Sophie Wells to companion rising star at Paralympics after gold medallist out

British Paralympic gold medal-winning horse Don Cara M (pictured, high) has been dominated out of Paris, so Sophie Wells will as an alternative companion rising star Egebjerggards Samoa at subsequent month’s Video games (3 to 7 September).

Sophie and Don Cara M (Donnie), owned by Rowland Kinch, helped Britain to workforce gold on the Tokyo Paralympics, the place in addition they bagged grade V particular person bronze. It was introduced as we speak (19 August) that the 15-year-old gelding won’t compete in Paris owing to “a minor veterinary situation”.

He can be changed on the British squad by Sophie’s direct reserve trip Egebjerggards Samoa, an eight-year-old mare owned by The Woman Joseph Belief.

Sophie Wells and Egebjerggards Samoa on their method to taking freestyle bronze on the European Para Dressage Championships 2023.

This elegant Blue Hors St Schufro daughter wowed on her championship debut on the 2023 Europeans. Though she was comparatively inexperienced – as anticipated at solely seven years previous – she confirmed monumental potential in her performances as she scooped freestyle and workforce bronze. She has continued to impress on outings this 12 months, together with a large new freestyle private better of +82% at Wellington in June. Sophie has been getting ready each horses in tandem.

“Whereas that is solely a minor veterinary situation, horse welfare is at all times our high precedence and due to this fact it’s not in Donnie’s finest curiosity to compete in Paris. We’d prefer to thank his proprietor, Rowland Kinch, for his unwavering assist by way of this course of,” mentioned British Equestrian para dressage efficiency supervisor Georgina Sharples.

“The proficient Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana) will now make her Paralympic debut. It’s a lucky place to be in that, in Donnie and Diana, we now have two of the very best Grade V horses on the planet and I sit up for seeing Diana step into that incredible area at Versailles.”

Paris can be Sophie’s fourth Paralympic Video games. British horses and riders will shortly be travelling to their UK prep camp, earlier than travelling to Paris on 29 August.

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H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound workforce in 2015, Lucy has reported from main international sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a number of. She has lined present affairs and sports activities information throughout the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, trade information and court docket circumstances.