Sophie Wells to spouse emerging big name at Paralympics after gold medallist out

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

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

He’ll get replaced at the British squad by means of Sophie’s direct reserve journey Egebjerggards Samoa, an eight-year-old mare owned by means of The Girl Joseph Believe.

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

This chic Blue Hors St Schufro daughter wowed on her championship debut on the 2023 Europeans. Even if she was once slightly inexperienced – as anticipated at best seven years previous – she confirmed huge possible in her performances as she scooped freestyle and workforce bronze. She has persevered to provoke on outings this 12 months, together with a large new freestyle non-public very best of +82% at Wellington in June. Sophie has been getting ready each horses in tandem.

“Whilst that is just a minor veterinary factor, horse welfare is at all times our most sensible precedence and due to this fact it’s no longer in Donnie’s very best passion to compete in Paris. We’d love to thank his proprietor, Rowland Kinch, for his unwavering strengthen thru this procedure,” mentioned British Equestrian para dressage efficiency supervisor Georgina Sharples.

“The proficient Egebjerggards Samoa (Diana) will now make her Paralympic debut. This can be a lucky place to be in that, in Donnie and Diana, we now have two of the most efficient Grade V horses on this planet and I stay up for seeing Diana step into that incredible enviornment at Versailles.”

Paris can be Sophie’s fourth Paralympic Video games. British horses and riders will in a while be travelling to their UK prep camp, ahead of 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 world wearing occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a couple of Ecu Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a couple of. She has lined present affairs and sports activities information around the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, trade information and court docket circumstances.