Lara Kuropatwa

Coming from a horsey background, it was almost inevitable that I would start riding. Both my older sisters were ‘dressage divas’ – I watched my sister Olivia compete at two Pony European Championships. However, back then dressage was definitely not for me – I was much more interested in showjumping. However, it turned out to be a lucky move when, at the age of eight, I was loaned ‘the Dressage Professor’, Mighty Max, who wouldn’t go anywhere near a pole on the ground let alone leave the floor! So, it was dressage all the way with him and eventually we went on to become UK Fledgling champions. Another lucky break came in the form of the amazing FEI schoolmaster and former Europeans team pony, Don Joshi, who also came to us on loan. From there, my destiny was set! Joshi took me to my first international when I was 12, then paved the way for me to compete my two younger ponies, the stallion LE Chiffre (Peanut) and Mister Snowman, who we bought from Germany as a four-year-old. I produced both ponies up to European team selection and I rode at the 2016 championships in Denmark with LE Chiffre, where we finished eight individually and best Brits.

I now have three horses in my yard, all of whom I'm producing myself. My main international horse is For Season (Fergus). We started out at medium level together and 12 months later we were selected for our first International together at Junior level. We’ve had some really good results so far, including two 70%+ tests at Saumur CDI for a 2nd and 5th place. My plan is to take him up to Grand Prix. Ferdinant (Ferdi) is also working towards PSG and Ice LH is a very exciting prospect for the future – he’s a real little powerhouse! It’s definitely a very challenging route to train your own horses up the levels, especially when you haven’t had that much experience yourself, but I have great support from my trainers and I really do think that you have a much better relationship with your horse if you’ve trained it yourself – it works for me anyway!!!

Outside of the sport, I try to keep fit through yoga. I also love reading – I’m a bit of a bookworm –and, in stark contrast to the horses, I also have a passion for Art History.