiansen in 2015 and 2016, then another three gold medals with Julie Payne at the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in 2017. In all their competitive outings, Mari and Athene have never finished off the podium, helping them in their selection campaign for Paris 2024 – a Paralympic debut for Mari.
Out of the saddle, Mari can often be found in the gym. She enjoys para rowing and has won two gold medals representing Wales at home international level. She’s also a keen public speaker and enjoys mentoring up-and-coming para dressage riders.
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athene lindebjerg
- Known as: Athene
- Owners: Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and Rob Waine
- Colour: Black
- Sex: Mare
- Age: 17
- Height: 17hh
- Bloodlines: Gribaldi x Alberte Lindebjerg
- Breeder: Mr and Mrs Bech DEN
Athene began her dressage career with Jessica Thompson in 2014, competing at Novice and Elementary level. She made her both her para dressage debut in May 2015 with Sophie Christiansen and they remained virtually unbeaten throughout their partnership, which included the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where they won triple gold in what was then Grade 1A.
In 2017, the reins were passed to Julie Payne, who was also a grade 1 athlete. After just one international outing, they were selected for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Gothenberg, Sweden, where they took three gold medals.
In 2018, Athene had a period away from the competition arena, which included some injury recovery and a spell as a mother.
Her maternity leave came to an end in June 2023, when owner Di Redfern offered her to Mari Durward-Akhurst. They had one international outing that year, to Hartpury CPEDI3*, where they finished third in all three tests.
After a winter spent consolidating their partnership, they returned to the white boards in 2024 with their eyes firmly fixed on selection for Paris 2024. Of their five international outings, which included a trip overseas to Waregem, Belgium, they've never finished outside the top three.
Personal bests
| Individual (Grand Prix A) | Team (Grand Prix B) | Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 76.666% | 78.958%% | 82.089% |
| Wellington CPEDI3* (2024) |
Wellington CPEDI3* (2024) |
Wellington CPEDI3* (2023) |
Grade 2: Georgia Wilson
- Age: 28
- Based in: Abergele, North Wales
- World ranking: 27 (all grades) / 4 (Grade 2)
Georgia started riding when she was two years old after her physio suggested that it would help with her balance. Her first pony was a Shetland called Diana, who was followed by a pony called Poppy – he was handed down to Georgia’s sisters when she'd outgrown him. Georgia joined the Pony Club and the RDA at Clwyd SRC, attending her first RDA nationals on Aaron, a palomino pony. It was here that she got the bug for dressage, and she also competed with BYRDs Wales team.
Georgia's first senior call-up was for the FEI European Championship in Rotterdam in 2019, where she rode Midnight. She took individual silver and helped the British team to another silver, before storming to gold in the freestyle ahead the reigning Paralympic champion, Pepo Puch of Austria. Initially selected as a reserve for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games with new ride Sakura, the late withdrawal of Sophie Christiansen saw Georgia earn herself a seat on the plane to her first Games. She proved herself worthy of the occasion by taking double bronze, bested only by fellow Brit Sir Lee Pearson and multi-Paralympic medallist Pepo Puch.
When she came home from Tokyo, Georgia’s village threw a celebratory party on the green for her and Sakura
Following the Games, Georgia and Sakura continued to strengthen their partnership and headed to Herning for their first World Championship in 2022 on the back of two new personal bests from Wellington Festival of Para Dressage in June and Hartpury CPEDI3* in July. They came home from Herning with a bronze in the freestyle.
Since Herning, Georgia and Sakura haven’t finished off the podium in any of their international starts. In 2023, a call-up came for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Riesenbeck, where they earned themselves earned team bronze, individual silver and freestyle silver.
Georgia’s French bulldog, Billy, is never far from her side – although he’s not popular in the lorry when they’re away at shows because he snores so loudly! Her family has a farm in Wales, which is also home to several more dogs, Georgia’s string of horses and some very naughty sheep.
