Laura Tomlinson Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire is a German-born British dressage rider competing at Olympic level
Background
A granddaughter of the German billionaire property magnate Karl-Heinz Kipp who founded the Massa chain of department stores, Bechtolsheimer was born in Mainz, Germany in 1985 to German parents Wilfried, an entrepreneur and horse trainer, and Ursula.
Career
As of 30 June 2012 the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) rank her 3rd in the world riding Mistral Højris and 36th on Andretti H.
She has three brothers, Felix, a singer with rock group Hey Negrita who battled heroin addiction and now tours prisons helping others, Goetz, and Till. The family moved to Ampney Street Peter in Gloucestershire when she was one. Bechtolsheimer started riding aged three having been given a pony called Peacock for her birthday.
Bechtolsheimer attended Street Marys Calne school in Wiltshire, and started to concentrate on dressage aged 13.
She was selected to ride at the Pony European Championship the following season, winning a team silver medal at her first major competition. She graduated from Bristol University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Politics.
Outside of her dressage activities, Bechtolsheimer is a presenter for equine video website HorseHero.com and is considering a career in public relations and marketing.
Membership
She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.