Annabella Pidgley and her European gold medallist horse Gio, also known as “Pumpkin,” made their World Cup debut at the Neumunster grand prix in Germany, finishing seventh with a score of 70.70%. Annabella expressed great satisfaction with the test, noting that since Pumpkin moved to Denmark, he has been in top shape and full of power. After spending much of 2025 apart, with Gio in the UK and Annabella in Denmark, the pair reunited and recently competed successfully at the Aarhus CDI3*, achieving second place in both the grand prix and special tests.

Looking ahead, 21-year-old Annabella plans to continue gaining experience and enjoying her partnership with Pumpkin, aiming to compete in more senior international classes. She values the learning opportunities these big shows provide and hopes to apply her growing knowledge to training her younger horses. Annabella emphasizes the importance of listening to Pumpkin’s readiness and cherishes the special bond they share as they progress together in their dressage careers.