Whether you’re a long-time fan of the Team GBR Olympic team or new to the sport of equestrianism entirely, you’ll find like-minded people having the most important discussions on this dedicated fansite. We’ve explored Team GBR equestrian news, history, and related topics in an easy-to-understand and detailed guide.
For those who don’t know, Equestrianism is a sport that includes three disciplines: Dressage, Showjumping and Eventing. While Team GBR, also known as the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, competes across all three disciplines in the Summer Olympics, only Dressage is competed in during the Paralympics.
Equestrian is one of only three sports where men and women compete against each other, with the best events showcasing the skill of both riders and horses. As we will cover on this page, Team GBR has produced plenty of stars under its current name for more than 20 years.
Competitions
While the Olympic and Paralympic games are the best-known outings of Team GBR Equestrian, the team actually participates in several other competitions. There is a major event each year, with the European and World Championships being the most high-stakes and popular outside of the Olympics and Paralympics.
The competitions that Team GB equestrian competes in are:
- Olympics and Paralympics
- World Championships
- European Championships
- Young Rider European Championships
- Junior European Championships
- Pony European Championships
Both of these are held over four days and include eventing, dressage, showjumping and para-dressage. For each discipline, teams can be made up of three or four riders, with the three highest scores counting towards the final score. The European Championship is held bi-annually, so it’s a great indicator of who may perform in the Olympics.
The European Championship in equestrian sports is a thrilling event, showcasing talents in eventing, dressage, showjumping, and para-dressage over four days. With teams comprising three or four riders and only the top three scores contributing to the final tally, the competition is fierce and a fantastic predictor of potential Olympic performances. This bi-annual event also includes the Young Rider Championships, Junior European Championships, and Pony European Championships, which are crucial for anyone keen to spot the rising stars in UK and Northern equestrian talent. For enthusiasts and bettors alike, staying informed about these events is crucial, and the best UK betting sites offer comprehensive coverage, odds, and insights, making them an invaluable resource for following these prestigious championships.
Within this competition, you will also find the Young Rider Championships, the Junior European Championships, and the Pony European Championships. These competitions are essential viewing for those seeking to catch the up-and-coming UK and Northern equestrian talent.
Olympic Equestrian Sports
All equestrian disciplines are run throughout the Olympics, and this is perhaps the most exciting event on the equestrian calendar. The Team GBR equestrian team operates under the British Olympic Association, with competitions organised in conjunction with the international governing body for equestrianism, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).
Dressage
Olympic dressage tests the capacity of horse and rider (a combination) to perform different movements, including walks, trots and canters. Each movement in the set is judged by judges out of 10. These marks are added together along with extra marks for the rider’s seat and other aids. There are three dressage rounds.
The first is the Grand Prix qualifying round. All three combinations from a team perform, with the total points of the team’s combinations added together. The top eight teams will head to the Grand Prix Special, or the Team Final, which is where you’ll hopefully see Team GB dressage placed.
The top 18 combinations, regardless of team, head to the Grand Prix Freestyle, or the Individual Final. These are often the most electrifying of the equestrian events, as riders can display their creativity and skill with added flourishes to a set of required movements. Both team and individual medals are handed out for each competition.
Showjumping
Showjumping sees combinations compete set courses that include obstacles to jump called fences. Winning combinations will leave as many fences up in the shortest time. When a fence is knocked or the time limit is exceeded, penalties are accrued. Combinations scoring no penalties will ride another shorter course.
There are both qualifying and final rounds for individuals and teams. The best-placed 30 individual combinations will head to the final, while the best-placed 20 teams will head to the team final. No scores from the qualifying rounds will be considered during the final rounds.
Team GB showjumping can be extremely captivating for those with a profound love of equestrian sports, as the event displays a high level of speed and agility.
Eventing
Eventing is a competition that brings together all the best qualities of equestrian sports. The Team GB eventing team will compete in three phases, including dressage, cross country and showjumping. The first phase, dressage, is held as described above and competed as teams of three combinations.
The cross country phase sees combinations tackle a course that includes around 40 obstacles, such as logs, water, ditches and corners. Like showjumping, competitors can accrue penalties based on their performance for each obstacle and whether they can complete the course within the time limit.
There are then two showjumping rounds to determine the team and individual winner. Eventing is considered to be the equestrian equivalent to a triathlon, as it tests combinations’ harmony and stamina.
