Laura Bechtolsheimer will lead the British riders at Olympia’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage qualifier (Tuesday 14 December), riding her World Equestrian Games (WEG) triple silver medallist Mistral Hojris.
With 16 confirmed entries from six nations, Laura will be joined by fellow Brits Emile Faurie, H&H columnist and British dressage team manager Richard Davison, international judge Judy Harvey and crowd favourites Stephanie Croxford and Mr President.
Henriette Andersen will also be representing the home side with Louis D’Or, after making her World Cup qualifier debut with the horse here last year, and Amy Stovold will be competing at Olympia for the first time with Macbrian.
While Germany’s Isabell Werth, who has won two of the three World Cup qualifiers so far in the series, will not be competing, the Netherlands’ WEG gold medal-winners Adelinde Cornelissen (Jerich Parzival), Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud make up a competitive international field.
After the loss of his top ride Totilas earlier this year, Edward will be riding Sisther De Jeu — an 11-year-old mare also by the Trakehner sire Gribaldi.
The top 15 combinations from the qualifier, supported by Horse & Hound, will qualify for the grand prix freestyle to music on Wednesday.
Laura Bechtolsheimer is looking forward to a particularly busy time at the Christmas extravaganza, as she will also be performing a dressage demonstration on Wednesday afternoon.
“I love Olympia and the great Christmas buzz it has,” said Laura. “It will be strange doing a demonstration in the arena, just hours ahead of the freestyle, but I hope it will help me to keep my cool.”
Confirmed Olympia dressage entries
Hans Meganck BEL (Rintje V)
Marc Peter Spahn BEL (Fryso Huys Cas)
Fanny Verliefden BEL (Rubel 13)
Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein DEN (Rigoletto)
Mikaela Lindh FIN (Skovlunds Más Guapo)
Arnaud Serre FRA (Helio II)
Henriette Andersen GB (Louis D’Or)
Laura Bechtolsheimer GB (Mistral Hojris)
Stephanie Croxford GB (Mr President)
Richard Davison GB (Hiscox Artemis)
Emile Faurie GB (Elmegardens Marquis)
Judy Harvey GB (Fitzcerraldo)
Amy Stovold GB (Macbrian)
Adelinde Cornelissen NED (Jerich Parzival)
Edward Gal NED (Sisther De Jeu)
Hans Peter Minderhoud NED (Exquis Nadine)
Tickets for The London International Horse Show at Olympia are still available. For further information please visit www.olympiahorseshow.com. For tickets, call the box office on 0871 230 5574.
