The dressage entries at this year’s London International Horse Show at Olympia will be spearheaded by three British Olympic riders in the shape of Carl Hester, Emile Faurie and Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolsheimer).
Carl will ride his Rio 2016 team silver medal-winning partner Nip Tuck, while Emile will be testing his relatively new ride Weekend Fun in the intense atmosphere and double London 2012 medallist Laura brings Rosalie B to the iconic Christmas show.
Laura, who won team gold and individual bronze at the London Olympics, will be competing the Rubin Royal mare on British soil for the first time. So far this year they have been to shows in the US and on mainland Europe.
The 31-year-old will be six months pregnant with her second child. The baby boy is due in late March. Laura’s last outing with the mare was the German CDI Oldenburg, where they won the grand prix special with 75.88%.
The mare stepped up to grand prix in February this year, taking the plunge at top level not long after Laura bought her. Her previous rider Anabel Balkenhol had competed her to intermediate I level.
Two of Carl’s pupils, Henriette Andersen (Warlocks Charm) and Hayley Watson-Greaves (Rubins Nite, who is by the same sire as Rosalie B) also line up under the British flag, as well as senior team rider Michael Eilberg, who partners his faithful — but sometimes spooky — campaigner Marakov.
The Dutch are fielding some of their A-team riders, most notably Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal. Hans Peter’s Glock’s Flirt is the reigning World Cup champion, while Edward’s mount Glock’s Voice is also capable of impressive scores.
Judy Reynolds is Ireland’s sole representative with her attractive black Jazz gelding Vancouver K. Dressage fans can look forward to the pair’s new and technically spectacular freestyle on the Wednesday evening session.
Valegro will also make his formal retirement from the competitive stage on the Wednesday night.
Related articles:
- Live coverage of Valegro’s retirement to be shown by BBC
- ‘Bitter’ legal row over £100k horse resolved
- Team Hester: welcome to my new behind-the-scenes blog
The dressage action kicks off with the grand prix on Tuesday 13 December and Horse & Hound will be providing live text commentary online.
The full list of entries:
Australia
Lyndal Oatley on Sandro Boy
Denmark
Mai Tofte Olesen on Rustique
France
Stephanie Brieussel on Amorak
Ludovic Henry on After You
Great Britain
Henriette Andersen on Warlock Charm
Michael Eilberg on Marakov
Emile Faurie on Weekend Fun
Carl Hester on Nip Tuck
Laura Tomlinson on Rosalie B
Hayley Watson-Greaves on Rubins Nite
Ireland
Judy Reynolds on Vancouver K
Japan
Akane Kuroki on Toots
Netherlands
Edward Gal on Glock’s Voice
Katja Gevers on Thriller
Hans Peter Minderhoud on Glock’s Flirt
Portugal
Miguel Ralão Duarte on Xenofonte D’Atela