Paralympics Equestrian Sports
Para-Equestrian is for those with a classifiable physical or visual impairment, with Para-dressage being the only equestrian event to be included in the Paralympics. That said, there are other types of para-events that are competed in outside of the Paralympics that test the ability of both rider and horse combinations.
Paralympic Dressage
Para-dressage is known as para-equestrian at the Paralympics due to it being the only equestrian sport in the competition. Depending on the athletes’ levels of functional capability, athletes are organised in different grades. Grade 1 consists of a walk, grades 2 and 3 consists of walk and trot, and grades 4 and 5 consists of walk, trot and canter.
The event sees medals given to teams and individuals. Three combinations can participate in each team for the event, though teams can’t contain more than one rider from each grade. All tests are held and graded similarly to the Olympic dressage event, with individual, team and freestyle rounds awarding medals.
Paralympic Driving
While not included in the Olympics, para-driving is another para-equestrian sport that tests combinations in thrilling three-phase events. The sport is named as such as drivers must sit and steer from a vehicle drawn by a single horse or pony. The phases include dressage, marathon and obstacle driving.
Competitors are placed into one of two grades and can be judged in both individual and team categories. Considered to be one of the most spectacular of all equestrian sports, para-driving is a high-octane showcase of control, stamina, speed, and fearlessness.
Non-Olympic Equestrian Sports
There are several equestrian sports that are practiced that you will not find scheduled in the Olympics. These include vaulting, driving, reining, and endurance riding. They are vastly different sports that display the talents of horse and rider in a myriad of ways and are well worth paying attention to.
Vaulting
Equestrian vaulting, or vaulting, brings together the best aspects of gymnastics and horseback riding. This is often performed individually, though can be done in pairs and teams too. The sport sees horses move in a minimum 15-metre diameter circle directed by a lunger from the centre of the circle.
Combinations must perform compulsory exercises and choreographed freestyle manoeuvres to music. Each exercise will be judged out of 10. At the highest level of competition, it’s common to see riders stand on their horses or perform jumps and tumbling. The premier vaulting competitions are held at the World and Continental Championships and the World Equestrian Games.
Driving
Driving, as described in the above section on para-driving, is an equestrian sport that involves riders paired with horses that they control from drawn carriages. Similar to eventing, there are three phases of the sports: dressage, cross-country marathon and obstacle cone driving. The sport can be performed in singles, pairs or teams.
The dressage round is performed similarly to Olympic level equestrian dressage. Cross country marathon is like that of the second stage of eventing, where riders must showcase the pace and stamina of the horse over a long course. Obstacle cone driving is like showjumping, whereby combinations must navigate a course of 20 cones without knocking them over.
Reining
Reining is a sport that is traditionally popular in the United States and Australia, and sees riders guide horses through a choreographed routine of circles, spins and stops. Horses perform in gallops and lopes (a slow canter), and is similar to dressage in that the combination’s movements and horse control are judged.
Similar to dressage, individuals can also perform in freestyle competitions set to music, which, like figure skating, can display a rider’s creativity and flair. Reining has steadily grown in popularity over the years, and the sport is regulated at the international level by the FEI. It is tested for both individuals and teams at the World Equestrian Games.
Endurance (Cross Country Riding)
As the name suggests, endurance riding is a test of horse and rider’s ability at long-distance riding. The entry-level courses start at 16 km long and can be as far as 160 km to be trecked in one day. While this could raise concerns about animal welfare, the assurance of the horse’s health is strictly integrated into the sport.
Endurance can either be in graded or competitive rides. The aim of graded rides is for combinations to comply with pace parameters throughout various terrains. The horse’s speed and recovery rate is graded at the end. In competitive rides, combinations compete in a cross-country race, with the winner the first to cross the line.
Team GBR Equestrian Past Successes
Team GBR compete in several prestigious competitions that are regulated by the FEI, and have been an incredibly successful team that has inspired pride across Great Britain and Northern Island. In this upcoming section, we’ve detailed the team’s successes at the most important championship equestrian events.