Just days after her selection for Paris 2024 was announced, Georgia got engaged to her partner, Alex Thomas.
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Sakura
- Known as: Suki
- Owners: Geoff, Julie and Georgia Wilson
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Mare
- Age: 10
- Height: 16hh
- Bloodlines: Supertramp x Woodlander Rockstar
- Breeder: Geri Eilberg GBR
Dressage-bred Suki and Georgia had only been a partnership for seven months before they received a last-minute call-up for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Seven-year-old Suki was one of the youngest and least experienced horses in the field, but showed her calibre by helping Georgia to win two bronze medals. While in Tokyo, Georgia described Suki as 'the kindest mare ever – I could take her anywhere, she could probably come into the hotel and sleep next to me'.
Their partnership continued to grow, and they were soon selected for the FEI Para Dressage World Championship in Herning, where they took bronze in the freestyle.
In 2023, Georgia and Suki finished on the podium at all of their international runs, and picked up wins at the All England Dressage Festival at Hickstead and the Wellington Riding Festival of Para Dressage. They capped off a successful season with a trip to the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Riesenbeck, where they took individual and freestyle silver and helped the British team to bronze.
This year, their Paris 2024 campaign has included five international outings, including a trip overseas to Kronenberg, NED in June. They haven't finished lower than second at any of these, which set them up perfectly for selection for the Games.
Personal bests
| Individual (Grand Prix A) | Team (Grand Prix B) | Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 73.647% | 74.410% | 79.367% |
| Hartpury CPEDI3* (2022) |
Wellington Festival of Para Dressage (2022) |
Reisenbeck CH-EU-PED (2023) |
Grade 3: Natasha Baker
- Age: 34
- Based in: Uxbridge, Middlesex
- World ranking: 24 (all grades) / 4 (Grade 3)
Natasha has been surrounded by horses all her life and began riding at her local RDA group (South Bucks). After watching the Paralympic Games on TV in 2000, she announced to her parents that this was what she wanted to do – a goal that was achieved when she competed in front of her home at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Natasha made her senior championship debut in 2011, when she rode Cabral as an individual at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship. She represented Great Britain every year from then until 2016, winning 14 medals including double gold at London 2012 and triple gold at Rio 2016. Double silver came at the World Equestrian Games in 2018 with Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, before Natasha received the call-up for the Tokyo 2020 Games with new ride Keystone Dawn Chorus. Despite it being their first championship together, the pair took individual and freestyle silver, and help Britain to retain their team gold medal.
The following year proved to be a big one for Natasha – she married her long-time partner, Marc Jaconelli in June 2022, before being selected to compete with Keystone Dawn Chorus at the FEI Para Dressage World Championship in Herning, Denmark in August. The pair picked up individual silver and freestyle bronze, in addition to helping the British team secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Shortly after arriving home from Herning, Natasha discovered she was pregnant with her first child. After a period of maternity leave out of the saddle, baby Joshua was born in April 2023. Natasha returned to riding that June, with her sights set on selection for Paris 2024.
Out of the saddle, Natasha is a regular voice on FEI.TV and ClipMyHorse.TV, commentating on their coverage of major dressage competitions.
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Keystone Dawn Chorus
- Known as: Lottie
- Owners: Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, and Phil, Lorraine and Natasha Baker
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Height: 16.1hh
- Age: 13yrs
- Bloodlines: Dimaggio x Escudo
- Breeder: S. Lavandera GBR
Lottie and Natasha's partnership began in 2019, with their eyes set on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games from the outset. However, the delay of the Games due to COVID-19 gave them an extra year to bond, an opportunity they took full advantage of and which saw them between the white boards in both para and able-bodied competitions. Such is Lottie's calm and kind personality that Natasha was also able to try cantering her in open spaces out hacking – something she'd never been able to attempt previously. One year later than intended, they headed to Tokyo, still very lacking in international experience as a partnership – it was only Lottie's fourth international outing with Natasha and she'd never travelled abroad before – but that didn't stop them from taking home individual and freestyle silver, and helping Britain to team gold.
