Biography

British Olympian Laura Collett (35) was the winner of Badminton in 2022 with London 52, winning with a record score. Last year the same combination won team gold and individual bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris. Badminton will however be a first 5* for her entry Bling and a second visit for Hester who completed Luhmuhlen 5* last year. Both are British-bred mares.

Laura, who has represented GB at Pony, Junior, Young Rider and Senior level, is based in Salperton Gloucestershire. She is currently #5 in the FEI world rider ranking.

A former rider of show and working hunter ponies, in 2003 13-year-old Laura won the Supreme Pony Championship at the Horse of the Year Show. At the age of 15 she started eventing and has been a professional event rider for 16-years. In 2005 she won British team gold and individual silver at the Pony European Championships with Noble Springbok and in 2006 aged 16 Laura became the youngest rider to win an international event when winning the CCI2* at Tweseldown with Fernhill Sox. She has since been successful at both Junior and Young Rider level winning team and individual gold with Rayef in 2007 at the Junior European championships and again in 2009 at the Young Rider Europeans.

In 2010 with Fernhill Cristal she won another British team gold at the Young Rider European Championships in Pardubice. Later that year, she made her four-star debut at Burghley with Andrew Nicholson’s former ride Ginger May Killinghurst finishing in 30^th place.

In 2011 she made an impressive Badminton debut, being placed eighth with Rayef. She gained her senior flag when with Rayef she was selected as part of the British squad to contest the 2011 European Championships at Luhmuhlen and in 2015 with Grand Manoeuvre she represented Great Britain as an individual in the European Championships at Blair Castle. In 2015 she won the World Young Horse 7-year-old championship and in 2021 was second in the championship (Outback).

With London 52 Laura was a member of the British team to win Olympic gold in Tokyo (9^th individual) as well as team gold at the 2023 European Championships. The pair was also the winner of both Pau 5* and Luhmuhlen 5* events and has scored 12 FEI international victories together.

Laura trains with Richard Waygood. She now schools racehorses and enjoys following their careers on the track.

Hester is a British-bred, British Hanoverian (BHHS) registered 14-year-old mare. Bred by her owner Lucy Nelson she is by Heinrich Heine out of a mare by the ID Blue Henry. She was formerly ridden by Jonelle Price and Alexander Bragg before coming to Laura in 2021. With Jonelle she competed in the world young horse 7-year-old championship. With Laura she completed Blenheim last year (14^th).

Bling is a British-bred SHB(GB) registered 12-year-old mare. Bred by her owner Yvonne Ferguson she is a daughter of the jumping stallion Kannan out of a mare by the thoroughbred Bahamian Bounty (a son of Cadeaux Genereux). She was originally ridden by Harry Dzenis and came to Laura in 2021