Lara Butler Leaves Bechtolsheimer For New Chapter on the Mainland

Dressage

Great Britain

British Grand Prix rider Lara Butler will be leaving her employer of 14 years, Ursula Bechtolsheimer, for a new chapter in her professional career on the European mainland.

Butler has accepted a position riding on the team at Van Olst Horses in The Netherlands.

Hard Decision

"It was a very hard decision for me," Lara told Eurodressage. "I have so many great memories and experiences here. The family's support has been amazing. I’ve learnt and grown so much since being here and feel very privileged to have had their support during such important moments in my life (becoming a wife and mother included)! The care and passion that Dr B showed towards the horses will be something that will always stick with me."

Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer) added, "Lara has become a close friend as well as a colleague. She has grown as a rider and of course we have gone through marriage and motherhood together too and experienced highs and lows together for many years. She has ridden my horses through all my pregnancies and competed many horses for us. She went from riding her first GP on Andretti H to producing Rubin Al Assad from young horse to GP as well as homebred Kristjan who she recently retired aged 19."

Lara Griffith

Lara Butler (née Griffith) comes from a horsey family with her father in the Kings troops and her mother, Caroline Griffth, as the BEF World Class Co-Ordinator for dressage.

On Dawning Hopes in 2009 (Photo © C. Finch)

She grew up at her parents' livery yard in Buckinghamshire and began on ponies. Her first 'serious' pony was Mr Sparrow on whom she was trained by Dan Greenwood at Emile Faurie’s yard. She outgrew ponies quickly and Sir Dunaway took her to Advanced Medium level under the Moody sisters' tutelage.

Her first "international" horse was Morgi Fortuna, with whom she competed at the 2004 European Junior Riders Championships in Aarhus and where she got better acquainted with British Young Rider team member Laura Bechtolsheimer.

Two year later she rode Veronique Andre De la Porte's Warlock at the 2006 European Junior Riders Championships. This Dutch owned horse took her to Young Riders level. Through her coach of seven years, Emile Faurie, she got the ride on Dawning Hopes, who took her to the 2009 European Young Riders Championships, where they were the best placed British combination.

Stable Jockey for Bechtolsheimer

While studying equine science at Oxford Brookes, Don Benito became her small tour horse and at the same time she began working as a stable jockey for Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer at Eastington Stud in Gloucestershire. In 2010 she graduated from University and decided on a career with horses.

On Andretti H in 2014 (Photo © R. Aaltonen)

Lara celebrated her biggest career successes so far on the Bechtolsheimer's Grand Prix horses Rubin al Asad. She broke through as a big tour rider on Laura's Andretti H with whome she became reserve champion at the 2012 British Grand Prix Championships. Aboard Rubin Al Asad she was three times British team reserve: for the 2016 Olympics, 2017 European Championships and 2018 World Equestrian Games. She became the 2018 British Grand Prix Champion.

Griffith married Bill Butler in 2017 and they welcomed their first child, son Jack, in April 2019. Since the retirement of Rubin al Asad, Butler continued her international show career on Grand Prix horse Kristjan and small tour horse Amiek C. Her last competition, both nationally and internationally, were the Aachen Dressage Days in May 2024.

A New Chapter in The Netherlands

Butler has decided that the time is right to begin a new chapter in her professional career and has given her notice to the Bechtolsheimer family.

2018 British Champion on Rubin al Asad
(Photo © Kevin Sparrow)

As of November 2024, Lara will begin as a team rider for Gert-Jan and Anne van Olst, working alongside British Olympic medal winner Charlotte Fry.

"I felt like it is time to explore a new opportunity to see what I can achieve as a rider and I think the van Olst stable is the perfect place with so many super horses," Lara told Eurodressage. "Also being on the continent gives you so much more access to some great shows. I’m excited to explore a different country and culture not only for myself but my family too."

Laura Tomlinson added, "we will miss her but wish her and her family all the best in their move. I’m particularly excited for her to have the opportunity to ride more top horses and experience a completely different set up to our small private family yard."