The 2012 London Olympic ride of Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolscheimer), Mistral Højris, was put down on 22 March, aged 30 – alongside his stablemate and decorated field companion Andretti H.

Laura and Mistral Højris didn’t just win medals – they helped redefine British dressage. Together, they stood on championship podiums an extraordinary nine times, their crowning moment coming at the London 2012 Olympics, where they claimed team gold alongside Carl Hester (Uthopia) and Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro) as part of British dressage’s most-celebrated championship team ever, and individual bronze in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

But their path to greatness wasn’t easy. “Alf”, as he was known at home, was immensely talented but far from straightforward. In the early days, his fear of crowds and new environments left many doubting whether he could ever handle the pressures of elite sport. Some even labelled him dangerous.

But Laura never gave up on him. Through patience, trust, and years of quiet graft behind the scenes alongside her late father Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer, she transformed that raw, anxious horse into a world-beater – and in doing so, helped change the course of dressage in Britain forever.

“I said goodbye to our career a long time ago,” said Laura in a moving tribute. “Now, I’m grieving Alf, my buddy, not Alf my dressage horse. But he did so much for me, and for dressage.

“And for my dad and me, we were trying to show you could be at the top and ride in the classical way with the horse as a happy athlete. He and a few others here were happy, healthy athletes who could retire at the top and have the wonderful retirement they deserved, and that’s exactly what they did deserve, after all they did for me.”

Take a look back through remarkable Alf’s career in pictures…

One of Laura, then 23 years old, and Alf’s first features in Horse & Hound as they prepared for their Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008. In the feature, Laura’s mother, Ursula, recalls the first time she showed Laura a video of Alf: “Laura wasn’t very well at the time, and she was watching it through half-closed eyes when she suddenly said, ‘That’s him – that’s my horse’”.

A throwback to Laura and Alf’s early competition career, where they claimed team bronze at the young rider Europeans in 2005, alongside teammates Maria Eilberg (Topscore), Henry Boswell (DHI Faederlite) and Holly Burrough (Orvieto).

After making their senior debut in 2007, Laura and Alf went on to win four championship team medals and five individual medals, between 2008 and 2012 – marking the start of a new era of British dressage.

Their championship run included a historic silver medal at the 2009 Europeans at Windsor with the highest score a British rider had ever achieved in an international grand prix.

Laura and the then 16-year-old Alf at the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam, where Britain won their first-ever championship team gold medal, with Laura also taking home individual bronze.

Their career highlight was undoubtedly the London 2012 Olympics – Alf’s swansong championship – where they helped Britain win their first-ever team gold medal, as well as an individual bronze. “Alf went into that arena, took a deep breath, and gave me the ride of his career,” Laura said, reflecting on their bronze-medal-winning freestyle.

“He had a huge personality, but he was a little scaredy-cat too,” recalls Tracey Cox, Alf’s groom between 2010 and 2013. “He was a horse you’d go the extra mile for, and I loved doing it. I still cry whenever I hear his Lion King freestyle music.”

“He was one of the ‘big three’,” recalls Carl Hester, “it’s hard to believe we had him, Uthopia and Valegro on the same team, and I think them winning that gold medal in London is what everyone will remember. His final centre lines were just legendary, with his energy and enthusiasm; he didn’t seem to touch the floor.”

After the Olympics Alf continued to compete, remaining on top-form, sweeping the board at Hagen CDI4* in 2013. But after a small knock kept him out of that summer’s European Championship team, the decision was made to retire him at the top.

An emotional retirement ceremony was held for him that year in front of a packed-out crowd. “I was a little worried about retiring him,” Laura told H&H in 2020. “He was never going to be a schoolmaster and I was the only one who could hack him, and I was pregnant by then. But actually, being fully retired meant he really did switch off, and he took going out really well.”

Alf spent his retirement living alongside his long-time stable companion and field companion Andretti H.

“They couldn’t be apart but still bickered like an old married couple,” Laura said. “They both wanted to be centre of attention and right to the end were the same characters as they were when they were on the lorry together and fighting over haynets.

“There was a big part of my life with my dad intertwined with them; it’s been an emotional rollercoaster but I’m just glad I was able to be with them, and they were their usual cheeky, cuddly selves to the end.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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‘I was with them to the very end’: emotional farewell to Olympic medallist and grand prix field mate on the same day aged 30

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Laura Tomlinson has said a heartbroken farewell to her Olympic gold and bronze medallist Mistral Højris and international grand prix winner Andretti H after a long and happy retirement.

Laura’s two former top rides, who had been inseparable for years, went peacefully together on 22 March, both aged 30.

“I spent quite a bit of time with them on Saturday and then was with them both, right to the end,” Laura told H&H. “Rationally, it couldn’t have been better for them, but it was a very tough weekend.”

Laura and Mistral Højris made history for Britain, and helped change the trajectory of dressage in this country. They won four championship team medals and five individual medals, including the team gold, with Carl Hester and Uthopia and Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, and individual bronze in front of a home crowd at the 2012 Olympics.

Their phenomenal success was the result of years of dedication; “Alf” was unpredictable at the start as despite his talent, he suffered from stage fright. Laura previously told H&H people initially thought he was dangerous as he would be frightened and bolt. But Laura worked through his issues until he could show the world how good he was.

Those were the days when, as Laura put it, “Brits got lower marks as they assumed if you were British, you were mediocre at best”. But Laura and Alf started to make their mark. In 2009, they won team silver and individual bronze at the home Europeans, scoring the highest mark a British rider had ever achieved in an international grand prix. The following year, they won a hat-trick of silver medals at the World Equestrian Games (WEG), briefly setting a world record of 82.15% before Edward Gal and Totilas just pipped them.

Alf’s phenomenal performance at London 2012 was his last championship; he retired the following year aged 18, after two more CDI4* wins in Hagen.

“I said goodbye to our career a long time ago,” said Laura. “Now, I’m grieving Alf my buddy, not Alf my dressage horse. But he did so much for me, and for dressage.

“And for my dad and me, we were trying to show you that you could be at the top and ride the horse in a classical way as a happy athlete. He and a few others here were happy, healthy athletes who could retire at the top and have the wonderful retirement they deserved, and that’s exactly what they did deserve, after all they did for me.”

Laura added that London was a “phenomenal” highlight of her career with Alf, as was her WEG grand prix in 2010.

“He gave me so many great rides, so many times scoring over 80% when that wasn’t so common,” she said. “He was so consistent, even though he started inconsistent; I think the journey and struggle to get him to that made it even more special when he became what he did. I put my heart and soul into him; every competition, I’d have my books and revision outside his stable.”

Laura added that “Andy” was always slightly in Alf’s shadow.

“But he won a lot in his own right,” she said. “He’d have been on all the teams Alf was, if Alf hadn’t been my top horse; in London, he was there until after the trot-up, just in case. He was always the back-up but he won a lot of big classes and was a very special horse – and he did a lot of prizegivings as he did a lot of Alf’s too, so he thought he was the out-and-out champion!”

Laura said both horses, who were pampered throughout retirement, coming in at night and turned out together all day, were huge characters.

“They couldn’t be apart but still bickered like an old married couple,” she said. “They both wanted to be centre of attention and right to the end were the same characters as they were when they were on the lorry together and fighting over haynets.

“There was a big part of my life with my dad intertwined with them; it’s been an emotional rollercoaster but I’m just glad I was able to be with them, and they were their usual cheeky, cuddly selves to the end.”

‘A powerhouse of dressage’

Carl Hester told H&H he remembers Alf as “one of the original powerhouses of dressage”.

