Laura Tomlinson underlined the importance of Horse of the Year Show’s Dressage Future Elite Championship after winning it for a second time in three years.
A Great Britain team gold medallist and individual bronze winner at the London 2012 Olympics, Laura is one of the sport’s most experienced riders.
And she showcased all that skill and knowledge on the giant Ostmarks Digal to post a score of 77.792 per cent after an impressive Intermediate I Freestyle test in the Andrews Bowen International Arena.
The class offers eight of Britain’s most exciting up-and-coming horses the chance to shine on a world-class stage as they look to blend technical skill with creative expression.
“It is a brilliant way to prepare them because you don’t get many atmospheres like this at the lower level when they are a bit younger to prepare them for what is to come in the future,” Laura said.
“So it is a great way to give these horses an opportunity like that, and I absolutely couldn’t be happier with how he handled it all.”
Laura had a clear winning margin from another British international rider Gareth Hughes, who rode Morricone II, with Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree taking third.
Assessing her latest exciting prospect, she added: “I always seem to end up with massive horses! He is well over 18 hands, but he is very elegant with it and he is lovely to ride.
“I am feeling quite excited that I’ve got something quite special under the saddle, and hopefully something really impressive for the future.
“For me, this is a really great milestone for him. There is lots more work to be done, obviously, but it is nice already at this stage to feel like it is all there.
“At the National Championships, across all the classes, you just see the quality of horses and riders is just increasing and increasing, and I think it is a really exciting time for our sport.”
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2026, please contact:
Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd.
Tel: 02476 858205
Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image: 1st Class Images