Biography
This will be the eighth visit to Badminton for British Olympian Laura Collett (33) winner of the competition last year with London 52 – one of two entries this year. The pair won with a record score. They were members of the British team for the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni. It is a first Badminton for Dacapo in 2022 winner of the 4*L at Millstreet and 3rd in the Nations Cup 4*L at Boekelo.
With London 52 Laura was a member of the British team to win Olympic gold in Toyko (9th individual). The pair was also the winner of Pau 5* in 2020 and Boekelo 4*L in 2019 and has scored eight international victories together. Laura, who has represented GB at Pony, Junior, Young Rider and Senior level, is based in Salperton Gloucestershire. She is currently #12 in the FEI 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 ever 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 30th 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).
Laura trains with Richard Waygood. She now schools racehorses and enjoys following their careers on the track.
Dacapo is a German-bred 14-year-old Holstein gelding. He is by the popular jumping sire Diarado out of a mare by Canturo. He has been produced by Laura.
London 52 (aka Dan) owned by Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and rider is a 14-year-old German-bred Holstein. Bred by Ocke Riewerts, he is by Landos (also the sire of Mark Todd’s 2016 Olympic ride Leonidas) out of a mare by Quinar Z. He has been produced by Laura through the grades. His breeder has followed the combination throughout and all the way to Badminton.
Entries
Mr Bass
HOLST,
Germany,
2008
16.2hh , bay , gelding
Sire Carrico
Dam K-Jeunesse (Exorbitant)
Breeder Unknown Unknown
Owner(s):
Keith Scott, Northchapel, W.Sussex
Nick How, Hayling Island, Hants.
& Rider