The Brits will head to Paris as underdogs, however it will likely be an attractive battle on the high, says H&H dressage editor Oscar Williams
Britain has a stellar dressage report on the Paralympics and has received crew gold at each Video games because the self-discipline joined the programme in Atlanta in 1996 – however the tides are turning.
In 2018 British dominance and a 22-year unbeaten streak at para dressage championships have been damaged by the Netherlands who took gold on the World Equestrian Video games, relegating the Brits to silver by 0.6%. On the European Championships the next 12 months the Dutch received gold once more, extending their margin of victory over the British to nearly 6% this time.
All of that meant that the British crew went to the Tokyo Video games as underdogs. With an inexperienced line-up of horses – all of whom have been making their championship debut – the stress was off with a lot of the press billing it as an opportune warm-up for Pairs.
However within the absence of expectation got here a freedom to take dangers, and the British crew delivered three exceptional, emotional exams to scoop their seventh consecutive Paralympic title towards the percentages.
Since then, what we’ve come to know as regular service has resumed with the chastened Dutch retaining their world champion standing in 2022 – whereas the Brits slumped to their lowest-ever championship end in fourth – and their European title final summer time.
So can the British crew upset the percentages once more or will we see the Dutch do what they didn’t do in Tokyo and full their championship assortment?
Properly, regardless of not but figuring out which three combos will contest the crew competitors, count on the British riders to come back out stronger than on the Europeans.
Natasha Baker – competing at her fourth Video games – returns to the crew along with her Tokyo medallist Daybreak Refrain whereas debutante Mari Durward-Akhurst is the present world primary and shall be driving the all-star Athene Lindebjerg, who competed on the Rio Video games in 2016 with Sophie Christiansen to win triple gold.
Nevertheless it’s nonetheless arduous to look previous the Dutch riders. Their two highest scorers from the Europeans – Demi Haerkens on Daula and Sanne Voets on the bona fide legend Demantur – are on the crew once more whereas Annemarieke Nobel on Doo Schufro and Rixt van der Horst on Royal Fonq are trending on increased scores than the combos they’ve changed.
European silver medallists Germany may even threaten the highest spots.
The well-backed USA squad are additionally a lot fancied and are below the tutelage of Michel Assouline, who led the British crew throughout their golden run.
Whereas the rise of those challengers might spell the tip of Britain’s interval of Paralympic dominance, excessive requirements present how a lot the game has progressed since Atlanta in 1996 the place athletes have been driving borrowed horses.
Regardless of the final result, it will likely be a incredible watch with the equestrian venue at Versailles one of many first two Paralympic venues to promote out – a stark distinction to the vacant grandstands of Tokyo.
H&H’s dressage editor’s Paralympic podium
Who received the Paralympic dressage crew medals since 1996
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The solar rises over the Olympic dressage area at Versailles.
Credit score: Martha Terry
Sophie Wells and Don Cara M on the World Para Dressage Championships 2022.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
A “pleasant” horse in motion on the Tokyo Video games.
Natasha Baker offers a thumbs up after her efficiency within the grade III particular person check on the Tokyo Paralympic Video games.
Credit score: Getty Photographs
Credit score: Future
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H&H dressage and sport horse editor
Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s diploma in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for high dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after ending an equine administration course at school. Underneath Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, alongside his day job.