The final day of the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2025 at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo was bathed in sunshine with a blustery wind. Five grades, 15 Para Grand Prix Freestyle medals and a place in para dressage history were up for grabs as Europe’s best combinations took to the floor in a day to remember.
All four of Britain’s riders had qualified to take part in the medal battle, with Grade 2 duo Jemima Green and Fantabulous up first. Following them were Gabriella Blake with Strong Beau and Mari Durward-Akhurst with Athene Lindebjerg in the Grade 1, then Nicola Naylor was the final rider down the centre line of the championships with Humberto L in the Grade 4.
Grade 2: Jemima Green and Fantabulous
With an individual bronze medal already in the bag and the formality of the team test behind them, today was a chance for Hampshire-based rider Jemima Green to throw everything at today’s finale. She’s certainly had a debut week to remember with her seven-year-old dancing partner Fantabulous and, in their last outing at Hartpury, they scored a personal best in their Freestyle – which helped secure their selection for Ermelo – so hopes were high.
As the last to go in the super-competitive Grade 2 class, 74.907% was the score to beat to get onto the podium. Their music is upbeat, with violin-lead songs from Caitlin de Ville and Lindsay Stirling, and it really suits ‘Fanta’s’ bright outlook. Under the guidance of trainer Georgie Nicholls, Jemima walked around the arena with her chestnut partner gleaming, thanks to the grooming expertise of Maisie Hodge, and gave the signal to start their music.
In Fanta marched and halted, while Jemima gave a salute to Finland’s Marjukka Manninen, the judge at C, and the duo was on their way with purpose. A slight stumble was soon left behind as they picked up a good working trot, which fit perfectly with the beat. A serpentine was well presented in trot with super swing, and the first medium was bravely ridden. The walk leg-yields were positive, as was the medium walk, which showed good ground cover and relaxation. As they rounded the top A end of the arena, the wind began to gust and the giant umbrellas covering the spectators fluttered furiously, but Fanta held his nerve. The final halt brought a huge smile to Jemima’s face and huge applause from the onlooking supporters.
Throughout the test, the contact between horse and rider was beautiful, with Fanta taking the rein and listening intently to his rider. A further highlight was Jemima’s riding of her transitions, which were crisp and direct. The scores began to come in and it was looking positive – 76.307% was the confirmed total when the technical and artistic marks were computed, which was new personal best for the duo by 0.26%. It was a fabulous end to a ‘fantabulous’ week.
“I’m just absolutely ecstatic – I’m so proud of him, it was the most confident he’s felt all week,” beamed Jemima. “I’m not going to lie, I hate music day. My personality is very ‘tell me what to do and I’ll do it’, so the flexibility of freestyle just makes me a little bit anxious. As soon as I’m in there, I’ll take a breath, but it was actually really quite enjoyable today.”
She explained, “Fanta used to be quite music- sensitive, particularly to big, strong beats. We wanted something that highlights his paces, but it also has to be quite subtle with flow of things. We had the floorplan quite simple, where we’ve struggled with the confidence in our freestyle, so we have quite an easy routine where I can just get the trot work done, have a little bit of a walk and then pick it back up again. I just want him and myself to go in there and enjoy it, and gain confidence, before we try to make it a little bit more complicated.
“There were just a couple of times in there where he had a little side-step, but I don’t think it was within any of the movements, so I was really pleased. I’m slightly kicking myself because I don’t feel like our medium trot was the strongest – I thought maybe I needed to put in another one, but then I thought ‘no, no, I can’t do that’, where I just get that anxiousness and question myself, which is where I need to get better so I can show him off better. I’m absolutely thrilled to get a personal best, but there’s still so much more to come – I feel like when I can go in there and enjoy it a bit more, I can help him out a bit more,” she continued.
In summing up her week in Ermelo, Jemima said; “To win two medals was a complete shock and very overwhelming! Honestly, without the huge support from UK Sport and the National Lottery, and the entire support staff of British Equestrian, I wouldn’t have felt so confident throughout this whole week. Fanta has been absolutely adored by everyone and is in the best possible condition. They have filled me with so much confidence, especially after the other day [when Fanta spooked in the warm-up], they know how to keep me calm and give me the confidence. Honestly, without them, there’s no way any of us could be here.
“I’m just honoured to have him [Fanta] in my life. It’s such a privilege to have such a lovely horse – not only with his personality, and he’s a wonderful person, but he’s just so talented. It’s such an honour to ride something so amazing. His breeders [Rainer and Angelika Ahlers] have been here and they’re just thrilled. My dad, my mother-in-law and my husband are here, and they love him and they’re just so thrilled to see our partnership. To have him from four years old and produce him up to this is just amazing. Without Georgie and the team, and World Class, who thought ‘oh my God!’ when they saw me getting on a four-year-old… I just love that they’ve seen him from that point until now. It’s just incredible, you don’t get that lucky!”
Para dressage has new stars in its elite ranks – we look forward to the next exciting chapter for Jemima and Fanta.
Grade 1: Gabriella Blake and Strong Beau
Wolverhampton-based rider Gabriella ‘Gabby’ Blake will have been happy when drawing her bedroom curtains this morning to be greeted by bright sunshine, after the rain severely impacted her team test day. Additionally, Gabby loves Freestyle day and who better to dance with than her horse of a lifetime, Strong Beau, who she owns with parents Gavin and Estelle Blake.
Gabby had been teasing the assembled media all week with her music and floorplan choice for today, so it was with much expectation that she set off down the centre line, intensely watched by coach Sophie Wells, herself a Freestyle specialist. As ‘Beau’ halted for the first time, Gabby looked as proud as ever to be sat in that saddle and, after she’d saluted C judge Marc Urban from Belgium, off they marched to the unmistakable tune of ‘Falling In Love With You’ by UB40.
Beau set off on a bit of a mission – almost a bit too much – but Gabby got him settled and his clockwork march was perfectly in the beat of the Reggae medley of music. An expertly guided centre line serpentine showed great purpose and Gabby interlinked tight half circles for a complex, active floorplan. Gabby has an acute awareness of the arena, always looking around to make sure she’s pin-point accurate. Beau was intently listening for his instructions, although still keeping half an eye on the astroturf around the edge of the arena that he’d spooked at in his last test.
With Pato Banton’s ‘Baby I Love The Way’ ringing out, they marched around the arena in great harmony with great energy. As they turned down the centreline for the final time, the sun caught their red, white and blue bejeweled browband to add a touch of extra sparkle to their halt. Gabby looked pleased, and so she should. The score was 74.400%, which put her into second place at that stage with a few more top combinations to come.
“I’m a bit disappointed, I’m not going to lie,” said Gabby. “He was very cheeky in there and I did not expect him to be like that because he wasn’t like that in the 10-minute box. There are a lot of things that he did do well and I can’t take that away from him. My stretches were very good, my halts were pretty good and I was on time with my music. My freestyle is my favourite thing to do, but today he made it quite hard work for me.
“It was just him being a horse. I think the shadow from the astroturf gave him a bit of a fright today. I didn’t know it was coming, but horses are horses. He can be cheeky. I had to be there for him today and hold his hand, but there were lots of lovely parts in there,” she reflected.
“I’ve had that music for a year – I had it done when I was a reserve for Paris last year, so it’s fairly new. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t quite like it at the beginning because it’s not really my kind of music, but it goes really, really well with him and shows him off.
“Sophie [Wells] has been here all week and held my hand throughout, and I couldn’t have done it without her. It’s been a challenge this week. I just want to thank the National Lottery as well – we wouldn’t be here without them,” Gabby ended emphatically.
Grade 1: Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg
Mari Durward-Akhurst, from Buckinghamshire, is a huge fan of the Freestyle, particularly since making her Paralympic Games debut in France last summer – it was in this test, riding the same partner, Athene Lindebjerg and to the same music score, that she won her first Paralympic medal. After two majestic performances with the equine partner she lovingly calls ‘the duchess’ so far this week, confidence levels for today were high.
Last to go in the Grade 1, with personal coach Rob Waine by her side, Mari circled the arena with Athene’s panther-black coat shining bright in the sunshine courtesy of groom Jenny Ellis. They started with a halt almost instantly as they turned up the center line, which all judges gave at least an eight. Off they went in a purposeful, cat-like prowl around the arena through a complicated floorplan of serpentines, circles and changes of diagonal. Mari had selected some stirring music from Hollywood blockbusters such as Pearl Harbour and Pirates of the Caribbean – certainly fit for a duchess.
Mari was, as ever, alert to making full use of the arena to give her tall charge the best chance of showing off her stunning walk. Athene was certainly onward-bound, but not pushed out of her natural rhythm and with a really steady, inviting contact. The walk with a stretch was a real highlight, with good reach and steps.
As the test went on, so the relaxation shone through and their progress around the arena appeared effortless – the duo didn’t look like they wanted it to end. However, finish it must and a good final halt signaled the end. Mari and Athene had given it everything in search of a medal – the target to beat for at least bronze was 76.394%, set by veteran Norewegian duo Jens Lasse Dokkan and Aladdin. It felt a very long wait but, eventually, 77.140% was announced – a second bronze of the championships was heading home to Buckinghamshire.
“I’m really happy to be taking home another medal and I’ve broken my ‘one medal per championship’ because this is the first time I’ve won two. She was so on it, and we got ahead of the music, so we finished a little bit early – there were a few little blips, too, but overall, it was amazing,” beamed Mari.
“She loves the music and it suits us both so well – I know it inside and out, which is always helpful, and she does too – almost too much! It [the music] shows her off so well, it’s music for a duchess. Going last in there was quite a bit of pressure, but we tried to own it and give our best.”
When asked about her Dutch adventure, Mari said; “It’s been incredible! I’m on cloud nine at the moment– everything’s gone to plan, every test I went in and didn’t have any major mistakes, and we’ve got the results. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in, everything that I’ve achieved, once I get home it might.
She added; “I always joke that her carrots are her wages and as long as we keep giving them, she’s happy to carry on.”
Long may the carrots flow for The Duchess from South Bucks RDA.
Grade 4: Nicola Naylor and Humberto L
For a second time, Kent-based rider Nicola Naylor, making her senior British para dressage team debut, was the final rider of the day – but today, she was also the curtain closer on the entire championships. Riding her own and Ros Emery Kay’s Humberto L, Nicola came in with a few nerves. Just before her, Alexia Pittier and Sultan 768 had given the leaderboard a huge shake-up by stealing into the lead for France by nearly over three percent, which got the crowds going.
As usual, she and caller Julie Riches worked through their acclimatisation to settle ‘Humbo’, with personal coach Sarah Millis eagerly watching on. A few rounds of the arena in canter to orientate herself and Nicola was ready. The music started and they were on their way, with a bold start in canter to make the judges sit up and take notice. The canter was active and impressive as they rode canter five-metre loops and leg-yield, with Nicola showing the suppleness and rideability of her charge, even if he was feeling a bit frisky.
There was a sharp intake of breath from everyone as Nicola resumed her canter work and Humbo put in a huge spook in medium canter as she passed X, but it was an incredible save by the rider and it was quickly behind them as she pressed on. The walk tour was strong, with Nicola managing him well and the walk showing good steps and purpose.
The half pass zig-zag in trot was a clever ending to again show the harmony between the two and the final centre line, with Bond music ringing out, brought a good halt and end to a test packed full of energy, bravery, difficulty and musicality, courtesy of the iconic British film and TV tunes providing the backdrop. It was a performance that was going to be in the medal mix but, with three riders all very close for only two medals, someone was going to lose out. The final mark, taking in the technical and artistic scores, was 74.825%, meaning Nicola was that rider, by just 0.17%, but such are the close margins in para dressage.
“I was actually super, super pleased with his test. He felt like he gave me the power and expression I’ve been looking for all week. If it hadn’t have been the fact that he jumped at his own shadow, which was unfortunate – otherwise, I think that was what I was looking for and what I wanted, but he just gave me some extras I didn’t want! It was so close,” said Nicola.
“I always like to ride well and I feel like I rode that well, so that makes me happy. He may have given me a few extras, but that’s the horse I know I’ve got and he’s the horse I wanted to show off here. The way of going, the expression, the power – today, we got them. The first day he was maybe a little bit shy, yesterday he wasn’t quite there, but today we got it.
“Seeing his own shadow in the medium canter and the spook will have cost that mark but, given that happened, it was an amazing overall score,” she reflected positively.
Nicola gave some insight into her routine; “I’ve had this routine for a while. I really love it so that’s why I’ve not changed it. It was done by [co-owner] Ros Emery Kay, who does freestyle music. It’s quite inventive and works well for him.”
And what were her hightlights today? “His way of going was great today. As I rode him, it was what I wanted all week. I know he was a bit jump,y but the actual way of going, his connection, his thoroughness, was I’ve been looking for and I’m so happy we got it,” she beamed.
And the last word from the final rider of the 2025 championsips; “It’s been an amazing week, I’ve really enjoyed it. To get a medal at your first championship is amazing – to have the experience, to realise how hard it is! Both of us will have grown from it and I want to do it all again!” she exclaimed.
The final Freestyle podiums
Grade 1
Gold Rihards Snikus (LAT) and Lord of the Dance, 80.674%
Silver Sara Moraganti (ITA) and Mariebelle, 79.827%
Bronze Mari Durward-Akhurst (GBR) and Athene Linebjerg, 77.140%
Fifth Gabriella Blake (GBR) and Stong Beau, 74.400%
Grade 2
Gold Heidemarie Dresing (GER) and Poesie 143, 80.934%
Silver Katrine Kristensen (DEN) and Goerklintgaards Quarter, 78.374
Bronze Jemima Green (GBR) and Fantabulous, 76.307%
Grade 3
Gold Rixt van der Horst (NED) and Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P., 80.634%
Silver Tobias Thorning Joergensen (DEN) and Jolene Hill, 79.807%
Bronze Francesca Salvade (ITA) and Escari, 76.274%
Grade 4
Gold Alexia Pittier (FRA) and Sultan 768, 78.055%
Silver Louise Etzner Jakobsson (SWE) and Goldstrike B.J., 75.145%
Bronze Pia Wulff Jelstrup (DEN) and Zafia, 74.995%
Fourth Nicola Naylor (GBR) and Humberto L, 74.825%
Grade 5
Gold Regine Mispelkamp (GER) and Pramwaldhof’s Bayala, 77.700%
Silver Britney de Jong (NED) and Caramba N.O.P., 76.490
Bronze Lena Malmström (SWE) and Fabulous Fidelie, 75.615%
Emerlo entertained, next stop Blenheim Palace
The team and individual competitions over the last six days at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre have had it all – drama, euphoria, extremes in weather, disappointment but, above all else, camaraderie. The sport of para dressage is a close-knit community and while the medal battles can be fierce, the overwhelming sense of togetherness is palpable.
Germany, long the dominant force in the able-bodied equivalent, claimed their first team gold medal, with the host nation claiming silver. The battle of bronze was edged by Denmark, with Britain narrowly missing a podium place – a triumph none the less for the new-look team boasting two debutants. Individually, the British haul was five medals, all of them bronze which, by the end of the week, was renamed ‘rose gold’, such is squad’s dressage love of all things bling.
You can catch up on all the action from the Para Dressage European Championships on FEI.TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, with a subscription or via the FEI YouTube channel. All the results are available via the Equipe platform and everything you need to know about the British squad and the competition on our online Para Dressage Hub.
There’s a week’s break from FEI European Championship action, but we’ll be back with our British Equestrian eventing squad, in partnership with Agria, who take on the challenge of Blenheim Place on home soil in Oxfordshire from 18 to 21 September. British Equestrian will be launching an online hub with the full lowdown on the squad, how the competition works and how you can support our intrepid six headed for the Palace.
Image Credit: Alamy Stock Photo