“Having been a slightly wayward young horse, he became a superstar medallist for our team,” he said. “He was one of the ‘big three’; it’s hard to believe we had him, Uthopia and Valegro on the same team, and I think them winning that gold medal in London is what everyone will remember. His final centre lines were just legendary, with his energy and enthusiasm; he didn’t seem to touch the floor. It was great to see that partnership grow and develop into what it did.

“He just loved his job and it was a pleasure to be on a team with him. He became so reliable, you knew if he was on the team, he’d get a good score and the rest of you could relax and enjoy it. That big three; they came together and made history.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

When everything goes right, when there is total harmony and a horse gives his all – those precious moments are what a partnership is all about. Eleanor Jones finds out about one unforgettable ride...

With a horse like the superb, multiple medal-winning Mistral Hojris (Alf), who did so much for British dressage, there are many tests Laura Tomlinson will always remember – but winning individual bronze at London 2012 is right up there.

“I think the Olympic bronze in London is a standout,” she said. “An Olympic individual medal is probably the most special thing, and the fact it was the freestyle – historically the toughest thing to get right with him – made it extra special as I knew how much he had to give mentally to be able to do that for me.”

Having already helped secure team gold for Britain, Laura and Alf pulled out all the stops to The Lion King music, raising hairs on the backs of necks of a home crowd in Greenwich.

“I think it was that last centre line,” says Laura. “We were passaging, and I’d done everything I needed to do. Coming towards the final halt, you can see I’m welling up because that was the first time I allowed myself to think, ‘Wow. We’ve done it.’

“At that point, you don’t know what marks or placing you’ll get, but the sheer fact he’d given me that performance was enough. The feeling that he’d given me everything he had to give was an emotional moment. He was an old boy by then and that he’d come out on the last day all guns blazing was testament to all the work we’d done together, and my whole team; it’s a big moment for everyone who has been a part of that horse’s journey.”

For Alf, it was definitely a journey, as although he had always been a “phenomenally willing horse with a massive heart”, and in possession of a huge amount of talent, he had struggled with big events and atmospheres. So, it took time for him to learn that he could perform as well on a big stage as he did elsewhere.

“When your horse has given you that, it doesn’t matter whether it’s an unaffiliated show or the Olympic Games; it’s about the journey, and that moment with the horse is what we all do it for,” Laura says.

You may also be interested in…

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Watch our exclusive video interview with Laura Tomlinson from the London International Horse Show at Olympia

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Naturally blessed with athleticism and presence, the striking Michellino gelding overcame stage fright with the help of Laura Tomlinson to join the top flight and take his place in British dressage history. Polly Bryan charts his story

When a 19-year-old Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) first sat on an imposing nine-year-old chestnut gelding in Denmark, she instantly knew he was special. What she couldn’t have known, back then, was the impact that Mistral Højris would have, not just on her own career, but on British dressage as a whole.

The sport has seen remarkable transformation over the past 12 years, its British riders rising from middle ranking also-rans to the very best in the world. The great Valegro is widely credited as the catalyst for this success, but in fact it was Laura and Mistral Højris – known as Alf – who played a major part in setting the wheels in motion.

Between 2008 and 2012, Laura and Alf won four championship team medals and five individual medals, their greatest triumph coming at the London Olympics as they helped Britain to a euphoric gold, then went on to claim individual bronze with a scintillating freestyle. But despite Alf’s early promise, there were plenty of moments during the first few years of his and Laura’s partnership when many wondered whether Alf would ever come up with the goods.

“Alf was a real live wire, a bit of a loose cannon,” says Laura, adding that she feels her youth and naivety at the time actually helped her develop a bond with the Michellino gelding.

“I think that had I known more or been a better rider back then it may not have played to his favour. During the first year we had him, my dad [the late Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer] received a few calls from people asking why he would buy his daughter such a dangerous horse. It was true that Alf bolted frequently in those days, and once fell over on the drive with me, but he was misunderstood, not malicious.

“The problem was that he lost his head if he got a fright, and then scared himself with his reaction. We got him through that by not trying to stop him when he bolted, so he didn’t get another fright on top of the first one. I’d pat him and just try to slow him down gradually.”

The pair made their senior international debut in 2007, and despite Alf’s difficulties, proved themselves as ones to watch on the grand prix circuit, finishing that year as runners-up behind Anky van Grunsven and Salinero at Olympia.

The following year they were selected alongside Emma Hindle and Jane Gregory for the Beijing Olympics, where the British team finished fifth. However, it was a disappointing individual result for Laura when Alf “had an absolute meltdown” when he saw himself on the giant screen.

But by 2009, Alf’s mishaps had been largely confined to prize-givings as the big gelding gradually learnt to cope with the crowds and noise that were inevitable at big shows, and take confidence from his rider.

A string of impressive results around Europe saw them selected for the European Championships on home soil at Windsor, alongside Carl Hester, Emma Hindle and Maria Eilberg, and it was there that the pair made history. With Alf, 24-year-old Laura, the youngest member of the team, led Britain to silver with the highest mark a British rider had ever achieved in an international grand prix.

A day later they returned to the arena to scoop individual bronze. Suddenly, a British rider was sharing podiums with the likes of Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen, and so a new era of British dressage was born.

“2009 was when Alf went from being the most volatile horse around to one of the most consistent,” remembers Laura. “It was also when we started to break through the barrier to the higher marks, which had taken a long time, and a lot of good rides.

We were considered good ‘for a Brit’, and we had to plug away for a long time to get the really good marks. But all the while Alf was becoming a team ‘banker’, which no one would have thought!”

As the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky approached, the dressage world had succumbed to Totilas fever, as the Dutch stallion continued to dominate. But, with chunky scores now coming thick and fast, Alf and Laura were constantly snapping at the heels of Totilas and Edward Gal.

Three top class tests in Kentucky landed them a trio of silver medals, with their personal best of 82.51% in the grand prix, just 1.5% off Totilas’ score.

“Pivotal to Britain’s result was Laura Bechtolsheimer on her own and her parents’ 15-year-old Michellino gelding Mistral Højris,” wrote Horse & Hound’s then dressage editor Sarah Jenkins. “Riding an expressive yet relaxed test, she delivered a personal best of 82.51% – a test that surpassed expectations and caused euphoria in the British camp. Chef d’equipe Richard Waygood said: ‘We are all hugely proud of Laura making history here’.”

Laura herself recalls: “Kentucky was a really awesome week for us. After our grand prix I was a WEG record holder for a few minutes – and then Totilas went in.

“Alf and I were always number two in the rankings, first behind Totilas, then Valegro, but it was all about the journey with Alf. We got kicked out of so many prize-givings and warm-ups earlier in our career, so being able to take a hand off the reins in a prize-giving was almost as big a moment as winning a medal for me.

“When Alf did a really fantastic performance it meant so much because I knew how hard he found it. He always loved being the star at home and he enjoyed his work, but he would have happily done it without the crowds and the noise it brought. Competing was something he was always doing for me; the work and the athleticism came naturally to him, but he had to learn to be a showman.”

What Alf may have lacked in bravery, he more than made up for in ability, and willingness. He had no real technical weaknesses, and his ability to sit and execute breathtaking piaffe, passage and pirouettes was widely admired. The fact that he is large and striking, only added to his spectacle.

“He has freakishly good athleticism and was a real powerhouse,” agrees Laura. “He always wanted to work; my dad used to say that if he was a dog he would always be wagging his tail with enthusiasm. Even at the London Olympics in 2012, aged 17, he was full of energy, shaking his head and wanting to get

on with it.”

