Bechtolsheimer (left) and Hester won European team silver in 2009

Dressage riders Laura Bechtolsheimer and Carl Hester have been selected for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

The Gloucestershire duo will compete alongside Fiona Bigwood and Maria Eilberg in September.

"The World Games is a really big thing, it only comes around every four years and it means a lot," Bechtolsheimer told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"It's one to peak for - especially in the build up to London 2012 - it'd be great to come home with a medal."

Hester, who is based in Newent, will compete on Liebling II, while Bechtolsheimer, who comes from Ampney St Peter, hopes to ride the horse that has propelled her to third in the world rankings.

She has described Mistral Hojris at 15 as being in his peak years, although she has the luxury of a reserve horse in Andretti H.

Bechtolsheimer also feels that the team has a good mixture of youth and experience

"We're a very competitive team, Maria and I are both very young, but had a few years experience under our belts and the other two have obviously been in it for longer," she said.

"As a combination of riders we've got everything you need to do very well out there."

Henriette Anderson and Emile Faurie have both been selected as non-travelling reserves in case of injury to any horses or riders.

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