“Alf” to Retire at Olympia Horse Show–Journey of a Champion in Images

12 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on “Alf” to Retire at Olympia Horse Show–Journey of a Champion in Images

LONDON, Dec. 15, 2013–Alf, as Mistral Hojris has been known to the world since the teenager Laura Bechtolsheimer rode the Danish Warmblood in Young Riders in 2005, their first international competition, officially retires in what is sure to be an emotional farewell ceremony at the Olympia Horse Show Tuesday night.

The partnership led the way for Great Britain’s rise to the pinnacle of global dressage through two Olympics, a World Equestrian Games and three European Championships collecting a trove of gold, silver and bronze medals along the way and a change through marriage in the rider’s family name to Tomlinson.

The farewell at Olympia is appropriate as the pair competed four times at the iconic Christmas show, though Alf and Laura won the Freestyle at the World Cup qualifier only once, in 2011.

Dressage-news.com was an eyewitness through the camera lens at the highlights of Alf’s championship career.

Laura Tomlinson on Mistral Hojris in the last CDI competition for the partnership, Horrses & Dreams at Hagen, Germany. © 2013 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura whose family name became Tomlinson after her marriage following the London Olympics riding Mistral Hojris in the last CDI competition for the partnership, Horses & Dreams at Hagen, Germany in April, 2013. © 2013 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Great Britain's Laura Behctolsheimer in tears as she completed her Grand Prix Freestyle on Mistral Hojris at the London Olympics. © 2012 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Great Britain’s Laura Behctolsheimer in tears as she completed her Grand Prix Freestyle on Mistral Hojris at the London Olympics. © 2012 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris produced piaffe and passage for which they are legendary. © 2012 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris produced piaffe and passage for which they are legendary as a highlight of the London Olympics. © 2012 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris in their fourth and final competition at London Olympia, where the pair posted their only Freestyle victory at the iconic Christmas show. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris in their fourth and final competition at London Olympia, where the pair posted their only Freestyle victory at the iconic Christmas show. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Mistral Hojris ridden by Laura Bechtolsheimer at the 2011 European Championships where Great Britain won gold. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Mistral Hojris ridden by Laura Bechtolsheimer at the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam where Great Britain won gold. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

 

Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris after Grand Prix Freestyle at WEG in Kentucky. © 2010 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris after the Grand Prix Freestyle at the World Equstrian Games in Kentucky in 2010. © 2010 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris. © 2010 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris in Kentucky. © 2010 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris at the 2009 European Championships © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris at the 2009 European Championships in Windsor © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Behctolsheimer and Mistral Hojris at the 2008 Olympic Games. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Laura Behctolsheimer and Mistral Hojris at the 2008 Olympic Games. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com