London 2012, Alf’s final championship, certainly had a fairytale air about it – and the images of Laura punching the air as the tears rolled down her face at the end of their bronze-medal winning freestyle became iconic. Alf and Laura had produced slightly below-par grand prix and special performances – they still finished seventh and fifth respectively, but with scores below their plus-80% best – and Laura had lost hope of a podium spot in the freestyle, which was not typically Alf’s forte in the days before noise-reducing ear bonnets.

“I said to my dad on the last day in London that although I was of course very happy to have won the team gold, I was a little disappointed from a personal point of view that we hadn’t done our best tests – they were not our tidiest and Alf had got a little distracted. I thought that there was no chance we could get up into the top three in the freestyle. But Dad told me that there was still all to play for, that we had nothing to lose.

“And Alf went into that arena, took a deep breath, and gave me the ride of his career. I was very emotional at the final halt, because he had let me in and nailed what he could do, and that was what mattered the most to me.”

It’s never easy making the decision to retire a top horse, especially one on such form at the age of 18 as Alf was in 2013 – sweeping the board at Hagen CDI4* with double victory.

But after a slight injury forced Laura to pull out of the European Championships in Denmark, the decision was made to let him bow out at the top, with an emotional retirement ceremony at Olympia that year.

“I was a bit worried about retiring him,” admits Laura. “He was never going to be a schoolmaster and I was the only one who would hack him, and I was pregnant by then. But actually, being fully retired meant he really did switch off, and he took to going out really well.

“He’s still out in the field with Andretti [Laura’s other former international ride], and they have a happy, grumpy relationship. He’s still the same wonderful character.”

“I feel as though he trained me”

“There was something so special about Alf, whom I nicknamed Squidge,” says Tracy Cox, Mistral Højris’s groom from 2010 to 2013. “I feel as though he trained me – he made me a better groom. It took me a little while to get to know him and for him to trust me, but he is a horse you would go the extra mile for; I always did and I loved doing it.

“He had a huge personality, but was a little scaredy-cat too, and was known for his fear of prize-givings. He was a fabulous horse to travel with, but sometimes he wouldn’t eat at shows – he tended to internalise his fear, and we had to become chefs to work out what he might like to eat. But he started to come out of himself more after the 2010 WEG and that was wonderful.

“I’ve never seen a horse who loved his people so much. He never used to stand with his head over the stable door, but preferred to stay back – he liked his quiet time. But whenever Dr B or Laura came onto the yard you’d see his nose just creep over the door, and that was so telling. I’ve never forgotten that.

“To watch his progress in the sport was just amazing, and I still cry whenever I hear his Lion King freestyle music. What he did for British dressage was very special.”

Carl Hester on Mistral Højris

“Mistral Højris did for British dressage what Valegro then came on the scene and continued to do. He and Laura got to the stage where, as their team-mate, you could rely on them bringing in a big score. To achieve a team medal you have to have three great horses, and Alf, Uthopia and Valegro were three of the very best horses in the world – how lucky we were to have them all on a team at the same time. Each brought something unique and brilliant to the team.

“Alf was such an exciting horse to watch – he had size, power, presence and the ability to make the most difficult movements in dressage look easy. His piaffe and passage in particular had the wow factor.

“His era was a very exciting time.”

Medals timeline

2009 European Championships, Windsor – team silver, individual bronze

2010 World Equestrian Games, Kentucky – team silver, double individual silver

2011 European Championships, Rotterdam – team gold, individual bronze

2012 Olympic Games, London – team gold, individual bronze

Ref: Horse & Hound; 24 December 2020

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‘A wonder horse who changed dressage’: top riders’ tributes to Totilas

“The partnership and the silhouette of Edward and Toto became iconic, something those of us lucky enough to see them

Tributes have poured in from across the equestrian community following the death of global dressage star Totilas, at the age of 20.

The Gribaldi son had enormous success under Edward Gal in 2009 and 2010, breaking world records and winning numerous gold medals.

Sharing podiums with Edward and “Toto” on several occasions was Britain’s Laura Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris (Alf), silver medallists at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2010 where Totilas scooped a trio of gold medals.

“I was number two to Edward and Totilas for quite a long time – Alf and I even held the WEG grand prix record for about five minutes in Kentucky, until Totilas entered the arena,” said Laura.

“Totilas was a wonder horse who changed the world of dressage. There was so much hype around him, and enormous interest in our sport from other disciplines and from outside the equestrian world too. It was a really fun, exciting time to be at the top of the sport.

“I had a really fun rivalry with Edward, who was a great sport, and the rest of the Dutch team – when they won team gold in 2010 my mum bought them all limoncello, and when we won gold a year later at the Europeans in Rotterdam, the Dutch team had already organised a round of limoncello for us in return,” Laura told H&H.

“The partnership and the silhouette of Edward and Toto became iconic, something those of us lucky enough to see them live will never forget.”

Carl Hester was also a member of the British dressage team who competed against Totilas throughout the horse’s time at the top of the sport.

“How privileged I feel to have seen him live,” Carl told H&H. “And how much we all owe him for his incredible presence and his ability to bring a new audience to the dressage world.”

Charlotte Dujardin, who took over the mantle at the very top of the sport with Valegro in the years following Totilas’ reign, said: “Totilas, you were a dominant horse of our time and will always be remembered. My thoughts and condolences to all that have been involved with this sweet horse and to those who, like myself, are very sad to hear of his passing.”

Many other British riders have shared their favourite memories of Totilas, including para dressage world champion Sophie Wells, who was a sheet collector at the European Championships in 2009, where Totilas became the first horse to ever break the 90% barrier.

Continues below…

‘My love for you lasts for ever’: Edward Gal pays tribute to wonder horse Totilas

“You honored me with your trust. You were my friend. I will miss you until we meet again”

Totilas dies aged 20: dressage world mourns loss of global superstar

“We will miss you so much and never forget you”

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“I’m unbelievably grateful to have seen Totilas in the flesh many times, but to have collected his sheets at the Europeans in Windsor in 2009 when I was 19 years old is a clear highlight,” said Sophie. “RIP special boy, you changed dressage.”

The FEI has also paid tribute, posting: “Thank you for the records broken, memories made and the history your hoofbeats created. An out-and-out legend that inspired fans around the world, Totilas will for ever be remembered as one of the greats who changed the sport. Fly high, Toto.”

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

From ponies to a horse that gave her a taste of Olympic glory, here top British dressage rider and this week’s Horse & Hound magazine guest editor (24 March 2016), Laura Tomlinson introduces us to her stars of yesterday, today and the future.

Laura’s memorable horses

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The likelihood is that the new royal baby girl will have a fair amount of toys heading her way to celebrate her long awaited arrival. But if she’s anything like her polo-loving father, eventing legend great aunt or racing-mad great granny, our pick of horsey toys will be the only ones that she is actually interested in playing with.

And with so many of the world’s equine stars now immortalised as toys — most recently Valegro — there couldn’t be a better way to get the new baby familarised with the big names of our sport. The only problem will be keeping Prince George’s hands off his younger sister’s toys…

1. A Toytown rocking horse

What better way to give the new baby a subtle hint that eventing is in the blood than by splashing out on this rocking horse version of Zara Phillips‘ Toytown? Even his white spots have been faithfully reproduced.

