Following two intensive training camps taking place in the autumn of 2025, 12 young athletes have been selected to progress from the Foundation Academy to the British Dressage National Academy.
The selected athletes impressed the coaches and programme staff, demonstrating hard work, progress in training and commitment to all aspects of the sport.
BD National Academy
All selected riders were successful applying their learnings from the first Foundation camp, to show great progress at the second training day; evidencing the mindset and determination needed to excel in the sport.
The National Academy aims to equip young people with the skills needed for a successful, lasting career in dressage: not only in furthering their ridden abilities, but also giving them the knowledge they need in the fields of business, management and personal attributes. The selected athletes showed commitment to all areas of the programme, including ridden training, strength and conditioning, personal profiling, goal setting and performance planning.
Selection
As part of the National Academy, the selected athletes will receive nine months of training activity and support from British Dressage and partners, funded by Sport England.
National Academy athletes are selected from the pool of Foundation Academy athletes each year. Selection is based on feedback and opinion from the Academy coaches, this year made up of: Harry Payne, Kate Cowell, Hannah Biggs, Simon Cushman (strength and conditioning), Suzanne Riddell (strength and conditioning) Nina Boex (profiling) and Ali Dane (profiling).
Congratulations to the following 12 National Academy athletes for 2026 (in alphabetical order):
- Ava Fowler (North & East)
- Ellie Tomkinson (North & West)
- Freya Percival (North & East)
- Grace Smith (North & East)
- Isabelle Maughan (North & West)
- Jessie Clarke (Scotland)
- Mia Smith (North & West)
- Millie Jones (Scotland)
- Millie Neath (North & West)
- Moya Payne (South & West)
- Olivia Luscombe (South & West)
- Pip Reed (South & East)
- reserve 1: Oliver Gould (North & West)
- reserve 2: Marie-Ayesha Barilits Gupta (South & West)
Learn more about the BD Academy here.
Related Links
2024 British Dressage Youth National Academy Athletes Selected
Twelve British Youth National Academy Athletes Selected for 2023
Twelve Riders Selected for 2019 British Dressage Youth National Academy
Six Dressage Riders Welcomed to 2018-2019 British Young Professional Programme