British Olympic dressage rider Laura Tomlinson and her husband England polo player Mark have welcomed their third child.

Laura revealed the happy news yesterday (16 January).

The baby girl, who was born on Tuesday evening, has been named Hanni Rose Tomlinson. She is a little sister to the couple’s elder daughter Annalisa, three, and their son Wilfred, one.

Laura said she is “delighted and blessed to welcome another little chestnut lady into the world”.

When Laura announced she was expecting last autumn, she told H&H she was “very pleased with the timing” as she hopes to be back in competition this year.

H&H columnist Laura was part of the gold medal-winning British team at the London 2012 Olympics with Mistral Hojris (Alf) and the pair also claimed the individual bronze medal.

She balances motherhood with her riding career and has a number of exciting up-and-coming stars in her string.

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Her last competition outing was at the dressage future elite championships at Horse of the Year Show in October, where she scored 73.58% aboard the nine-year-old Fallatijn Van Kairos.

International grand prix dressage rider Lara Butler (née Griffith), who is based with Laura, is also pregnant. The 2018 British Dressage national champion is expecting her first child, a baby boy, in April.

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Here’s nine things about the England polo player that you might not have known — some of them might surprise you...

1. As an England team stalwart since 2004, Mark has played for his country in the prestigious Coronation Cup a whopping 11 times, and has lifted the trophy on seven of those occasions. He’s also won Britain’s most high profile tournament, the Gold Cup, with Hildon Sport in 2003.

2. His mother is Claire Tomlinson — the most highly rated female player of all time, having held a five-goal handicap during the 1980s. Mark and his older brother Luke grew up at their parents’ Beaufort Polo Club — one of the premier clubs in the UK — and have now taken over the running of it.

3. He’s married to Olympic gold medal-winning dressage rider and H&H columnist Laura Tomlinson, and the pair have two children: Annalisa, three (pictured top with her parents in 2014), and Wilfred, one.

Mark’s not sure about the idea of Annalisa taking up polo when she’s older, though: “It’s great for polo that the ladies’ game is growing, but as a dad and a player myself I’m dubious about girls playing polo — it’s so physical and pretty much rugby on horseback, and I probably wouldn’t want my daughter — or my son — to play rugby either,” he says. “But the separate ladies’ leagues and handicapping system is great; they’ve realized that ladies can’t really compete at the top level with the guys. There are women such as my mum, and [top British female player] Nina Clarkin who have, but they are exceptions to the rule. Women-only polo creates more of a opportunity for younger girls, such as Annalisa one day, as they don’t have to go on the field with seven men.

“Ultimately I just want Annalisa and Wilfred to do something they are passionate about.”

4. Breeding polo ponies is high on Mark’s agenda — his sister Emma runs Tomlinson Equine, formerly known as Beaufort Embryo Transfer, which is based just down the road.

“Half my string are home-breds now and I’m starting to play the sons and daughters of my top mares, which is hugely satisfying,” says Mark.

5. He has had a spin on wife Laura’s dressage superstars — but it hasn’t always gone to plan…

“I have ridden Alf [Mistral Hojris] — he ran away with me! Let’s just say Laura is a lot of better at polo than I am at dressage,” he laughs.

6. Prince Harry’s a good friend, the pair having played alongside and against each other on many occasions — and Mark and Laura attended the royal wedding in May this year.

“The highlight of the day was at the reception, after Harry had done his speech he asked if anyone could play the piano. Elton John stood up and played a half hour set on the piano, all the old classics. It was absolutely amazing,” reveals Mark

7. He’s a dab hand in the kitchen — but also admits to having dishwasher OCD.

“I’m OCD about stacking the dishwasher — it must be done correctly! I’m not too shabby on the cooking though; my signature dish is either a classic spag bol or an Argentine style barbeque.”

8. His TV habits might surprise you…

“I love rom coms! My favourite films are Love Actually and Notting Hill,” admits Mark. “I also watch Home and Away on catch-up every day, after the kids have gone to bed.”

9. There’s no doubt in Mark’s mind what he would do if he wasn’t a professional polo player.

“If I didn’t play polo, I’d be a football manager — I’m very keen on my football and I’m an avid Newcastle supporter.”

Don’t miss the full interview with Mark Tomlinson in the current issue of magazine, which is out now and on sale up to and including tomorrow (27 June 2018).

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I received quite a reaction to my last blog and the video that accompanied it, with the comments about rearing generating a lot of social media “chat”. As far as I’m concerned, the more people that talk and share information about the problems they are having with their horse and how they are having success solving them, the better!

The odd day of sunshine is making us all on the yard look forward to spring, even though it will take some time for our fields to return to normal. Tom, my assistant trainer has returned to work after his car accident and for the first time in a while, the “Dream Team” of a fantastic group of grooms, my head girl Gem, my manager Sarah, myself and Tom will be firing on all cylinders.

However, it won’t last long as Sarah goes on maternity leave at the end of May and we’ll have to find a very special person to fill her boots while she gets to grips with motherhood. I’ve told her that after looking after me for 5 years, managing a newborn will be a breeze!