Visit: www.rockinghorses.uk.net

2. A Mistral Hojris Breyer toy

This Breyer model of dressage sensation Laura Tomlinson‘s (née Bechtolsheimer) Olympic gold medallist Mistral Hojris will be a helpful reminder to the baby girl of Britain’s success at the London 2012 Olympic Games in years to come.

Visit: www.breyerhorses.com

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3. A Denman jigsaw puzzle

This Denman puzzle from the Injured Jockeys Fund is one to be tucked away in the cupboard for the new baby to play with when she’s older. But it will be worth the wait when she can spend hours piecing together the National Hunt star.

Visit: shop.ijf.org.uk

4. A Frankel Breyer toy

Honour the unbeaten racehorse with a Breyer model. When the baby girl is old enough to know that the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Frankel won all 14 out of 14 starts, she will be glad to have this legend among her toys.

Visit: www.breyerhorses.com

5. A Black Caviar soft toy

Black Caviar in her soft toy format will make the perfect companion as the baby girl has sweet dreams about the superstar mare soaring past the finishing line.

Visit: www.blackcaviarshop.com.au

Diclaimer: Please note that these toys may not be suitable for new born babies.

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Laura Tomlinson officially retired her British team stalwart Mistral Hojris (Alf) from competition in front of a packed house at the London International Horse Show at Olympia last night (Tuesday 17 December).

The H&H team caught up with Laura on this emotional occasion to find out which special moments in Alf’s career meant the most to her and what her future plans are for her Olympic medal-winning partner.

Enjoy highlights of Laura and Alf’s career in pictures from the H&H archives.

If you enjoyed this gallery, why not browse through some of our other picture collections?

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro: in pictures

As Charlotte Dujardin continues to pick up award after award for her incredible achievements with Valegro, we look back through the H&H picture archives at career highlights of this incredible combination.

Top 20 event horses of 2013: in pictures

As the year comes to a close, we celebrate the top 20 event horses from the 2013 season based on British Eventing points

Big Buck’s set for comeback: his highlights so far in pictures

Trained by Paul Nicholls, Big Buck’s won a record four World Hurdles, before picking up a leg injury in December 2012.

As the 11-year-old returned to the racecourse after nearly a year off aimed to extend his unbeaten streak over hurdles to 19 consecutive wins, H&H looked at some of his career highlights in pictures so far.

Horseworld affected by storms: in pictures [H&H VIP]

Gale-force winds and heavy rain caused havoc for the equestrian world over the festive period with stable blocks destroyed, horses stranded by flooding and yards left without power for days.

Showjumper Steve Guerdat at home: in pics

The Olympic showjumping champion Steve Guerdat welcomed Horse & Hound to his home in Switzerland recently and we were bowled over by the happy horses and the wonderful facilities.

Check out some of the behind-the-scenes pictures.

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The list of riders nominated to compete in the FEI World Cup dressage qualifier at Olympia Horse Show (16-22 December) has been released and includes 3 of the 4 bronze medal-winning British team riders from this year’s European Championships.

World No.1 Charlotte Dujardin is nominated on both Valegro (pictured) and Uthopia, though H&H columnist Carl Hester has confirmed that Valegro is the more likely starter. Carl will ride Gemma Green’s Florestan stallion Fine Time, with whom he is the current British Dressage national champion.

A total of 9 British riders have made the starting line-up.

Lara Griffith will make her Olympia debut with Laura Tomlinson’s former ride Andretti H. Roland Tong, riding for Ireland, will also make his debut on his Europeans ride Pompidou.

Laura is not competing, but will attend Olympia with Mistral Hojris for an official retirement ceremony.

Emile Faurie partners his new grand prix horse Topolino (by Tip Top), while Michael Eilberg has the choice of either his Europeans ride Half Moon Delphi or Marakov. Judy Harvey, Nikki Crisp and Anna Ross Davies complete the strong British contingent.

Fans of the popular Dutch couple Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud will be pleased to see that both are set to compete at the popular show, though it is still uncertain which of their massive string of top level horses they will ride. Dutch rising star and Olympia debutante Danielle Heijkoop comes fresh from dual victories at the CDI4* Oldenburg earlier this month on her Gribaldi son Kingsley Siro.

Germany’s sole representative, the multi-talented Ingrid Klimke, will ride the British-owned Dresden Mann. The former breeding stallion, now gelded, is only nine.

British-based Dane Anders Dahl partners his wife Fiona Bigwood’s Wie Weltmeyer gelding Wie Atlantico, while his compatriot Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein will ride the charismatic and high-scoring Donnerhall gelding, Digby.

The grand prix takes place at 3pm on Monday, 16 December with the freestyle to music the following evening. H&H will be offering free, live, interactive written commentary from the show.

Definite entries will be announced on 6 December.

The nominated entries are:

AUS BERESFORD, Hayley — Jaybee Alabaster

AUS OATLEY, Lyndal — Sandro Boy

BEL MISSIAEN, Simon — Vradin

DEN DAHL, Anders — Wie Atlantico de Ymas

DEN SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN, Nathalie zu — Digby

GBR CRISP, Nikki — Pasoa

GBR DU JARDIN, Charlotte — Uthopia or Valegro

GBR EILBERG, Michael — Half Moon Delphi or Marakov

GBR FAURIE, Emile — Topolino

GBR GRIFFITH, Lara — Andretti H

GBR HARVEY, Judith — Fitzcerraldo

GBR HESTER, Carl — Fine Time

GBR ROSS DAVIES, Anna — Pegasus MK

GBR WATSON, Daniel — Fideramber

GER KLIMKE, Ingrid — Dresden Mann

IRL DWYER, Kate — Reve Dor

IRL TONG, Roland — Pompidou

NED ESSEN, Aat van — Macrider Premier or Sebastian

NED GAL, Edward — Glock’s Undercover or Glock’s Voice or Interfloor Next One

NED GEVERS, Katja — Thriller

NED HEIJKOOP, Danielle — Kingsley Siro

NED HEUITINK, Joyce — Wup

NED MINDERHOUD, Hans Peter — Glock’s Romanov or Glock’s Tango or Glock’s Ziesto

SWE HAMILTON, Malin — Fleetwood

SWE TELDE, Minna — Santana

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Fans of Olympic gold medal-winning dressage star Mistral Hojris will be able to see the 18-year-old chestnut bow out in style at Olympia next month.

Laura Tomlinson told H&H she will be retiring “Alf” in a special demo at the London International Horse Show.

But she will not be competing him, as it would be “too emotional”.

The demo will be on Tuesday 17 December. For tickets visit: www.olympiahorseshow.com

Read more exclusive comments from Laura about retiring Alf in the next issue of H&H magazine, out on Thursday (21 November).

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Following the sad news that Mistral Hojris is going to miss the European Dressage Championships next week, we thought we would cheer up his disappointed fans with a selection of pictures from the H&H archives of ‘Alf’ competing in many previous championships. Enjoy!

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The British team will be without Olympic individual bronze medallists Laura Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris (Alf) at the CDIO at Hickstead (1 – 4 August).

Laura has withdrawn her European Championship ride due to concerns that he will not be fully fit in time for the competition.

“He’s 18 and it wasn’t a risk we wanted to take,” said Laura. “He did Hagen (18-21 April) this year after 8 months away from competing and came out in great form so I have every confidence we’ll be on song for Denmark.”

The selectors have replaced Laura with Nikki Crisp and her own Pasoa. The pair will join Michael Eilberg (Marakov), Carl Hester (Uthopia) and Gareth Hughes (DV Stenjkers Nadonna) in the team.

Alf, whom it is likely Laura will retire after the European Championships, will still be travelling to Hickstead to continue his preparations.

