The 2026 NAF Hartpury Festival of Dressage drew to a close following six days of outstanding international dressage and para dressage, Premier League and youth competition at Hartpury University and Hartpury College.
The festival once again welcomed leading international combinations, Britain’s brightest young horses and the next generation of riders, reinforcing its reputation as one of the highlights of the British and international dressage calendar.
Charlotte Dujardin and Brave Heart completed a CDI3* double by adding the NAF CDI3* Grand Prix Special title to the Grand Prix victory they secured earlier in the week.
The British combination topped the leaderboard with 74.702%. Ashley Holzer, representing the USA, finished second aboard Hawtins San Floriana on 72.574%, while Britain’s Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC completed the podium on 70.787%.
The Baileys Horse Feeds CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle to Music was won by Great Britain’s Matt Frost and Lenika, who earned an impressive 77.642% following an expressive and harmonious performance. Bryony Goodwin and Sheepcote Just Daisy finished second on 74.350%, with Jade Clark and Jemimah HH third on 72.967%.
The final day also saw the KBIS British Dressage Young Horse Semi-Finals take centre stage. Jezz Palmer dominated the four-year-old class with Spotify Anmore, scoring 89.000%, before also claiming second with Maverick Caledonia Anmore. Tom Goode and Dynamic Prince won the five-year-old semi-final on 82.200%, while Lily Laughton and EQP Deidre topped the six-year-old section with 85.000%.
Across all three age groups, the semi-finals highlighted the exceptional quality of Britain’s developing dressage horses, with successful combinations now progressing to the KBIS British Dressage Young Horse Championship Finals at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships.
The international youth classes also concluded with a series of strong performances from emerging British talent. Avah Heath and WFD Just Dillon won the FEI Pony Rider Individual Competition, Isadora Lawrence and Piccasso claimed the FEI Children on Horses Individual title, Lily Cawley and Quimbaya 6 topped the FEI Junior Individual, and Megan Field with Bright Time won the FEI Young Rider Individual.
Earlier in the weekend, Saturday evening’s feature classes delivered further highlights as Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina claimed the NAF CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music with 76.940%, while Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree were crowned Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges Champions.
Saturday’s competition also paused to honour the memory of esteemed international dressage judge Stephen Clarke, whose immense contribution to the sport was recognised with a minute’s silence before the evening’s feature classes. Fellow FEI judge Michael Osinski addressed fellow officials and spectators, paying tribute to Clarke’s dedication, professionalism and lasting influence on dressage around the world.
Hartpury alumni were also well represented across the festival, underlining the institution’s continued influence on the sport beyond current students and academy athletes.
Highlights included Hartpury College alumnus Lewis Carrier finishing third in the NAF CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music with Diego V, while former Hartpury Academy rider Rob Barker claimed victory in the KBIS British Dressage 7-Year-Old Young Horse Semi-Final aboard Kilans Bartholomew. Hartpury University alumna Annie Ho also returned to compete at the venue where she studied BSc (Hons) Equine Business Management.
Their performances reflected Hartpury’s long-standing role in supporting riders through both academic and sporting pathways, with alumni continuing to make their mark across national and international dressage.
The festival opened with three days of international para dressage competition, with Great Britain securing the CPEDI3* Team title and standout performances from riders including Mari Durward-Akhurst, Jemima Green, Erin Orford, Nicola Naylor and Sophie Wells. Wells and MSJ Gold Standard produced the highest CPEDI3* Freestyle score of the week, breaking the 80% barrier to win the Grade V Freestyle on 80.265%.
The final Premier League competition of the season also delivered high-quality sport throughout the week, with notable victories for Laura Tomlinson, Amy Woodhead, Lucy Amy, Kate Cowell, Michael Eilberg, Bryony Goodwin and others.
Phillip Cheetham, Equine Director at Hartpury University and Hartpury College, said: “It has been another exceptional NAF Hartpury Festival of Dressage and we’re incredibly proud to have welcomed such a high standard of competition across every level.
“From international Grand Prix and para dressage through to young horse championships and youth classes, the quality on display has been outstanding. Hartpury has once again provided an important platform for established combinations, developing horses and future stars of the sport.
“We’re hugely grateful to our sponsors, officials, judges, volunteers, riders, owners, spectators and the Hartpury team for making the festival such a success.”
Once again, a number of staff and students volunteered, helping to host one of the UK’s leading dressage events.
