Laura Bechtolsheimer and her 15-year-old Dane Mistral Hojris (by Michellino x Ibsen) lifted Great Britain to bronze in the Nations Cup at Aachen CDIO, Germany, 14-18 July, British Dressage reports. Bechtolsheimer finished third in the GP and the Special on 77.44 per cent and 79.37 per cent respectively – securing Team GB a spot behind the Netherlands and Germany.

Freestyle success

In the Freestyle, Laura went on to post an impressive 80.50 per cent, but with Dutch dynamos and overall Aachen champs Edward Gal with Totilas and Adelinde Cornelissen with Parzival taking first and second on 90.96 per cent and 85.60 per cent, Laura’s amazing mark only gained her a fifth.

“Overall I’m really pleased with how everything went. Aachen is a testing stadium and we did make a couple of small mistakes but nothing I’m too worried about. People forget that this is only his second outdoor show of the year, and we’re planning the season so he peaks at exactly the right time for WEG.”

“In the special he went even better than the GP. We had a miscommunication on his first pirouette which is a shame because his pirouettes are great, but otherwise he was really consistent which is so encouraging for me. It means I can stop playing it safe and really go for it. In the Freestyle he had a lot to contend with as the noise from the crowd was overwhelming, but I’m confident he’ll continue to improve.”

Success for Andretti H

A full week of competition - Laura also partnered her 15-year-old Aarking gelding Andretti H to a win in the CDI4* Freestyle on 71.50 per cent after placing seventh in the Grand Prix on 69.33 per cent.

“Andy was great, he was a bit tired in the Freestyle from doing all the CDIO prize givings (in place of Alf) but it was good enough for the win so we’re happy. Andretti will be a Hickstead next week on his own so he will enjoy being the centre of the attention then!”