Dressage-News

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro on their way to victoryin Olympia World Cup Grand Prix with personal best score. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

LONDON, Dec. 13–Charlotte Dujardin posted one her biggest wins of her 25 years when she rode Valegro to lead a British sweep of the Olympia International Horse Show World Cup Grand Prix Tuesday night with a personal best of the first time above 80 per cent.

To claim the win in the historic exhibition center that held its first Olympia horse show 104 years ago,  Charlotte and the nine-year-old KWPN gelding (Nero x Malfleur x Gerschwin) had to beat longtime premier combination and world No. 2 of Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris and her coach and boss, Carl Hester and Uthopia.

Charlotte and Valegro scored 81.043 per cent, the first time above 80 per cent for any Grand Prix level and  compared with their previous best of 78.830 per cent in the Grand Prix at the European Championships in Rotterdam three months ago.

Laura and Mistral Hojris, the most decorated combination in the history of British dressage with medals ranging from gold to bronze at 2009 and 2011 European Championships and the 2019 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky scored 79.326 and Carl and Uthopia on 75.447 per cent for third place.

The crowd that braved London’s cold and blustery weather filled only about half the seats that were as close as about 10 feet (3M) from the long sides of the arena in the magnificent Olympia, but were treated to what amounted to an encore performance for the three top scoring members of the team that won historic gold at the Rotterdam Europeans.

“He felt fantastic,” Charlotte told dressage-news.com, “The feeling he gives me is great beyond belief.

“It feels there is a lot more in there and he can go for more.”

She said that she had some nervousness, unusual for her, before the ride because Valegro had not competed in a venue where the spectators were so close and that seemed to have an effect on some rides before her. A few mistakes, such as in the two-tempis, were all hers, Charlotte said.

“Valegro has all the movement and the power,” she said, “He never lets me down.”

Carl, who was overhearing the interview, chimed in, “He is among the best horses in the world,” and joked that this correspondent had suggested he should take over the ride from his student.

Charlotte’s next scheduled competition is the World Dressage Masters in Florida at the end of January.

Laura and “Alf,” as she calls Mistral Hojris, have not competed since the Europeans but she said the horse felt really good but started out a “little rusty”–in some cases “a

little loss of communication, a slight delay” between her aids and his reaction. But that passed by the end of the ride and his final piaffe/passage tour for which he is renowned “felt that he was right on form again.”

The freestyle for which points will be awarded in the Western European League is scheduled for Wednesday night.

Complete Olympia Grand Prix results: