Uxbridge's Paralympic dressage champion this week confirmed her place in the Great Britain squad for next month’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Baker booked her spot with a stunning double victory in the team event and the FEI Para Freestyle Test Grade II competition at Hartpury’s international Festival of Dressage at the weekend.
A thrilled Baker said: “I’m very excited. I’m heading into it as the WEG newbie so it’s even more exciting. JP [her horse, whose stable name is Cabral] has been such a star and has been getting better each year.
“This will be the fourth successive championship I’ve been selected with him for, so that really shows our partnership. I expect WEG will have more of a feeling of the Paralympic Games, especially as there’s eight sports there competing.
“To be able to watch the other disciplines will make it even more special and to have that one big family feel, all supporting each other will be great. It will be my trainer Lisa’s [Lisa Hopkins] first championships with me so am really excited for her as well.”
Baker, who won two gold medals at London 2012 two years ago, will be joined on the British team by Ricky Balshaw, Sophie Christiansen, her hero Lee Pearson and Grade IV star Sophie Wells.
All riders compete as individuals at the Championships, however a team of four riders will be announced before the start of the competition to contest the team event.
Great Britain’s para-equestrian dressage team are the current and undefeated World, European and Paralympic champions.
Baker has transverse myelitis, an inflammation of a section across the spine, which she contracted when she was 14 months old. The nerve damage is permanent, leaving her with a severe weakness and the inability to feel her legs.