Laura will give a training demonstration with him, which will be commentated on by her father Dr Bechtolsheimer, in the main arena at Hickstead on Friday (2 August).

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The British dressage team for the European championships will include the three riders — and horses — who secured Team GBR’s historic Olympic dressage gold.

Double Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro), Carl Hester (Uthopia) and Laura Tomlinson (Mistral Hojris) will be joined by Michael Eilberg (Half Moon Delphi) to defend the British title in Denmark this summer (20-25 August)

It is a “mouth watering” prospect, said performance director Will Connell.

“The team will be focused on giving the British public another opportunity to shout and cheer for the ‘dancing horses’,” he added. 

Alongside the London trio (pictured above), Michael Eilberg makes his senior debut. He told H&H he felt “chuffed and honoured” by the call-up, after winning the grand prix special at Hartpury CDI3* with Half Moon Delphi (see report in 11 July H&H magazine on p38).

The line-up is unexpected because Valegro and Uthopia were destined to be sold after London 2012 and there was a question mark over whether Mistral Hojris — who is now 18 — would be too to old contest another major championship.

But a dispute over the legal ownership of Uthopia put that sale on hold and attempts by Valegro’s owners, Carl Hester and Roly Luard, to sell or syndicate him came to nothing. 

And when Laura and ‘Alf’ made a stunning return to competition at Hagen CDI4* (report, 25 April), the selectors were left in no doubt as to who to take to Denmark.

Don’t miss today’s Horse & Hound magazine (11 July, 2013) for an exclusive interview with Charlotte Dujardin on what it’s like to ride Uthopia

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Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer) says her Olympic mount Mistral Hojris will be retired later this year, despite a stunning return to competition at CDI Hagen**** (18-21 April).

“Alf” and Laura — who won individual bronze and team gold at Greenwich — dominated both the grand prix and the special last weekend, taking the latter with a score of plus-81%.

“I had a great time. It was just lovely riding him without the pressure of the past few years,” she told H&H.

“This year is about enjoying every time I get on him, as he is 18 now.”

Laura hopes to take Alf to the European Championships to defend Britain’s team title in Denmark in August, but that would be his last outing at championship level.

“I definitely want him to go out when he’s feeling awesome, not when he’s looking old,” she said. “He is on great form and felt really good [at Hagen]; athletic, relaxed and moving well.

“But if at any time I think he’s not quite right, I will be backing off — he doesn’t owe me anything.”

At Hagen, Laura competed under her married name of Tomlinson for the first time.

She married the England polo player Mark Tomlinson in Switzerland in March.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 April 2013)

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Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolsheimer) celebrated an impressive return to competition following a long post-Olympic break — during which she wed her polo star fiancé Mark Tomlinson — proving unbeatable at CDI Hagen in Germany.

After their opening win in Friday’s grand prix (79.064%) ahead of Anabel Balkenhol and Nadine Capellman, Laura and Mistral Hojris dominated the grand prix special on Sunday with a score of over 81%. The score was a massive 6% ahead of second-placed Dane Lone Bang Larsen on Fitou.

“I was really happy with my tests, especially as Alf hasn’t competed since the Olympics eight months ago”, said Laura. “He’s 18, but luckily he doesn’t now that — and you would never guess, because he feels great: keen, motivated, supple.”

The other British rider in the big tour, Michael Eilberg, finished sixth on Half Moon Delphi in Saturday’s grand prix and ninth in the freestyle on Sunday afternoon. Both classes were won by Andreas Helgstrand on his new star Akeem Foldager ahead of Steffen Peters on Legolas and Dorothee Schneider on Forward Looking.

Michael also presented Marakov in the special tour, finishing in 7th place on Friday and in 8th on Sunday.

Full report on all the action from CDI Hagen in this Thursday’s (25 April) Horse & Hound magazine

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Laura has eight horses on the “sports yard”.

In addition, there are the OAPs — Don Davidoff, Placido and Laura’s retired eventer Billy — and four broodmares. Of the youngstock — three foals, two yearlings and two two-year-olds — two are by Vivaldi, one by United and the rest are by Laura’s former grand prix ride Polarion.

One broodmare is in-foal to Bordeaux and two to Polarion, who stood for a while at a Trakehner stud in Germany, but is back now.

Dr Bechtolsheimer recently purchased a 2½-year-old by Polarion at the Trakehner grading.

“He looked like he would win the grading but got tense,” he explains.

“He will stand in Germany and is being prepared for his 30-day performance testing [a suitability test for breeding-stallions].”

Mistral Hojris

(below)

Stable name: Alf

Date of birth: 1995

Sex: gelding

Breed: Danish warmblood

Sire: Michellino

Dam: Virginia

Damsire: Ibsen

Andretti H

Stable name: Andy

Date of birth: 1995

Sex: gelding

Breed: Hanoverian

Sire: Aarking

Dam: Cerrin

Damsire: Cavalier

Polar Bear

(below)

Stable name: Teddy

Date of birth: 2004

Sex: gelding

Breed: Oldenburg (home-bred)

Sire: Polarion

Dam: Utima

Damsire: Landadel

Unique

Stable name: Minnie

Date of birth: 2004

Sex: mare

Breed: Holsteiner

Sire: Carpaccio

Dam: Grana

Damsire: Lord

Kristjan

Stable name: Kristjan

Date of birth: 2005

Sex: gelding

Breed: Oldenburg (home-bred)

Sire: Polarion

Dam: Kardinale

Damsire: Napoleon Quatre

Pamina

(below)

Stable name: Pammy

Date of birth: 2006

Sex: mare

Breed: Oldenburg (home-bred)

Sire: Polarion

Dam: Utima

Damsire: Landadel

Rubin Al Asad

Stable name: Rufus

Date of birth: 2002

Sex: gelding

Breed: Hanoverian

Sire: Rubin Royal

Dam: Wandergirl

Damsire: Wanderbursch II

Unnamed

Stable name: Tigger

Date of birth: 2008

Sex: gelding

Breed: Hanoverian

Sire: For Compliment

Dam: Antonia

Damsire: Royal Dance

To read the full interview with Laura Bechtolsheimer about life after the Games, her polo playing finace Mark Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris, see the current issue of H&H (13 December 2012)

Read all the latest dressage news

View pictures of Laura at home and in action

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All four Team GBR horses have today (31 July) passed the trot-up and will go forward to the first phase of the Olympic dressage competition – the grand prix – on 2-3 August.

The riders have also been given their times for Thursday and Friday.

The Dutch and the Germans – the teams most fancied aside from Great Britain – have both chosen to run their individuals on the first day, but the British camp has made the slightly unusual decision to run their individual, Richard Davison, on the second day.

Carl Hester and Uthopia are first to go down the centre line at Greenwich – at 11.54am on day one (Thursday, 2 August).

They will be followed in the afternoon session by Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris at 3.11pm.

On the second day of competition (Friday, 3 August), Richard Davison – competing as an individual – and Artemis are on at 12.15pm.

The third team member, Charlotte Dujardin, with Valegro, will start at 2.10pm, straight after the Spanish crowd-pleaser, the grey stallion Fuego.

The grand prix is followed by the Olympic special (7 August), which decides the team placings. The freestyle to music (or kur) – which decides the individual medals – closes the equestrian competition on 9 August.

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Horse & Hound recently visited top British dressage ride Laura Bechtolsheimer at home in Gloucestershire.