Enjoying polo ponies

For the past couple of years I have been starting a number of homebreds for the Tomlinson family at the Beaufort Polo Club, and 7 have just arrived as the first lot of this year’s batch. It is always a bit of a treat for me to work with these little horses who have been bred to have the excellent temperament, athleticism and agility needed for high goal polo. They are reminiscent of the Australian Stock Horses I grew up playing polocrosse, campdrafting and working the farm’s livestock on.

When these ponies come to me they have been handled expertly when required, but otherwise left to grow up in a herd environment where they can just “be horses”. This, along with their temperament, means I can aim to have them stick and balling with a little neck reining, lateral work and a soft stop after 3 or 4 weeks.

I had the added bonus of having one of the Tomlinson’s Argentine riders, Corto, to help me out for the first week. He didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish but we seemed to make each other understood by a lot of gesturing! In the photo (top) you can see how relaxed these ponies are – this was their first ride in the arena in front of some Hadlow College students who had come for a day visit!

A bucking challenge

Among the other horses in for training, one is proving quite a challenge. He was backed elsewhere, but he didn’t take very well to being ridden. Now, when he comes under any sort of pressure it is like someone has flicked a switch, and believe me, he has a pretty impressive buck on him – and that’s before you even put your foot in the stirrup!

He is not a particularly nervous horse, although he is sensitive in certain areas of his body, so he will tend to brace himself and buck rather than try to run away from pressure. He has been with me for just over a week and after some fairly intensive groundwork, I’m now riding him. This is where “feel” and “timing” really come to the fore as the trick with him is to diffuse any feelings of tension or attitude before it escalates into anything too serious.

As time goes on, I would expect these flash points to become less frequent and less explosive as he learns that I am giving him another option that will be far less strenuous for him!

Looking ahead

The next couple of months are going to be really exciting. I’m doing a fair amount of filming for a project I’ve got on the go and then I’ve got an interesting event in Horseman’s Calling, before taking an overdue family holiday to Texas with Penny and the kids. We are hiring a motorhome and going for a road trip taking in my UK polocrosse teammates, Danny Duhig and Rachael Gaylor’s wedding in Austin and a clinic we have lined up.

I haven’t spent much time in the US. The last time I went with a great friend to watch the Ray Hunt Memorial event where 9 horsemen and women started horses over the weekend using Ray Hunt’s techniques and it was a really interesting and educational trip. However, I’ve had to promise Penny and the kids that I’ll try and keep away from horses as much as possible this time!

Jason

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Olympic gold-medallist Laura Tomlinson and her husband international polo player Mark have announced that they are expecting their first child in July.

The couple got married in the Swiss skiing resort of Arosa last Spring (2 March) just months after Laura secured team gold and individual bronze at the London Olympics.

A statement read: “Laura and Mark are delighted to announce that they are expecting their first baby in July.

“Laura is feeling well and will continue to ride and compete for as long as she feels comfortable.”

Laura was last seen riding in public when she retired her Olympic ride Mistral Hojris at Olympia horse show (19 December). She has not competed since the National Dressage Championships in September.

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H&H columnist Luke Tomlinson has been named captain of the England polo team against the USA in defence of the Westchester Cup at Guards (28 July), which was last contested in 2009.

Making up the 28-goal quartet are James Beim, Luke’s younger brother Mark and New Zealander John Paul Clarkin. The traditions of this fixture dictate that a Commonwealth player can be included.

The Westchester Cup forms part of the Audi International series, in which England plays Australasia, USA and South Africa.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (18 July 2013)

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Olympic gold and bronze medal winning dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer is to marry her long-term boyfriend, England polo player Mark Tomlinson.

Mark, who is 29, proposed to 27-year-old Laura last week (22 August). The pair haven’t set plans yet but are hoping for a spring wedding next year.

“We were out walking my dog, when he proposed,” Laura told H&H.

“I was completely unsuspecting – I was wearing my riding breeches! He’d already gone and prepared — there were flowers by a fence and he had the ring.

“It was very exciting – I was a little bit shocked and took a while to find my words. I did manage to say yes though!”

The couple have been together for about three and a half years, after meeting through friends.

“He asked for my number from my friends, saying he wanted a lesson, quite sneaky!” she added.

Mark’s parents Simon and Claire own the Beaufort Polo Club. His brother Luke, England captain and H&H polo columnist, is engaged to marry his long-term girlfriend Cata Zavaleta.

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England polo player Mark Tomlinson was today being operated on at Cheltenham hospital after cutting his right hand with a knife earlier this week.

Mark, 25, plays for both the England and Apes Hill teams, the latter the first all-English professional team. The 2007 season is his first as a seven-goal player — and he has only played one match so far at the level.

The injuries to Mark’s hand means he will miss the next six to eight weeks — and the remainder of the British polo season.

Mark made his debut for England two years ago, and last year enjoyed his best high-goal season to date, reaching the final of both the Queens and Gold Cup, as well as helping England to victory over New Zealand in the Cartier International.

Andrew Tucker, spokesman for both Apes Hill team and the England polo squad told H&H: “It’s a massive loss to both teams. We were very much looking forward to sending out the identical team that beat New Zealand at the Cartier International last year for the Williams de Broe Test match next Saturday. But we’re very lucky with the strength in depth within the England squad and are spoilt for choice.”

Apes Hill has not yet named a replacement for Mark.

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