Laura Collett
Laura Collett is a British event rider who won team gold medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics on London 52, as well as individual bronze in Paris and individual gold at the 2025 European Championships.
She started her competitive equestrian career in the show ring, winning the supreme pony title at Horse of the Year Show in 2003 when she was 13. She has been invited to judge the supreme titles at HOYS in 2026.
When she moved across to eventing, Laura proved a force to be reckoned with through the pony, junior and young rider ranks. She won nine medals during her youth career, including three individual golds (juniors in 2006 on Fernhill Sox, juniors in 2007 on Rayef, young riders in 2009 on Rayef).
What senior championships has Laura Collett ridden at?
Since moving into senior competition, Laura has been selected for three European Championships as an individual. She was eliminated on the cross-country on her senior championship debut at Luhmühlen in 2011 and also at the 2019 Europeans at the same venue, but finished 13th at the 2015 championships at Blair Castle on Grand Manoeuvre.
The following year Laura was selected to represent Britain at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 on London 52 and finished ninth individually there, contributing to Britain’s team gold medal.
Laura and London 52 were also members of the British team at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.
In 2023, Laura rode on the British team at the European Championships in Haras du Pin, finishing ninth individually on London 52 and contributing to team gold.
In 2024, Laura led the Brits to team gold at the Paris Olympics and claimed her own individual bronze.
The following year, 2025, Laura won the individual gold at the Blenheim European Championships on London 52.
In 2026, Laura won team gold and individual bronze at the World Championships in Aachen on London 52.
Has Laura won at five-star?
Yes. Laura achieved her first five-star win in October 2020 when she took the title at Pau Horse Trials, France, riding her own, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s London 52.
The horse had previously been the 2018 eight- and nine-year-old champion at Blenheim Horse Trials, as well as winning the Event Rider Masters at Chatsworth Horse Trials and the CCI4*-L at Boekelo Horse Trials, both in 2019. But he had also fallen at the 2019 European Championships in Luhmühlen having sat third after the dressage, so this result proved Laura’s faith in him was justified.
“It’s always been my dream to win a five-star but I had started to feel like maybe it wasn’t going to happen,” she said in an interview shortly after her win. “I knew the horse was good enough, and it is so nice to prove that.”
Laura’s Pau victory meant she had the honour of winning the only five-star of 2020 because the eventing calendar that year was decimated by Covid-19.
In 2022, Laura and London 52 added victory at Badminton Horse Trials to their Pau win. The following year they won another five-star, at Luhmühlen Horse Trials.
Who was Laura’s Olympic horse in Tokyo and Paris?
Laura rode London 52 in Tokyo and Paris.
“It’s been an unbelievable experience from the moment I was selected,” she said after collecting team gold in Japan.
“It was a tough fight to be chosen and you had to be competitive at every event. We knew we’d left several riders at home with brilliant horses, who would think they should have been here if we’d messed up. It’s a relief to get the job done.
“We came out here knowing we had three of the best horses in the world – horses of a lifetime – and that’s why we’re sat here with a gold medal.”
Laura Collett and London 52 at the Tokyo Olympics.
Where is Laura based?
Laura is based at Windmill Stud in Broad Hinton, Wiltshire, England. She moved to Julia Norman Eventing’s facility on 17 August 2026 after eight years at Penhill Farm on the Salperton Estate, in Gloucestershire. She moved there in February 2018 after four years in Lambourn.
Has Laura Collett had an accident eventing?
Laura had a rotational fall at Tweseldown in 2013 which left her with a fractured shoulder, punctured lung, lacerated liver and broken ribs. She also lost the sight in her right eye.
She also broke her collarbone in November 2025, which required surgery. She then displaced the plate and re-injured her clavicle in a cross-country schooling fall in March 2026, which required a further operation.
Does Laura have a husband?
No, Laura is not married.
Is Laura involved with racehorses?
Yes, Laura assists with the training of racehorses for various trainers.
“I’ve always been passionate about jump racing and I find working with racehorses so rewarding, either teaching them to jump from scratch or helping the if they’re have any problems,” she says.
At the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, Harry Whittington’s Simply The Betts and Saint Calvados benefited from a morning’s work with Laura before going on to win and finish second in their respective races.
William Haggas also credited Laura for turning the Flat horse Dubai Honour around.
Laura Collett: latest news, reports and updates
Latest from Laura Collett
-
Five-star horse retires to enjoy hacking with owner-breeder: ‘She always had a smile on her face’By Pippa Roome Published
-
Laura Collett’s promising young eventer on the comeback trail after serious injury: ‘It ended up being quite dramatic’By Pippa Roome Published
-
‘A real honour’: Olympic gold medallist returns to HOYS to judge supreme championsBy Eleanor Jones Published
-
Heartbreak as world medallist Laura Collett withdraws Burghley ride, explaining ‘her welfare is more important’By Eleanor Jones Published
-
Gold medallists, young superstars and a three-horse rider: find out who goes when at Burghley 2026By Eleanor Jones Published
-
‘I cherish him every day’: London 52 completes Laura Collett’s set of team gold championship medalsBy Martha Terry Published
-
‘The best round I’ve ever had’: Laura Collett has another major title at her fingertips at Aachen after surviving a near missBy Martha Terry Published
-
Great Britain keeps the home side at bay in eventing World Championships ahead of final dressage sessionsBy Becky Murray Published
-
The Paris trio – and who else? British squad revealed for eventing World ChampionshipsBy Pippa Roome Published
-
Can history repeat itself? Ros Canter and Izilot DHI set to defend Luhmühlen CCI5* titleBy Becky Murray Published
News -
Mixed fortunes for Emily King and other top names during Badminton cross-countryBy Becky Murray Published
News -
Brazilian rider goes third at Badminton, Laura Collett ‘survives’ a tricky situation, and a Swiss debutant’s childhood dream comes trueBy Oscar Williams Published
News -
‘You only get one life and one head’: Olympic medallist speaks up on rider protectionBy Eleanor Jones Published
-
Laura Collett ‘full steam ahead’ to eventing return following surgeryBy Lucy Elder Published
News -
‘Accidents happen’: Laura Collett out of action after ‘freak fall’ while cross-country schoolingBy Lucy Elder Published
-
‘He was fearless and taught me to ride fast across country’: Laura Collett says emotional farewell to five-star partnerBy Pippa Roome Published
-
‘Greatness can emerge from modest beginnings’: European champion’s breeder among those recognised at top awardsBy Becky Murray Published
-
A tough farewell to the horse who put Laura Collett on the map and taught her ‘how to deal with highs and lows’By Pippa Roome Published
-
‘Panic! I’m going to the Europeans and I can’t do a flying change!’ Individual champion Laura Collett relives the difficult moments leading up to her glorious winBy Pippa Roome Published