In our exclusive video interview, Laura reveals her plans in the run up to Greenwich, why she likes to spare Alf the ‘angst’ of attending prize givings and what she thinks of the British team’s chances in London.

Read Laura Bechtolsheimer’s biography

See Laura Bechtolsheimer’s picture gallery

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Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris were in action at the weekend for the first time since Olympia last December – winning the grand prix at the 2012 CDI Dortmund.

Laura and “Alf” performed well in Dortmund, (8-11 March) and took the grand prix with 81.170%.

Laura told H&H: “I was really pleased with Alf. More than 81% in both my tests is an excellent way to start the year.

“He felt fantastic in the arena. We have been working on his way of going and outline over the winter and I think it shows.”

Second in the grand prix was German rider Kristina Sprehe who scored a personal best of 79.894% with her black stallion Desperados (De Niro/Wolkenstein II).

But the 25-year-old German proved she’s one to watch with a victory in the Olympic grand prix special on Saturday.

Earning a score of 81.978%, Kristina narrowly beat Laura (on 81.044%).

Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe took the third spot with 79.0%.

“It was my first time riding the grand prix special and I was concentrating on getting it right,” said Laura.

“I made a few little mistakes but am very pleased with the way he went.”

For a full report, see next week’s Horse & Hound (22 March).

• Do you love dressage? Stay in touch with the latest dressage news on Horseandhound.co.uk and browse dressage horses for sale

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Great Britain’s Carl Hester and Uthopia have moved up to second place in the world dressage rankings.

The combination have climbed up from fourth place and now sit just below Holland’s Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival.

This year Carl Hester and Uthopia, an 11-year-old stallion by Metall, won team gold and picked up two individual silver medals at the European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam in August. The partnership also won both the Hickstead CDI and the Fritzens CDI on scores of more than 80%.

Their achievements are even more impressive considering Uthopia only completed his first grand prix on the Spanish Sunshine Tour in March 2010. The stallion has never scored less than 70% at grand prix level.

Great Britain now holds three places in the top 10. Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris have moved down one place to third and Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro have risen from eighth to fifth.

Germany has three riders but four combinations in the top ten. They are Matthias Alexander Rath on Totilas in fourth, Ulla Salzgeber on Herzruf’s Erbe in sixth and Isabell Werth in both eighth and ninth place with El Santo NRW and Warum Nicht FRH.

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Dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer is to star in the BBC’s British Olympic Dreams — on BBC1 this weekend.

The programme focuses on British athletes in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Following on from the programme that featured event rider Piggy French (14 May), BBC journalist Ollie Williams goes behind the scenes with Laura at her Gloucestershire yard, working out what makes her tick and meeting Mistral Hojris (Alf).

He also visits Germany to meet Laura’s main rivals — Totilas and Matthias Rath.

The programme airs at 1.15pm on Saturday (18 June).

“Laura was a great candidate for the programme — she’s one of the finest dressage riders in the world and one of Britian’s top prospects to secure a medal,” Ollie told H&H.

“We spent a day filming at her yard – meeting her horses and family and learning how Laura and Alf grew up together and formed such a great partnership. And how’s she’s preparing for the London 2012.

“For the second part of the programme we went to Germany and met Totilas and Matthias Rath — who Laura used to go out with. So that is especially interesting — competing against her ex-boyfriend who’s riding the best — and most expensive — horse in the world.”

British Olympic Dreams will also be available on the BBC iPlayer for seven days after it is aired.

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The eagerly awaited return of Totilas to the competition circuit hit a stumbling block this weekend in Wiesbaden, Germany (12 June), in the form of the towering partnership of Britain’s leading dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer and her Michellino gelding Mistral Hojris (“Alf”).

In Sunday’s grand prix for special qualifier, a 78.76% from Laura put her 5% clear of Totilas and Matthias Alexander Rath’s 73.4%.

In the arena, Totilas and Rath looked very much like a new combination and communication difficulties between the two saw them awarded with the horse’s lowest-ever score at grand prix.

In the following day’s special, Laura and Alf had some niggles in the one-time changes on the centreline, which proved costly. The pair, drawn just ahead of Totilas and Rath, still posted a strong 80.5%.

But Rath and Totilas had ironed out some of the previous day’s issues and produced a more polished performance, which was rewarded by an 81.47% win.

However, two of the five judges had Laura to win, so the London 2012 gold medal is still very much up for grabs.

See full report in Brits Abroad H&H 23 June issue

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Laura Bechtolsheimer is British Olympic Association’s (BOA) equestrian athlete of the year.

The 25-year-old dressage rider has had a very successful 2010, culminating in winning three silver medals at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in October.

She was chosen for the BOA honour by the British Equestrian Federation.

Performance director of the BEF Will Connell said: “The award is for athletes in Olympic disciplines only and is presented by the BOA to mark outstanding performances for the year.

“We use the individual results from the annual championships as a guide to who we nominate.

“This year was a great for the Lottery funded British equestrian teams with both William [Fox-Pitt] and Laura winning individual silvers and helping their respective teams to team success, with Laura winning individual silvers in both the grand prix special and the grand prix freestyle.

“We are blessed with many talented athletes who are supported by great owners and they all deserve mention and recognition.”

Modern pentathlete Sam Weale was chosen to represent his sport. He was in the British team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Laura was also one of six people presented with a medal of honour by the BEF at Olympia on Thursday (16 December).

Also receiving medals at Olympia, were vaulter Joanne Eccles; eventer Nicola Wilson and para-equestrian dressage rider Sophie Wells.

Senior eventing team farrier, Brendan Murray and Corinne Bracken, coach and chef d’equipe to the children, junior and young rider showjumping teams, received their medals alongside the four British riders.

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Adelinde Cornelissen put bad luck at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky behind her to take her second Reem Acra World Cup qualifier this season at London Olympia with 83.65%.

“I’m really happy,” she said. “I was determined before the World Games to show the world how good Jerich Parzival is and I’m just as determined now.”

The pair were unable to ride their freestyle in Kentucky as the horse bit his lip in the grand prix and Adelinde was eliminated for blood in the horse’s mouth. They had no such problems here and Adelinde described her horse as “just totally relaxed in the arena tonight”, which gave her the edge over the rest of the field. The majority found the atmosphere too much to cope with.

The pressure was off Adelinde after Britain’s main hope, Laura Bechtolsheimer, had a difficult time with her Kentucky silver medallist Mistral Hojris.

Laura said: “It was difficult in there for me tonight on Alf. He did some fantastic work, but had too many mistakes as well. He finds big atmosphere’s like Olympia really hard to handle.”

The pair still scored 80.05%, despite mistakes in the changes and piaffe, and this followed a win in yesterday’s warm-up grand prix qualifier.

The Netherland’s Edward Gal was third riding Sisther De Jeu (77.05%), who is by Gribaldi, the same sire as Edward’s World Games gold medallist Totilas, who has since been sold to Germany.

“It’s nice to be back on another good horse,” he said. “And there’s more to come from this mare.”

Amy Stovold was best of the Brits after Laura in fifth place riding Macbrian, who is by Jan Brink’s Briar. This was the pair’s World Cup qualifier and Olympia debut and they scored an impressive 74.05%.

For full report and pictures, don’t miss H&H magazine out next Thursday

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British rider Laura Bechtolsheimer has been awarded the Performance Sales International (PSI) Dressage Award 2010.

The 25 year-old from Gloucestershire received a crystal trophy in recognition of her successful 2010 season at the PSI awards ceremony in Ankum, Germany, by Frank Kempermann, chairman of the FEI dressage committee.

