Great Britain’s Dressage Team Triumphs with Bronze at Paris 2024

Great Britain's dressage riders overcame a bumpy lead-up to claim a bronze medal in the team event at the Paris Olympics. The team, consisting of seven-time Olympian Carl Hester, Lottie Fry, and Becky Moody, delivered a combined score of 232.492% to finish behind gold medallists Germany and silver medallists Denmark at the Chateau de Versailles.

British dressage star Charlotte Dujardin withdrew from the Games and was provisionally suspended by the sport's governing body for "excessively" whipping a horse.

With this bronze, Great Britain has now secured medals in dressage at four consecutive Games. This also marks their fourth equestrian medal at Paris 2024, complementing golds in team eventing and jumping, as well as Laura Collett’s eventing bronze.

Hester, the veteran and cornerstone of the team, scored 76.520% on Fame but saw Denmark and then Germany overtake. Fry, the 2022 individual world champion, delivered a crucial score of 79.483% on Glamourdale, securing the medal for the British team, though they awaited final confirmation of their standing.

Germany, who won by just 0.12 points, now holds a record 15 golds in the team dressage event, including eight of the past nine Olympics, with Great Britain's win at London 2012 being the only exception. German rider Isabell Werth, at 55, became the first athlete to win a medal at seven different Olympics.

The equestrian community was stunned on July 23 when Dujardin, one of Britain’s most decorated Olympians, was caught in a scandal involving her treatment of a horse during a training session. The FEI’s subsequent suspension of Dujardin and her loss of sponsorships were a significant blow to the team.

For Moody, the experience was unexpectedly intense. “Two weeks ago, I was expecting a lovely 10-day holiday in France,” she said. “Instead, it’s been an amazing but challenging journey with an incredible team around me.”

Fry, who also won team bronze with Hester and Dujardin in Tokyo, reflected, “It wasn’t the easiest build-up, but I think it’s really brought us closer together.”

The individual dressage final will take place on Sunday, with Fry, Hester, and Moody all vying for further success.