Successes at Olympics and Paralympic games
The Olympics and Paralympics have long been the most revered event in equestrianism, and in recent years, Team GBR and its riders have been some of the most successful. The following table outlines the successes of Team GBR and its riders throughout the history of equestrianism in the Olympics and Paralympics.
| Competition | Place held, Year | Discipline | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympics | Berlin, 1936 | Eventing | – | – | 1 |
| Olympics | Helsinki, 1952 | Jumping | 1 | – | – |
| Olympics | Stockholm, 1956 | Eventing | 1 | – | 1 |
| Jumping | – | – | 1 | ||
| Olympics | Rome, 1960 | Jumping | – | – | 1 |
| Olympics | Tokyo, 1964 | Jumping | – | – | 1 |
| Olympics | Mexico City, 1968 | Eventing | 1 | 1 | – |
| Jumping | – | 1 | 1 | ||
| Olympics | Munich, 1972 | Eventing | 2 | – | – |
| Jumping | – | 1 | – | ||
| Olympics | Los Angeles, 1984 | Eventing | – | 1 | 1 |
| Jumping | – | 1 | – | ||
| Olympics | Seoul, 1988 | Eventing | – | 2 | 1 |
| Olympics | Sydney, 2000 | Eventing | – | 1 | – |
| Olympics | Athens, 2004 | Eventing | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Olympics | Beijing, 2008 | Eventing | – | – | 2 |
| Olympics | London, 2012 | Eventing | – | 1 | – |
| Jumping | 1 | – | – | ||
| Dressage | 2 | – | 1 | ||
| Olympics | Rio, 2016 | Jumping | 1 | – | – |
| Dressage | 1 | 1 | – | ||
| Olympics | Tokyo, 2020 | Eventing | 1 | 1 | – |
| Jumping | 1 | – | – | ||
| Dressage | – | – | 2 | ||
| Total: | Eventing | 6 | 8 | 7 | |
| Jumping | 4 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Dressage | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||
Due to limited information, we have only been able to present the medal count for the paralympics equestrian events from 2000. They are as follows:
| Competition | Place held, Year | Discipline | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympics | Sydney, 2000 | Dressage | 5 | – | 2 |
| Paralympics | Athens, 2004 | Dressage | 5 | – | 3 |
| Paralympics | Beijing, 2008 | Dressage | 5 | 5 | – |
| Paralympics | London, 2012 | Dressage | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Paralympics | Rio, 2016 | Dressage | 8 | 3 | – |
| Paralympics | Tokyo, 2020 | Dressage | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Total: | Dressage | 31 | 16 | 7 | |
Successes at World championships
Outside of the Olympics and Paralympics, the World Equestrian Games (WEG) are the most significant international championships for equestrian sports. The Team GBR equestrian team have proven to be formidable participants over the years, with the event being a reliable indicator for the team’s performance in the Olympics.
The WEG is held every four years and is regulated by the FEI. The championship is held over two weeks and tests several disciplines, including eventing, dressage, vaulting and para-dressage. In the following table, we’ve listed the medals won by Team GB and its athletes since 2010.
| Year | Discipline | Team / Ind. | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Eventing | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB |
| Ind. | – | 1 | – | William Fox-Pitt | ||
| Dressage | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | 2 | – | Laura Tomlinson | ||
| Vaulting | Ind. | 1 | – | – | Joanne Eccles | |
| Para-dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 6 | 3 | 3 | Various | ||
| 2014 | Eventing | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB |
| Ind. | – | 1 | – | William Fox-Pitt | ||
| Dressage | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 2 | – | – | Charlotte Dujardin | ||
| Vaulting | Ind. | 1 | – | – | Joanne Eccles | |
| Duo | – | – | 1 | Joanne and Hannah Eccles | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 3 | 4 | – | Various | ||
| 2018 | Eventing | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB |
| Ind. | – | 1 | – | Ros Canter | ||
| Dressage | Team | – | – | 1 | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | – | 1 | Charlotte Dujardin | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 2 | 1 | – | Sophie Wells (Gold), Natasha Baker (Silver) | ||
| Total: | 19 | 17 | 6 | Various | ||
Successes at European championships
The European Championships is similar to the Olympic games, though its participants can only come from European countries. The event is held every two years, and athletes will usually continue on to wow the judges at the Olympic level.