The prizegiving preceded the PSI horse auction on 11 December.

Laura is third in the world individual dressage rankings (behind Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen) and number one in Britain.

And this year the young rider and her horse Mistral Hojris (known as Alf), won three silver medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG).

It was the first time a British rider has won a dressage medal at the worlds since 1978, when Jennie Loriston-Clarke won bronze on Dutch Courage.

Receiving her award, Laura said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award; it’s been a fantastic year for me.”

After thanking her parents and trainer Klaus Balkehol, Laura went on to address the room in German and give credit to her team.

Also winning PSI gongs were 90-year-old Grand Dame of Dressage Rosemarie Springer, Otto Becker, the trainer of the German showjumping team, which won gold at WEG and Kai Diekmann, chief editor of German newspaper Bild.

Laura and Alf are currently competing at the Olympia horse show. They led last night’s grand prix by more then 4%, having set a new personal best and British record with 82.936%.

The freestyle is tonight (Wednesday 15 December).

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Laura Bechtolsheimer completed her silver medal hat-trick at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, scoring 85.35% in the grand prix freestyle riding her parents’ 15-year-old Mistral Hojris.

Laura said: “I’m so proud of my horse, for him to handle the atmosphere in there tonight and keep trying for me is amazing.”

Laura just had a few mistakes, one in the tempi changes and a misunderstanding in the last piaffe. She rode to her Cees Slings Shadows compilation and admitted: “I rode this freestyle for the first time at Windsor Europeans and have only done it a few times so we’re still growing into it.”

Edward Gal made history with Moorlands Totilas becoming the first man to win three gold dressage medals at a World Equestrian Games. They had a few blips including a break from extended trot to canter but still scored a massive 91.80%.

Edward said: “He wasn’t so easy to ride in there tonight and we had a few mistakes but still he gave me an amazing ride once again and I’m so happy with my horse.”

America’s Steffen Peters took bronze again on former World Cup winner Ravel.

For full report and pictures, don’t miss H&H 7 October issue

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‘Wildly optimistic’, is what people called my blog two days ago when I suggested: ‘find out the odds for Britain winning team silver, it’s worth a bet’. Ye of little faith!

So now, I’m going to have another punt… Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer for individual gold in the special at the World Equestrian Games today riding Mistral Hojris, aka “Alf”. No, I haven’t had a blow to the head. And I only had one Kentucky Ale last night. I honestly think she can do it. I have a good feeling about this.

It would be seriously tough. Laura would have to ride her socks off and reproduce exactly what she had yesterday in the grand prix with Alf. She could also do with top rival Totilas having a hiccup in the one-time changes for good measure. But I think it’s doable. The tables are turning.

Totilas is the wonderhorse, he brings tears to people’s eyes (particularly Americans… emotional lot out here). He’s been described as a “living legend”. Alf, bless his white socks, hasn’t got that notoriety yet. But I think he deserves it.

Alf doesn’t have Totilas’s wildly expressive front legs. There’s something about Totilas that is enchanting even if you know diddly-squat about dressage. My dad will even watch him. Previously, my dad would rather watch grass grow.

He’s been an amazing thing for the sport (I mean Totilas, not dad). He’s brought the sport to the masses, got dressage on national TV, and anyone in the industry should be eternally grateful for that. Of course some of the media aren’t. They’re turning on Totilas. They think his movement is “over produced”. Alf they like. Laura rides “very classically” they say. This is what the aficionados want to see (we’re not sure re the public, yet). She does ride beautifully and looks a happy partnership with Alf. There is nothing jarring in her riding or training, nothing at all not to like. They’re a pleasure to watch. (Dad, seriously, Eurosport this evening, check it out).

And ultimately the sport needs competition. Look how people went off Formula One in the Schumacher era. They only want to see a “living legend” for so long. And the sport of dressage knows this. Equally, the sport has had an uncanny way in the past three years of producing the “story” that a sport needs to remain popular.

Let’s not diss Totilas, he’s still a living legend. But Alf for gold this time. Do you remember Alf The Friendly Alien? The furry wiseguy? This is Alf the friendly horse. The jolly giant with his happy, floppy ears. Alf the trier, the horse with the biggest heart. The horse who trusts his slip of a rider enough to pop round that massive stadium even though if he’s honest it’s a little bit scary, really. Alf who could piaffe all day long and stay relaxed despite all the power he puts into every step. And Laura, the modest English rose, who loves her pony as much as any British girl, and can’t even quite see how well she’s doing. Yet.

Soppy? American? Moi?

• Read all of H&H’s World Equestrian Games blogs

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As of 30 June, Britain’s European bronze medallist Laura Bechtolsheimer, 24, ranks third in the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) world individual dressage rankings for the first time.

These rankings are based on results over the past year and are led by the Netherlands’ Edward Gal (Moorlands Totilas) followed by compatriot Adelinde Cornelissen (Jerich Parzival). Dressage stars Anky van Grunsven and Isabell Werth are in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Laura and her 15-year-old gelding Mistral Hojris helped Britain to their first European silver medal since 1993 at Windsor last year, as well as taking individual honours. They have broken all former British dressage records with their international scores over the past year.

Laura said: “I’m thrilled with my achievements over the past two seasons and hope to build on those this year. It’s satisfying to find that our performance is consistent enough to creep up the rankings. To be number three in the world is very confidence building!”

British Dressage chief executive Amanda Bond added: “This is an amazing achievement. Laura has produced outstanding results that have taken dressage in Britain to the next level. We are now right up there with the best in the world.”

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Laura Bechtolsheimer and her European bronze medallist Mistral Hojris beat Germany’s Isabell Werth by more than two per cent on home turf to win the grand prix special at Lingen CDI**** (4-6 June) with 79.46%.

Laura has been out of competition recovering from surgery. She said: “I haven’t been out competing in a couple months and ‘Alf’ hasn’t been out since January, so to come back with such a solid performance is reassuring and motivating for the rest of the season. It was so warm in Lingen and was a great way to prepare for summer competition.”

Laura also won the grand prix (for the special) riding Alf (76.89%) and the grand prix for the kür riding Andretti (71.66%). “Andy” was then second to Ashley Holzer and Pop Art in the kür with 76.3%.

“Andy performed really well in the grand prix and helped get me back in the swing of things,” said Laura. “Alf had more of a rough start as I think some sweat got in his ear and he started to shake his head quite violently before the test. I began to think it was game over, but luckily he got his concentration back.

“It wasn’t until the next day in the special that he really came into his own. Despite a mistake in his one-tempi changes, he felt amazing — better than he did at Windsor [Europeans]!”

Fellow Brit Emile Faurie also contested Lingen, improving from 11th place in the grand prix (68.43%) with Elmegardens Marquis to place ninth in the special on 69.75%. The 11-year-old gelding is by Michellino — as is Mistral Hojris. This was only their second international.

For full report see Horse & Hound 17 June issue

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British dressage European bronze medallists Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris reached new heights on their first outing of 2010. The pair smashed the British grand prix record at Amsterdam CDI-W with 78.04%.

They finished second only to European gold medallists Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas of the Netherlands, who scored 82.17%.

Laura said: “I was really happy with the grand prix test as ‘Alf’ had no mistakes — he was really relaxed and easy to ride.

The only criticism Laura received from her father and trainer Wilfried was that Alf could have been more expressive in his extensions.

With this in mind for the next day’s grand prix kür, Laura and Alf broke another British record by scoring 82.3% for second place again — putting her less than 5% behind Totilas.

