24/08/2026
🏆 From European Champion to World Championship groom!
From winning European Championship gold with Dream, 20-year-old Sophia Routledge travelled straight from Romania to Aachen — but this time experiencing the World Championships from behind the scenes as a groom.
We caught up with Sophia to reflect on an incredible few weeks, her partnership with Dream, her European Championship success, her experience at Aachen and her ambitions for the future.
From achieving a dream result in Romania to getting a glimpse of what it takes to compete on the biggest stage, it’s certainly been a few weeks to remember! ✨
Read our interview with Sophia below. 👇
1.Congratulations on your European Championship gold! How does it feel now that you’ve had a few days to take it all in?
It feels amazing to have achieved something that I thought would never happen.
2.What does winning a European Championship mean to you, particularly with Mister Dream?
He has been a huge part of my driving career, with many successes along the way but also many lows. We have such a great partnership, and the week really showed what we can do together.
3.You’ve gone straight from that incredible result in Romania to Aachen. What has the last week been like for you?
Aachen has been a great week, with the horse teams competing and many big names showing what they are capable of. It has also been great to see many international trainers who we have had the opportunity to train with, and to see what all the work that goes into.
4.And now you’re here at the World Championships — but this time as a groom rather than a competitor. What’s it like being on the other side of the reins?
As a driver, I would have loved to have competed at Aachen. However, it’s amazing to be behind the scenes, getting to see all the hard work that goes into getting to be on the big stage.
5.What have you enjoyed most about being part of a World Championship team at Aachen?
Being part of a different nation has been nice, to see how everyone else does the competition. The USA team has been so welcoming, and the horses have behaved well in the atmosphere.
6.You’re only 20 and already have a European gold medal to your name. What are your ambitions for the future?
It’s been an ambition to get to the top level of our sport, and hopefully that will happen in the next few years, with goals being set to progress through the sport. With the trainers behind me, I think it will happen.
7.Has being here at Aachen and seeing the World Championship up close made you even more determined to compete here yourself one day?
It’s been a great show and an amazing experience. However, driving a horse team is on the cards, but never say never…
8.Looking back over the last couple of weeks, how would you sum up the experience?
The last couple of weeks have been phenomenal, from travelling across Europe through lots of countries and lots of songs sung, to competing at another Europeans with Dream, where he performed at the top to take gold, and then on to Aachen.
The few weeks have flown past, and amazing memories have been created which won’t be forgotten. With lots of people by my side — family, trainers, sponsors and especially my teammates — these experiences are ones to remember.
Driving European Championship Osorhei 2026 FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 British Young DriversBritish EquestrianFoundation Performance Training LLC British Grooms Association