Over the many years that Team GB has participated in the games, it has dominated the equestrian sports category. In particular, the para dressage team consistently wins a plethora of medals. In the following table, we’ve listed the medals won by Team GB in the previous decade’s European Championships.
| Year | Discipline | Team / Ind. | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Eventing | Team | – | – | 1 | Team GB |
| Dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | 2 | 1 | Carl Hester (Silvers), Laura Tomlinson (Bronze) | ||
| Jumping | Team | – | – | 1 | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | – | 1 | Nick Skelton | ||
| Vaulting | Ind. | 1 | – | – | Joanne Eccles | |
| Duo | – | 1 | – | Joanne and Hannah Eccles | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 7 | 3 | – | Various | ||
| 2013 | Eventing | Ind. | – | – | 1 | William Fox-Pitt |
| Dressage | Team | – | – | 1 | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 2 | – | – | Charlotte Dujardin | ||
| Jumping | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | 1 | 1 | Ben Maher (Silver), Scott Brash (Bronze) | ||
| Vaulting | Ind. | – | – | 1 | Joanne Eccles | |
| Duo | – | 1 | – | Joanne and Hannah Eccles | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 6 | 4 | – | Various | ||
| 2015 | Eventing | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB |
| Dressage | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 2 | – | – | Charlotte Dujardin | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 2 | 8 | – | Various | ||
| 2017 | Eventing | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB |
| Ind. | – | – | 1 | Nicola Wilson | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 5 | 1 | 1 | Various | ||
| 2019 | Eventing | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB |
| Jumping | Team | – | – | 1 | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | 1 | – | Ben Maher | ||
| Para-dressage | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | 1 | 3 | – | Georgia Wilson (Silver, Gold), Sophie Wells (Silver) | ||
| 2021 | Eventing | Team | 1 | – | – | Team GB |
| Ind. | 1 | 1 | 1 | Nicola Wilson (Gold), Piggy March (Silver), Sarah Bullimore (Bronze) | ||
| Dressage | Team | – | 1 | – | Team GB | |
| Ind. | – | – | 1 | Charlotte Dujardin | ||
| Total: | 35 | 31 | 13 | Various | ||
Popular Team GBR Equestrians: Past and Present
Oliver Townend MBE
By Smudge 9000 – originally posted to Flickr as 310 Oliver Townend on Flint Curtis, CC BY 2.0, Link
- Born November 15, 1982
- Eventing Rider
- First Championship: 2005 European Championship
- Won Gold in Team for 2007, 2009, 2017 European Championships
- Won Gold in Team in 2020 Olympics
- Appointed MBE in 2022 for Equestrianism
- Notable Horses: Ballaghmore Class, Swallow Springs
Laura Tomlinson MBE
By Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK – Athletes parade, Olympic and Paralympic, London 2012 Uploaded by Kafuffle, CC BY 2.0, Link
- Born January 31, 1988
- Dressage Rider
- First Championship: 2004 European Young Riders Championships
- Won Gold in Team and Individual Silver for 2011 European Championships
- Won Gold in Team and Individual Bronze in 2012 Olympics
- Appointed MBE in 2013 for Equestrianism
- Notable Horses: Douglas Dorsey, Mistral Højris
Ben Maher MBE
By: OndRond derivative work: Nordlicht8 – This file was derived from: Ben Maher La Baule 2013.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
- Born January 30, 1983
- Showjumping Rider
- First Championship: 2004 European Young Riders Championships
- Won Gold in Team for 2004 European Young Riders Championships and 2013 European Championships
- Won Gold in Team and Individual in 2012 and 2020 Olympics respectively
- Appointed MBE in 2013 for Equestrianism
- Notable Horses: Diva II, Sarena, Explosion W.
