Sophia Routledge

Sophia is one of Britain’s most exciting young carriage drivers, already making her mark on the international stage. This year, she claimed individual gold in the U25 Pony Single division at the FEI Driving European Championships in Osorhei, Romania  delivering three brilliant phases with her long‑standing partner, Mister Dream VD Achterhoeve aka Dream.

Their performance also helped secure a fourth‑place finish for the British Young Drivers team, cementing Sophia’s status as a rising star in the sport.

Horses have been part of Sophia’s life since childhood and she transitioned fully into driving at eleven, where she quickly found her passion in driving and her pony, Dream. He is a Belgian Sports pony standing at 13.1hh and he has been her teammate through national titles, international appearances, and championship victories. Their partnership is built on trust, consistency, and a shared determination that shines through in every competition

Sophia’s achievements include being crowned Open Pony Champion and Supreme Champion at the Indoor Carriage Driving UK Championships in 2025, alongside multiple national titles and recent success at 3* level. Despite the intensity of the sport, she and Dream remain grounded in the joy of working together. A bond that carries them through dressage, marathon, and cones with focus and flare!

Sophia shares her journey online to spotlight a niche discipline and inspire others to discover carriage driving. You can follow her on Instagram and on Facebook.

Horse welfare is central to Sophia’s programme, especially as Dream is sensitive to dust. Since switching to Burlybed Miscanthus Pellets and using Burlybale Economy Haylage, Dream’s coughing has completely resolved allowing him to rest well, recover properly and perform at his peak. For Sophia, Burlybed has become an essential part of keeping her pony healthy, happy, and competition‑ready.

Looking ahead, Sophia has her sights set firmly on the 2027 World Championships. With Dream by her side and a growing community behind her, she continues to push for excellence while championing the sport she loves and we are proud to be building a partnership with this exciting young talent.