Laura Tomlinson guest edits Horse & Hound

This week, Horse & Hound magazine is guest edited by double Olympic dressage rider Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolsheimer).

It is the third of four guest edited issues this season, the others having been Sam Griffiths (eventing, 3 March) and Robert Walker (showing, 17 March). Geoff Billington (showjumping) takes the reins for 31 March.

German-born Laura is a two-time Olympian who won team gold and individual bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games in Greenwich, London.

Laura has worked closely with the H&H editorial team to craft a diverse and exciting dressage special issue.

The features Laura has chosen include:

• Coming back after a baby: how do lady riders do it? We talk to Anky van Grunsven and Isabell Werth, as well as Lucy McCarthy (nee Wiegersma) and Fiona Bigwood to find out how these ladies have bounced back to top careers following the birth of their children.

• Maximising preparation: what do top riders do to prepare for any eventuality at shows? Laura shares her own experiences of competing in the sweltering heat at the Beijing Olympics, and we explore the roles that fitness and mental preparation can play.

• Judging the judges: Laura wanted H&H to explore how judges themselves feel when they are in the firing line. What pressures are on them — particularly at championships both nationally and internationally — and what can be done to improve the judging mechanisms and participants’ perception of dressage judging?

• Laura herself has written a hugely insightful piece about contact and why it is the key to all good riding. She has hints, tips and check points to ensure your horse goes in the best possible way.

Related articles:

• Happy birthday Laura Tomlinson! H&H celebrates her career in pictures
• Laura Tomlinson: How to create the perfect flying change
• Laura Tomlinson: 8 top dressage training tips

“Laura was brimming with ideas; in fact it was really tough to choose which of her themes we ran with,” said H&H dressage editor Alice Collins. “I hope the diverse topics interest readers. I certainly enjoyed working on them with Laura.”

There will be a series of website features to complement the dressage special magazine, including fantastical facts you didn’t know about Laura (she passed out in a lift wearing all her medals at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010!), the horses she will never forget and a quiz to see how well you know the rider.

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