Charlotte Dujardin CBE
By: Equestrian derivative work: Nordlicht8 – This file was derived from: Charlotte Dujardin 2012 Olympic Dressage.JPG, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
- Born July 13, 1985
- Dressage Rider
- First Championship: 2011 European Championships
- Won 5 Gold in European Championships, 2 Gold in WEG and 3 Golds in Olympics
- Is Britain’s Most Decorated Female Olympian of All Time
- Appointed OBE in 2013 and CBE in 2017 for Equestrianism
- Notable Horses: Valegro, Gio
Joanne Eccles MBE
By Oliver Abels (SBT) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
- Born February 16, 1989
- Vaulting Rider
- First Championship: 1999 European Championships
- Won 5 Individual Golds for WEG, World Championship and European Championships
- Won 3 Silvers in Pas-de-deux with Sister Hannah at European Championships
- Appointed MBE in 2017 for Equestrianism
- Notable Horses: WH Bentley
William Fox-Pitt MBE
By Russ Hamer – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
- Born January 31, 1969
- Eventing Rider
- First Championship: 1985 Junior National Championships
- Won 2 Team Silvers and 1 Bronze in the Olympics
- Was FEI Number 1 Eventing Rider Five Times Between 2002 and 2014
- Appointed MBE in 2017 for Equestrianism
- Notable Horses: Atlantic Vital Spark, Tamarillo
Sophie Wells OBE
By Barney Moss – flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link
- Born May 5, 1990
- Para-Dressage Rider
- First Championship: 2007 World Para Dressage Championships
- Won Three Medals at the 2012 Paralympics, 2 Golds and 1 Silver at the 2016 Paralympics, and Team Gold & Individual Silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
- Appointed MBE in 2013 and OBE in 2022
- Notable Horses: Don Cara M, Classic Jillz
Equestrian Glossary
- Action – the way a horse uses its body. Can apply to its legs, knees, feet, and shoulders among other thing, and often used to describe motion at the trot, canter or gallop
- Aids – any natural or artificial signal from the rider to the horse that tells it what to do
- Balk – when a horse refuses to move for any reason, whether injury or disobedience
- Canter – a three-beat horse gait, a moment during which all four hooves are suspended from the ground
- Carriage (or coach) – a two- or four-wheeled vehicle drawn by a horse
- Gallop – the fastest horse gait, similar to a canter though becomes an irregular four beat gait at its fastest
- Gait – how the horse moves its legs, whether a walk, trot, canter, lope or gallop
- Halter – a rope headpiece that is attached to a lead, used for leading and displaying horses
- Jump – an obstacle, or the act of leaping over the obstacle
- Lope – a fairly slow canter that is used in western-style riding such as reining
- Pedigree – the lineage of a horse
- Pas de deux – seen in dressage, an equestrian performance using two horses
- Purse – the prize money in an horse-based competition
- Rearing – when a horse rises up in its hing lands, often as an act of disobedience
- Tack – the equipment that the horse wears, such as saddles and halters
- Transition – the movement between one gait and another
- Walk – the slowest of the horse gait, in four-beats
- Western riding – a riding style that uses a western saddle and bridle
FAQs – All the Important Questions About Equestrian Team GBR
Do you still have some questions that have not yet been answered on this page? Below, we have answered some commonly asked questions about the Team GBR equestrian team and other relevant topics.
Who was in the Team GB equestrian 2020 Olympics team?
In Team GB dressage for the 2020 Olympics was Charlotte Dujardin CBE, Carl Hester MBE, Charlotte Fry and Gareth Hughes in reserve. For Team GB eventing, the team includes Laura Collett, Tom McEwen, Oliver Townend and Rosalind Canter in reserve. For Team GB showjumping, Scott Brash MBE, Ben Maher MBE, Harry Charles and Holly Smith were on the team. Team GB para dressage included Natasha Baker MBE, Sir Lee Pearson, Sophie Wells MBE, Georgia Wilson.
Did Team GB win any medals for equestrian in the 2020 Olympics?
Yes, Team GB secured a total of five medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Oliver Townend secured gold in the team eventing, and McEwen earned silver in the individual competition. In dressage, Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Charlotte Fry won a team bronze, and Dujardin earned an individual bronze. Ben Maher secured an Olympic title in the Jumping event.
Who is the most famous Team GBR athlete of all time?
Charlotte Dujardin is the most famous and most celebrated Team GBR rider of all time. She has won three Olympic gold medals and has set several World Records with her horse Valegro. She has earned the most gold medals of any female British Olympian of all time, and the second-most in the world.
What rank is Charlotte Dujardin?
You can check Charlotte Dujardin' current ranking on the FEI Dressage World Ranking web page. She has, at some point, been ranked 1st.
Who is the most famous eventing rider?
Oliver Townend is perhaps the most successful and famous of all Team GB eventing riders. Not only has he won one Olympic Team gold medal, but he has also won 3 Team Gold at the European Championships. He has been ranked number one on the FEI Eventing charts several times and holds the number one spot in 2022.