Tustain struggled with an injury to her riding hand in Athens

Tustain, 27, is part of a seven-strong British squad for the event, which begins in Hungary on Friday.

Britain go into the competition as defending European team champions after triumphing in Portugal four years ago.

Paralympic champions Debbie Criddle and Lee Pearson will come up against each other for glory in the Grade 3 section.

Criddle is the defending Grade 3 champion in both the individual and free categories but Pearson, who won in the Grade 1b titles four years ago, is competing at the higher level to test himself against other riders.

Tustain won two individual silvers as well as the team gold in 2001 and she knows the importance of trying to maintain their winning run which has seen them currently hold the European, World and Paralympic team titles.

"Since the Atlanta Paralympics in 1996 we have been the dominant country in the team event and that has got us a lot more respect both from within the sport and among able-bodied riders," she said.

"It has helped raise our profile and a lot more people understand what we do so we are aiming to continue that at the Europeans."

GB SQUAD FOR HUNGARY Grade 1a: Sophie Christiansen (Martini Maybe), Anne Dunham (Amo) Grade 2: Jo Pitt (Lambrusco), Nicola Tustain (Prinz Heinrich) Grade 3: Debbie Criddle (Pompidou), Lee Pearson (Blue Circle Boy) Grade 4: Michelle Crunkhorn (Painted Affair)

The Welsh rider will again pair up with Prinz Heinrich, whom she rode to two individual bronze medals and a team gold in Athens.

But Tustain, whose Paralympics campaign was affected by an injury to her riding hand, is hoping for better fortunes in Hungary.

The GB team will be under the guidance of new performance coach Michel Assouline for the first time at a major international competition after the Frenchman took up the post earlier this year.

"I think in Athens my horse took advantage of my injury so I was delighted to have come away with the two individual bronzes and the team gold.

"Since then I've been working with the horse daily at home and I now have a trainer who lives locally to me which means my work is monitored on an almost daily basis.

"It would be nice to come away with two individual golds but I know that when you are dealing with horses anything can happen so it is good to be in with a chance.

"The likes of Germany, Sweden and Holland will be tough competitors, both in the individual and team categories.

"But my preparations have gone well and the horse is in good form so I am confident I can go out there and do my best."