British grand prix dressage star bows out

The Bechstolsheimers ultra-consistent thoroughbred dressage star, Andretti H, has been retired from competition at the age of 19.

“Andy” enjoyed a long and successful career with their daughter, Laura Tomlinson. The pair’s many laurels included winning two national dressage titles (in 2010 and 2011) and posting a personal best score of 78.73% in the 2011 Hagen CDI grand prix freestyle.

In 2013 Laura passed the reins to stable-jockey Lara Griffith, who struck up a successful partnership with the gelding, which culminated in them being named as reserves for this year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Laura told H&H: “Andy’s done everything we could have hoped for — he was a brilliant horse for me and taught Lara the ropes.

“He’s got nothing to prove and is never going to better the scores he’s been getting in the last year. We wanted him to bow out while he’s fit and sound.”

Andy will spend his retirement with the Bechtolsheimers.

“He will continue to be hacked out in the mornings and will enjoy a lot of time in the field,” added Laura.

Programme manager for dressage, Richard Waygood, paid tribute the gelding.

He said: “Andy was amazing for a thoroughbred horse competing in pure dressage. Obviously he was a great second string for Laura and it was immensely generous of her to give the ride to Lara.

“We are so grateful that Andy was campaigned throughout this season leading up to WEG to give Britain such a strong reserve horse.”

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