Although they have only had limited outings in 2022 due to Natasha getting married, those they have had have were winning ones. This helped them be selected for the FEI Para Dressage World Championship in Herning, Denmark, where they picked up individual silver and freestyle bronze.
When Natasha found out she was pregnant shortly after their return to Herning, she handed Lottie's reins to her long-term coach Lisa Hopkins to compete at Elementary level. The partnership had a number of successful outings, including a win at the Winter Regional Championship at Wellington in February 2023. They finished third at the NAF 5* Winter Championships, before winning the Summer Regional Championship at Parwood Equestrian Centre. Lisa and Lottie had one last outing to the LeMieux National Dressage Championships in September 2023, where they finished fourth.
Natasha and Lottie returned to the white boards at Hickstead CPEDI3* in May 2024, where they won all three of their classes. They picked up two more wins and a second place at the CPEDI3* at Wellington, before finishing their selection campaign at Hartpury with three more wins.
Natasha describes Lottie as 'my little Mary Poppins, because she's practically perfect in every way'.
Personal Bests
| Individual test | Team test | Freestyle test |
|---|---|---|
| 76.54% | 78.09% | 81.83% |
| British Dressage Para Winter Championships (2020) | Wellington Festival of Para Dressage (2022) | Wellington Festival of Para Dressage (2021) |
Grade 5: Sophie Wells
- Age: 33
- Based in: Harby, Lincolnshire
- World ranking: 10 (all grades) / 1 (Grade 5)
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.
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. Away from the yard, Sophie is dedicated to her personal fitness and enjoys spending time with her two Chihuahuas, Bailey and Ginny.
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Egebjerggards Samoa
- Known as: Diana
- Owner: The Lady Joseph Trust
- Colour: Black
- Sex: Mare
- Age: 8
- Height: 16.1hh
- Bloodlines: St Schrufo x Gribaldi
- Breeder: Anders Green Hansen DEN
Diana is Sophie's newest talent. They started their competitive career together in April 2021, contesting Novice and Young Horse classes before trying para dressage in September 2022. Since then, they've had outings for both dressage and para dressage, although para dressage has been the main focus for the past two years with an eye on Paris 2024.
To give Diana exposure to big atmospheres, Sophie took her to the London International Horse Show in December 2022 to take part in the para dressage masterclass, where the black mare caught the eye of the crowds.
Prior to her selection for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2023, Diana had contested just four international competitions in her career, starting at Keysoe the previous October. In the build-up for the championship, she went to Hickstead for the debut para dressage classes at the All England Dressage Festival, then headed overseas to Kronenberg (NED) for the Peelenberg CPEDI3*. Her final international run in the build-up to Riesenbeck was the CPEDI3* at Hartpury, where she and Sophie won the freestyle.
Diana picked up her first championship medals in Riesenbeck – a team bronze and a freestyle bronze. They also finished third individually in the team Grand Prix B test, and sixth in the individual Grand Prix A test.
Sophie spent this season preparing Diana and Don Cara M in tandem for the Games. Diana's campaign began with three wins at Addington CPEDI3* in March, followed by two more at Hickstead CPEDI3* in May. They then headed to Wellington CPEDI3* for second in the Grand Prix A and wins in the Grand Prix B and Grand Prix Freestyle. Their final run was at Hartpury CPEDI3* in July, where they finished second in the Grand Prix A and B behind Don Cara M.
Diana was originally selected as Sophie's direct reserve ride for Paris 2024, but received her call-up when a minor veterinary issue ruled out Don Cara M.
Personal bests
| Individual (Grand Prix A) | Team (Grand Prix B) | Freestyle |
|---|---|---|
| 73.932%% | 75.877% | 82.46% |
| Hickstead All England Dressage Festival (2024) | Wellington Festival of Para Dressage (2024) | Wellington Festival of Para Dressage (2024) |