Sophie Wells MBE

Sophie was born in 1990 in Lincolnshire and was brought up on the family farm.  

Sophie was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, a congenital disorder caused by entrapment of fetal parts (usually a limb or digits) in fibrous amniotic bands while in the womb. Horses came into her life when Sophie sat on a pony at a friend’s birthday party and soon she was attending her local riding school. Despite being very allergic, Sophie loved the horses and the connection you build with each one.

In 2008 Sophie was reserve for the Beijing Paralympic Games with Touchdown M, although huge disappointment followed when Touchdown was called up and was lame, later being diagnosed with a tumour in his foot. This distressing time was, however, to lead to the partnership with Pinocchio, who went on to be Sophie’s wonder horse. Together they went to their first championships in 2009 - the Europeans - winning three Gold medals, the first Gold a British rider had ever won at Grade V.

They went on to win more European golds as well as gold medals at the World Championships 2010 and London Paralympic Games 2012. They even became the first para rider to compete on an able-bodied championship team at the Young Rider Europeans 2010 and 2011, fulfilling so many dreams together, including competing at Grand Prix. Further dreams were fulfilled when Sophie and Valerius won the Individual gold medal at the Rio, and not to be outdone, C Fatal Attraction was Prix St George winter champion in able-bodied competition at Hartpury 2017 followed by two gold medals and a Silver at the European Championships 2017. Sophie is also making a name for herself as a coach, with student Natasha Adkinson being selected for the Para European championships 2017.

In 2019, C Fatal Attraction was selected for Blue Hors CPEDI*** in Denmark, in which GB won the team competition. Find out more about Sophie at: https://sophiewells.com/