Britain’s dressage medal hopes at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) look brighter than ever following another outstanding win by Laura Bechtolsheimer.
European bronze medal winner Laura Bechtolsheimer and her horse Mistral Hojris were streets ahead of their rivals at the Cappeln CDI in Germany last weekend.
At their last competition before WEG, Laura and the 15-year-old gelding Mistral Hojris won the grand prix kur on 76.64% — 7.7% higher than the second placed Patrik Kittel from Sweden.
The pair went on to seize the grand prix freestyle with 81.45%.
“It was great preparation for WEG and we’ve all got our fingers crossed he travels well [to Kentucky] now,” said Laura, who said she “wasn’t happy” with their performance in the grand prix.
“It was very hot, and I used my old style of warming up that didn’t really get him started, so the performance wasn’t spectacular.”
The two non-travelling WEG reserve team members, Emile Faurie (Elmegardens Marquis) and Henriette Andersen (Louis D’or III) also scored well at Cappeln, earning fourth and tenth places respectively.
WEG runs from 25 September to 10 October, and the British dressage squad, aiming to better its European team silver medal, consists of:
Laura Bechtolsheimer riding Dr Mrs Bechtolsheimer’s and her own Mistral Hojris (with Andretti H as her reserve horse)
Fiona Bigwood riding her own Wie Atlantico
Maria Eilberg riding Ferdi Eilberg’s Two Sox
Carl Hester riding John Risley and Cheryl Meisner’s Liebling II
Non-travelling reserves: Henriette Andersen (Louis D’Or III) and Emile Faurie (Elmegardens Marquis).
