British Equestrian and Endurance GB have announced the highly anticipated nominated entries of athlete and horse combinations for the FEI Endurance World Championship for Seniors 2026. Following weeks of intensive selection discussions and 1:1 consultations with qualified riders, the selectors have named the elite partnerships poised to represent Great Britain at the prestigious event in Butheeb, UAE, taking place on the 19th December 2026.
The Nominated Athletes & Horses
• Nicola Thorne
- Dayway Stream Bliss
- Akala Sunbird
• Rebecca Pinder
- Mulfet AA 82 27
- Gable Armor
• Carmine Villani
- Bayla D'Alluech
- Petra Del Rey
• Imran Iqbal
- Gaz J'M De Jalima
This year's nominated entries bring together an exceptionally experienced group of athletes and horses who are no strangers to the intense pressure of international competition.
Leading the squad in championship appearances is Norfolk's "Nicki" Thorne, who has represented Team GBR at World and European level an impressive 11 times. Her partnership with the seasoned 13-year-old gelding Dayway Stream Bliss is already proven at this level, having helped secure a brilliant team 6th place at the 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship for Seniors in Monpazier, France. Alongside Bliss, Nicki has her exciting 9-year-old homebred gelding, Akala Sunbird, who is set to make a spectacular championship debut.
Spain-based Rebecca Pinder and West Sussex-based Carmine Villani each bring five historic championship campaigns to the table. Rebecca's campaign is spearheaded by the talented 10-year-old gelding Mulfet AA 82 27, with whom she clinched an impressive individual 14th place at the 2025 European Championship in Castiglione del Lago, Italy. Carmine's campaign features two incredibly experienced mares: the 15-year-old Bayla D'Alluech—with whom he finished 16th at the 2023 European Championship in Ermelo, Netherlands—and the 14-year-old Petra Del Rey.
Completing this world-class lineup is Dubai-based Imran Iqbal, whose localised knowledge of desert conditions will be invaluable to the team. Imran is nominated with the promising 10-year-old gelding Gaz J'M De Jalima. The pair have already demonstrated their championship pedigree on the world stage, claiming a superb 9th place finish at the 2024 Young Horses World Endurance Championship in Arborea, Italy.
"I am absolutely thrilled with the calibre of the partnerships on this year’s nominated entries," said Maggie Pattinson, Chef d’Equipe of the Team GBR Senior Squad.
"In endurance, the connection between horse and rider is everything. To have combinations that have already placed in the world's top twenty, alongside highly competitive younger horses stepping up, gives us a very exciting dynamic. Butheeb is a beautiful but technically demanding track that champions horse welfare, and I have every confidence that these horse-and-rider partnerships have the skill, patience, and resilience required to excel. We look forward to finalising our squad as we head toward November."
Key Information & Dates
Definite Entries Deadline: 17th November 2026
• Squad Composition: 4 Riders, 4 Horses, and 3 Reserve Horses
• The Event: FEI Endurance World Championship 2026
• Venue: Butheeb International Endurance Village (BIEV), UAE
• Championship Ride Date: 19th December 2026
• Travel & Logistics: Horse transport is managed by official shipping agent Equitrans Logistics LLC, with UK-based horses flying the approved route from Liege (Belgium) to the UAE.
Please join us in celebrating and congratulating these elite horse-and-rider partnerships on their well-deserved selection to the Team GBR nominated entries.
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