Charlotte Dujardin Returns to International Competition With Victory On Brave Heart at Wellington CDI3* Grand Prix

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Charlotte Dujardin riding Brave Heart at Wellington CDI3* in the British Olympic gold medalist’s return to international competition after a year’s suspension.

HOOK, England, Oct. 11, 2025–Charlotte Dujardin returned to international competition after a year’s suspension of the Olympic gold medalist to win Wellington International CDI3* Grand Prix Saturday.

Charlotte and the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding scored 73.739% for the victory, the first international competition for the rider since June 2024 before she withdrew from the British team for the Paris Olympics.

She received a warm response of loud clapping from spectators after her ride on Brave Heart that was placed first by all five judges in the class of nine riders. The duo was the only one to breach the 70% mark.

Charlotte, now 40 years old, was suspended for one year on July 22, 2024 based on a video submitted by a Dutch lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant that “showed Dujardin excessively whipping a horse during a training session at a private stable.”

Charlotte, who won three gold medals at two Olympics, London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016, on her world No. 1 mount Valegro, competed in a national competition since her suspension but this was her first international event.

Brave Heart was competed by owner Ellen McCarthy at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida in 2024.

Fellow team rider Gareth Hughes on the 10-year-old Lusitano Lufada Mvl was runner-up on 69.957%.

Lewis Carrier on Diego V, 17-year-old KWPN gelding, rounded out the top three placings for Britain by finishing third on 66.978%.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix
1) Charlotte Dujardin, GBR – Brave Heart 73.739%
2) Gareth Hughes, GBR – Lufada Mvl 69.957%
3) Lewis Carrier, GBR – Diego V 66.978%
4) Jessica Dunn, GBR – Dan Its Carston 66.913%
5) Kimberley Siddorn, GBR – Dutch Class 65.739%
6) Tyla Schou, AUS – Dennis Deniro 65.609%
7) Darren Hicks, GBR – Tramontana Tiger Feet 65.348%
8) Carolyn Mellor, IRL – Gouverneur M 63.370%
9) Sarah Rao, CHN – Iranico 59.369%