British grand prix dressage rider Lara Butler is about to start a brand new chapter in her profession, departing from her long-time function with the Bechtolsheimers after 14 profitable years.
As first reported by Eurodressage, Lara can be taking over a driving place in November with the workforce at Van Olst Horses within the Netherlands.
Lara instructed Horse & Hound that the transfer got here after assembly Anne Van Olst at Aachen Dressage Days CDI3* in Might, the place Lara was competing at small tour with Amiek C (Ampere x Olivi).
“I’d mentioned to her that we had been working a smaller yard in the meanwhile so I haven’t obtained that many to compete, and clearly the grand prix horse I used to be driving, Kristijan, retired on the finish of final 12 months,” Lara defined.
“She mentioned ‘I’ve obtained a great deal of horses when you’d have an interest’ after which I ummed and ahhed for months earlier than I lastly made the choice that now was the time to provide it go whereas I’m nonetheless match and in a position.”
Lara achieved her biggest profession milestones whereas driving the Bechtolsheimers’ horses. Her breakthrough as a grand prix rider got here aboard Andretti H, with whom she secured the reserve champion title on the 2012 Nationwide Championships.
With Rubin Al Asad, Lara served because the British workforce reserve for the 2016 Olympics, 2017 European Championships, and 2018 World Equestrian Video games, and was topped nationwide champion in 2018.
Rubin Al Asad retired in 2021 at 19-years-old, and Lara continued her grand prix profession with the Bechtolsheimers’ first home-bred Kristjan and the pair recorded 43 top-10 placings of their 48 worldwide begins collectively.
Lara Butler driving Rubin Al Asad at Olympia in 2015. Credit score: Peter Nixon
Kristjan retired after the 2023 Nationwide Championships, aged 18, and since then Lara has been competing Amiek C – who’ll be shifting to the Netherlands with Lara – at small-tour.
“That call to go away was so exhausting,” Lara added, “they’re so pretty right here and also you nearly really feel like a part of the household.
“I began right here at 21, and now I’m 35 – I feel! – so I’ve grown up right here. One of many highlights was with the ability to have the journey on Rubin Al Asad, getting the prospect to deliver him up by means of the degrees and expertise the Olympics as a reserve was so particular.
“All of the horses had been incredible, but additionally the assist Laura [Tomlinson] and I’ve been capable of give one another as we’ve competed collectively, and gone out and in of pregnancies has set me up for all times.
“It’s bittersweet, after I needed to inform Laura the information I used to be crying, she was crying – they had been completely happy tears, however it does seems like the top of an period.
“However we’ve mentioned that we are going to all the time assist one another and hopefully now we’ll be capable of see one another out competing on the circuit – I do know it’ll be good to have that pleasant face!”
Lara’s complete household can be shifting out to the Netherlands, along with her younger son Jack beginning at a world college close by.
“He’s 5 so it’s a pleasant age for him to maneuver and it not disrupt his life an excessive amount of, so for him it might nonetheless be an journey reasonably than an upheaval,” Lara mentioned.
“However we’re all excited. I’ll get to journey a wider vary of horses, acquire extra worldwide expertise, and hopefully, that may open the door to being on some groups sooner or later. I’m additionally wanting ahead to supporting Lottie [Fry] in the identical means I’ve supported Laura right here.”
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Credit score: Jon Stroud
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
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