‘This is what dressage should be'

Laura Tomlinson gives her take on the British team’s Europeans success

- Laura Tomlinson

AS I write, I have just had to admit defeat and realise that now at seven months pregnant, I am no longer able to be of much use on my horses. I now spend my mornings remote controlling Lara Butler riding, as I feel the horses through my eyes and not my seat.

I did, however, get to finish off my season with two wins in Germany on Rose Of Bavaria and a big personal best for her in the special of over 77%, which was wonderful.

To further my inspiration and keep me going until I can get back in the saddle properly, I have been enjoying the European Dressage Championships in Hagen, and what a thrill it was to see our British team claim another medal. Our team did well to keep their nose just in front of the Danes, making it a rather nerve-racking but very exciting silver-medal finish.

I felt that the British horses looked fitter than some other horses that had also been to Tokyo, possibly as ours competed less – partly due to Covid restrictions – over the season than some other European horses did.