Tryon 2018: Great Britain riders revealed

Five-time Paralympic champion Natasha Baker heads a star-studded British line-up for the World Equestrian Games, which take place in Tryon, USA, this September.

Grade III rider Baker, who won triple gold at the Rio 2016 Games and double gold at London 2012 will compete on Mount St John Diva Dannebrog. Grade IV’s Sophie Wells, Rio 2016 double gold and silver medallist will also be there, on C Fatal Attraction, as will veteran British rider Sir Lee Pearson, on Styletta.

They are joined by one of Great Britain’s rising stars, Erin Orford, in grade III, on Dior. Orford will be making her WEG debut this year, having helped Team GB to European team gold last summer, and picking up an individual silver there too.

“I’m really excited to make my WEG debut,” she said. “And I hope that I will be able to show Dior at her best and deliver some strong performances in Tryon.”

Great Britain Performance Manager, Sarah Armstrong added: “The strength and depth in the combinations available gave our selectors a strong base to select from. The team is a combination of experience from the human athletes, and it’s really exciting to see new horses coming through to compete at their first World Equestrian Games too.”

Australia announce Booth

On the other side of the world, Equestrian Australia has named Emma Booth as its sole competitor at the WEG, which features both Para and able-bodied disciplines.

Booth, 27, was a reserve rider for the Australian team at the 2014 edition and finished fifth in the Individual Championship Test Grade II at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games on Mogelvangs Zidane.

She said: “I’m just thrilled to be given the opportunity to represent Australia on the world stage again. I learnt a lot from my experiences with Zidane in Rio and know that this has made us a stronger combination.

“I am going away with the best possibility of bringing home a medal.”