British rider Annabella Pidgley and her horse Gio, known as Pumpkin, made their FEI Dressage World Cup debut at Neumunster, Germany, on February 14, 2026. The pair scored 70.70% to place seventh in the grand prix, behind winners Justin Verboomen and Djembe De Hus Old from Belgium who achieved 76.83%. Pidgley described the performance as feeling amazing.
Annabella Pidgley, a 21-year-old British rider and U25 European gold medalist, competed with Gio at the Neumunster grand prix, marking their first appearance in the senior World Cup circuit. The event took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in Germany. Pidgley and Gio earned a score of 70.70%, securing seventh position in a field won by Belgium's Justin Verboomen aboard Djembe De Hus Old with 76.83%.
Pidgley shared her enthusiasm with Horse & Hound, stating the test "felt amazing." She noted improvements in Gio since his move to Denmark: "Since ‘Pumpkin’ moved to Denmark he just feels better and better. He is in really top shape at the moment and brings so much power into the ring." Pidgley called Gio "my horse of a lifetime," adding, "to have all these first special experiences with him means everything to me. He’s the best."
Prior to Neumunster, Gio had spent much of 2025 in the UK while Pidgley trained in Denmark, focusing on another horse, Vamos Amigos. Gio joined her later that year, and their most recent outing was the Aarhus CDI3* in December 2025, where they placed second in both the grand prix and special with scores over 71%. Pidgley commented on Gio's adjustment: "He’s settled in so well. Coming from my quiet home set-up, you never know how they’ll be but he absolutely loves it." She described him as "the smallest horse we have at Helgstrand, but he thinks he’s the king of the place. He is so fresh at the moment and the vibrant and energetic atmosphere suits him well."
This was Gio's only competition in 2025, following their success at the young rider and U25 European Championships in St Margarethen, Austria, in July 2024. There, they contributed to the under-25 team's fourth-place finish and earned individual silver and freestyle gold.
Looking forward, Pidgley plans another international outing soon. "My plan is to have fun, gain experience and most importantly listen to what Pumpkin feels ready for," she said. "He is such a show horse and loves to be the centre of attention at the big shows so I can’t wait to enter more big arenas with him." She aims to build senior-level experience while applying lessons to her younger horses.
