Laura Tomlinson

Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer) is a respected dressage rider with an impressive list of accomplishments in the sport. Born on 31 January 1985 in Mainz, Germany, Laura grew up in a family deeply involved in equestrianism. Her grandfather, Wilfried Bechtolsheimer, won a silver medal in team dressage at the 1972 Olympics and started the famous dressage training centre, the Winter Riding School, in Germany. Her mother, Ursula Bechtolsheimer, is also a dressage trainer and her father, Dr. Bechtolsheimer, is a successful business executive.

Laura began riding at the age of two and quickly demonstrated a natural aptitude for the sport, moving on to compete in dressage competitions from a young age. She has found success throughout her career, most notably at the 2012 London Olympics where she won a gold medal in the team dressage event for Great Britain. That same year, she earned a silver medal in the individual dressage event at the European Championships and was awarded an MBE in recognition of her contribution to British equestrian sport.

In addition to her Olympic and European success, Laura has a long list of other notable accomplishments. She has won team and individual gold medals at the World Equestrian Games, and individual silver and bronze medals at the European Championships. Throughout her career, she has consistently ranked among the top dressage riders in the world.

Off the horse, Laura is a dedicated mother and wife and is also involved in numerous equestrian charities and organisations. She is a patron of the Brooke charity, which works to improve the welfare of working horses and donkeys in developing countries and is also a supporter of World Horse Welfare.