Pony selection confirmed for FEI European Championships

The British Dressage U21 Selectors have completed the selection process for the FEI Dressage European Championships for Pony riders in Strzegom, Poland, 11 – 15 August 2021 and are delighted to confirm which riders will be representing Great Britain.

The two riders, who will both be competing as individuals, are (in alphabetical order):

Ruby Hughes (13) from Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire with Shirley Rixon’s Hilkens Showgirl (palomino mare, 2013, Dreidimensional x Champion De Luxe, WESTF, Breeder: Sabine Meiners).

Gracie Morgan (15) from Bedale, North Yorkshire with Julie Morgan’s Ella (grey mare, 2009, Caesar 171 x Santano, KWPN, Breeder: Julie Lockey).

Mette Dahl (14) from Haywards Heath, West Sussex was also selected with Fiona Bigwood’s George Clooney BS (grey gelding, 2011, Caesar 171 x Santano, KWPN, Breeder: Julie Lockey).

However, Mette has opted to compete at the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors taking place this week in Oliva, for which she was also selected with Florina 146, as riders are not permitted to compete at both.

“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic this year, our Pony riders have done a great job to produce their ponies and achieve the required scores to qualify to represent Great Britain in Poland,” commented BD International Director Judy Harvey.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic this year, our Pony riders have done a great job to produce their ponies and achieve the required scores to qualify to represent Great Britain in Poland.

“They continue to show much promise and we have every confidence that they’ll perform at their best at Strzegom. On behalf of the BD Board, we wish both of them, as well as Mette and our other Under 21 riders competing this week in Spain, every success at the European Championships.”

The competition at Strzegom gets underway on Wednesday 11 August with two days of the Team test, where the first medals (for those nations fielding teams) will be decided. The riders will then battle it out for Individual honours over the following two days before the Freestyle medals are decided on Sunday 15 August.

Keep an eye on the BD website and our social media channels for all of the latest news and updates around the FEI U21 European Championships.

Photo © Adam Fanthorpe