Former British Team Rider Laura Richardson Declares for U.A.E., Returns to CDI Ring after 21 Years

Dressage

Great Britain

Former British Grand Prix team riderLaura Richardson has declared for the U.A.E. She made her show debut under this new flag at the CDI Hagen Covalliero Dressage Days on 25 September 2025.

The 49-year old switched to UAE in August.

Former British Team Rider

Richardson comes from a sporty family. The daughter of former Coventry City Football Club chairman Bryan Richardson and originally from Chipping Norton, Laura has two uncles, Peter and Dick, who both played cricket for England. Her father Bryan played for Warwickshire in the 60s.

Richardson first represented Great Britain at the 1994 European Junior Riders Championships on the 1986 born KWPN gelding Elvas (by Zelhem x Onedin). She returned on the team with him for the 1996 European Young Riders Championships in Copenhagen, where they finished 14th, and at the 1997 European Young Riders Championships in Moorsele, where they were 28th. She got coaching from Hubertus Schmidt (1997-1998) and Conrad Schumacher (1999 - 2001) at the time.

The 1989 born Hanoverian stallion Millenium (by Manstein x Grandios x Caruso) made her break through happen at Grand Prix level. Richardson got nominated on the British team for the 2001 European Championships in Verden, where she was 22nd overall. They also rode at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez to finish 31st. She worked as a working student for Johann Hinnemann from January 2002 till May 2003.

Richardson was long-listed for the Europeans in Hickstead in 2003 and short listed for the 2004 Olympics in Athens but the CDI Vejer de la Frontera in March 2004 was her last international on Millenium. A local British show in May 2004 was the horse's last.

From Hong Kong to U.A.E.

Laura disappeared from the international stage for two decades. She continued showing nationally in the U.K. until 2006. Her last show horse was Pim, a 1997 born KWPN gelding by Chirlon out of Lolly-Pop. In 2005 she still had three show horses: Weserstar (by Westerland), Blakes Plaisir (by Pit) and Blakes Dollar (by Friedensfust).

Between 2006 and 2012 Richardson worked at several non-riding jobs before moving to South East Asia. She became an instructor at the Bali Equestrian Center, then Singapore Polo Club and worked for the Singapore equestrian federation, before relocating to China, where was a manager at the Hong Kong Jockey Club until May 2021.

Richardson's name suddenly resurfaced after she began working for the Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a board-run facility which includes HE Buthaina Abdullah Mohamed Ali Al Mazrouei as member. Laura is the performance and general manager there since November 2023.

Bergsjoholms Valbonne

The Royal Stables purchased the 12-year old Swedish warmblood Bergsjoholms Valbonne (by Zack x Epson x Favorit) for her to ride under the UAE flag.

Richardson on Valbonne at the 2025 CDI Hagen

Bred by Marita Strauch, Valbonne was first competed internationally by Emilie Brolin at the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where they were 18th in the 5-year old consolation finals.

Later on the horse moved to Patrik Kittel's stable to be produced and sold. The gelding sold to Japanese Masahro Kosaka in 2019 AND Kittel showed Valbonne once internationally at small tour level at the 2021 CDI Hagen after which his assistant Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson took over the ride.

Malin competed him as of 2023 at CDI's in Lier, Aachen, Compiegne and Falsterbo and got selected on the Swedish team for the first time for the Europeans in Riesenbeck, where they were 36th in the Grand Prix with 70.730%. Malin and Valbonne competed through May 2024.

Richardson and Valbonne made their show debut in June 2025 at the local show in Hamminkeln, Germany, at small tour level. Her next show was on 20 - 21 September in Vreschen-Bokel, before her international debut four days later at the CDI Hagen, where they placed 16th in the Prix St Georges with 65.343%.