“The Freestyle was fantastic,” said Laura. “I played the music a bit lower as Alf has had issues with the music in the past and I just wanted to build his confidence. My strategy paid off as he stood still in the halts — some great progress.

“These results build our confidence so much — to come out this strong in 2010. We’re definitely excited for the year to come.”

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Dressage star Laura Bechtolsheimer secured Britain’s second ever individual European medal with bronze on Mistral Hojris at Windsor (27 August).

Laura, 24, rode a personal best, scoring 80.083% to become the first British rider to score over 80% in international competition.

“I’m still a bit shaken up,” said Laura. “I was more determined in the arena than I have ever been and rode the best test I’ve ever ridden.

“To ride in a competition where combinations are scoring such high marks is very special — it’s good for the sport in Britain and worldwide.”

Listen to Laura’s interview

Judge and head of the ground jury Stephen Clarke concurred: “The sport is now wide open, any one of these riders could have won today, it’s fantastic for the sport.”

The competition was far from predictable. After scoring 23 10s in yesterday’s team test, the crowd assumed Edward Gal had individual gold in the bag today. He pulled off 32 10s, but also a few fours after mistakes in the one-time changes. Tension from Moorlands Totilas meant moments of brilliance were marred by too many errors. The pair took silver with 83.042%.

“He was already a little more excited in the warm-up today than yesterday,” said Edward. “But he is only nine years old and I know he can do better.”

Teammate Adelinde Cornelissen clinched gold with a more consistent test on Parzival. They too scored 10s, though not the same quantity, and had no mistakes.

“Before I went in I had no idea what the other riders had scored so just rode my horse the best I could in there — that’s all I ever do,” said Adelinde.

Britain’s Carl Hester pulled off another personal best on Liebling, with 72.25% for 10th place. This sees him through to Saturday night’s kür along with the top 15. There were no mistakes in the one-time changes and the horse only made one mistake in the left pirouette when losing impulsion. His entry and halt scored nine and he looked athletic throughout.

Listen to Carl Hester’s interview

Emma Hindle had a disappointing time on Lancet. Starting spectacularly, she was scoring around 76% when mistakes in the one-times and pirouette left scored fours and dropped the overall mark right down. They still finished on an impressive 70.75% in 16th place.

Senior championship first timer Maria Eilberg held her own, earning 68.83% for 19th place on Two Sox, despite a mistake in the two-time changes and a low-scoring walk. The passage picked up plenty of eights and the right pirouette a nine.

Listen to Maria Eilberg’s interview

For full report, pictures, comment and analysis from Windsor’s European dressage championships don’t miss Horse&Hound magazine out Thursday 3 September.

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Great Britain has taken team silver at the Windsor European dressage championships, beating Germany into bronze to the delight of the home crowd.

Laura Bechtolsheimer, the youngest team member at 24, led the charge on Danish-bred gelding Mistral Hojris (pictured right). The individual medal contender finished in third in the team test with 76.638% — a personal best and the highest mark a British rider has ever achieved in an international grand prix.

“I felt a bit of pressure because we knew we had a good chance,” said Laura. “But I also felt in control and prepared. He’s the most honest horse I’ve ever ridden and he tried so hard in there.”

Listen to interview with Laura Bechtolsheimer

Emma Hindle became the first British rider ever to win two team medals, having been part of the 2003 bronze team at Hickstead. She carried all the pressure being last to go and knowing she needed Lancet to produce a 71% test to get silver. She pulled off 72.9%, just to be sure.

“As the last rider in the team I wanted to do a risk-free test, but still do enough to get what we needed for the silver medal,” said Emma. “It was a different situation at Hickstead in 2003, we were a less experienced team — here we had expectations.

“I’m very happy, but I don’t think it’s sunk in. Just to ride in front of this home crowd and the castle is amazing.”

Listen to Emma Hindle’s interview

Carl Hester’s personal best with Liebling of plus-72% ensured the team had a chance of silver, but Germany put up a good fight, finishing 2.45% behind in bronze. This is the second time that Great Britain has won a European team silver medal, with the first in Lipica in 1993.

All four British riders, including Maria Eilberg who finished 27th on this her senior championship debut, go through to the grand prix special tomorrow.

The Netherlands had clinched gold even before Edward Gal started his test on Moorlands Totillas, who scored 10s for the first four movements, and more — the only other 10 in the entire class had been awarded to team-mate Adelinde Cornelissen (Parzival) for an extended trot. Edward finished to a standing ovation on 84.09%.

Watch Edward Gal’s dressage test

Don’t miss the full report, pictures, comment and analysis of the entire championships in Horse & Hound 28 August issue. You can also follow the action tomorrow on Horse & Hound Live, featuring interactive commentary from European young rider team member Charlie Hutton and Anna Ross Davis, best of the Brits at Turin Europeans 2005.

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Laura Bechtolsheimer’s Olympic ride Mistral Hojris broke his own record for the highest British international grand prix score, at Lingen CDI, Germany (5-7 June).

The pair scored 78.04% in the grand prix special — beating their previous record of 75.25% from ’s-Hertogenbosch CDI (NED) earlier this year.

Only German Olympic gold medallist Isabell Werth (Satchmo) beat Mistral Hojris in the grand prix and special.

Laura said: “Before the flying-changes he was absolutely flying on 82%. We had a small mistake in our changes as he got a little distracted, but it’s a close arena and overall I was delighted with him. He was relaxed, but totally on my aids — a dream to ride.”

Laura also won the grand prix for kür riding her father Wilfried’s Andretti H with a personal best of 71.31% . They were second in the kür with 74.20%.

“Andy went the best he’s ever gone in the grand prix,” said Laura. “He was thrilled with himself showing off his first placed rug to Alf [Mistral Hojris].”

Compatriot Fiona Bigwood was second to Laura in the grand prix for kür on her 10-year-old chestnut gelding Wie Atlantico, scoring 68.51%. Fiona and the former Spanish international team horse were also third in the kür with 73.45%.

International teams director Nick Burton said: “These are really exciting scores. Fiona and Wie Atlantico are growing in confidence every time out and producing pleasing results, while Laura’s fantastic achievements make her a very serious medal contender at future championships.”

Both riders are in contention for a place on the European team to be announced on 14 August.

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Horsehero.com films Laura Bechtolsheimer and her groom Carole Levitt as they demonstrate the Bechtolsheimer method of grooming including ‘banging’ (otherwise known as ‘strapping’) on Laura’s team ride, Mistral Hojris.

Video supplied by www.horsehero.com

View pictures of Laura at home with Mistral Hojris

Don’t miss H&H’s interview with Laura Bechtolsheimer in the current issue of Horse & Hound (1 May, ’08)

Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer triumphed in the grand prix at Hagen CDI, Germany (27 April-1 May) riding Mistral Hojris. She went on to finish ninth in Mistral Hojris’s first grand prix freestyle. Laura also competed Don Davidoff in the prix st george, scoring 63.2%.

At Saumur CDIO in France (3-6 May), Fiona Bigwood led the British challenge for the Nations Cup on Mr G De Lully. The Swedish-bred 14-year-old finished third with 69.042%, helping the team to fourth place.

First-time Nations Cup team members Anna Ross-Davies with Liebling II and Nicola Jourdain with Saint Swithens put in promising performances. Anna and Liebling were sixth with 70.45% in the kür. Nicola built on 12th place in the grand prix to finish eighth in the special and went on to score 69.25% in the kür.

Read this report in full, plus reports from other top dressage shows around Britain, in this Thursday’s issue Horse & Hound (17 May, ’07)

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