London International Horse Show has today announced the first of the LeMieux Masterclasses in the 2025 series. Taking place throughout the Show, which this year runs from 18 – 22 December, the LeMieux Masterclass Series highlights top equestrian personalities in exciting and informative sessions held in the New Horizon Plastics London Arena.
The series kicks off on Thursday 18 December, with Perfect Polework, starring two-time Olympic gold medallist Event rider Laura Collett MBE, along with international Dressage rider and Showing producer Louise Bell. The Masterclass will be presented by long-time LeMieux Masterclass host Richard 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, Waygood remarked: “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.”
Laura Collett MBE, a familiar face at London International Horse Show, has earnt a wealth of accolades, most recently winning the CCI4*-S class at the Bicton International Horse Trials and securing both team gold and individual bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, riding superstar horse London 52. Collet and London 52 have also been nominated for the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships taking place later on this year in September.
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.
Bell’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.”
