The 2025 FEI European Champion Laura Collett will feature in the first of the LeMieux Masterclasses at the 2025 London International Horse Show (18 – 22 December).
The series kicks off on Thursday 18 December, with Perfect Polework, starring two-time Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett MBE, along with international dressage rider and showing producer Louise Bell.
Hopefully, by then Laura’s collarbone will be healed as she revealed on her social media yesterday that “This certainly wasn’t part of my winter plan. Unfortunately, I broke my collarbone last week, but I’ve had surgery and now on the mend”.
The Masterclass will be presented by long-time LeMieux Masterclass host Richard (Dickie) Waygood MBE, British Equestrian Federation’s Technical Director and Eventing Performance Manager, and the 45-minute session will explore the benefits of polework and cavalletti; an effective training tool in equestrianism that enhances a horse’s balance, coordination, suppleness, and engagement, while also improving the rider’s precision and communication. They will showcase exercises designed to build strength and technique for horses across all disciplines, and the audience can expect plenty of entertaining discussion between the three participants.
Speaking about the upcoming Masterclass, Dickie Waygood says “I’m delighted to be back for another Masterclass at London International Horse Show. Last year’s session with Laura Collett and Megan Elphick was a fantastic blend of fun and valuable learning for our audience, and this year with the wonderful double-disciplined Louise Bell I’m eager to showcase how polework is an important foundation across not only Dressage but Showing and beyond too.”
Louise Bell’s glowing career is a tale of two halves. Starting out as a Showing producer her achievements are impressive, from winning at the Royal International no fewer than 16 times, to six titles at Horse of the Year Show, to being a seven-time Working Hunter Champion at Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Louise’s more recent foray into Dressage has proven very successful. Her first call-up to represent Team GB was at the CHIO Aachen for the Nations Cup in 2019, and since then she has represented her country six times on Nations Cup Teams, four of them with podium finishes.
Jonathan Goold, Event Director, stated: “We are delighted to be announcing the first of this year’s LeMieux Masterclasses and kicking it off with such a fan favourite. This series presents our audience with a great opportunity to access world-class knowledge and insight, and Richard, Louise and Laura are the perfect combination.”
