Charlotte Dujardin is a British dressage rider and was double gold medalist at the London 2012 Olympics Games.
Born in Enfield, Charlotte was brought up in Hertfordshire and started riding as a two-year old. By sixteen years old, Charlotte had won the Horse of the Year Show competition four times and was a winner at Hickstead on three occasions. After encouragement from her trainer, Debbie Thomas, Charlotte took up dressage with a horse bought from her grandmother’s inheritance.
In February 2007, she had some lessons with legendary Carl Hester, and after ten days at his yard and spotting her talent, he offered her a job as a groom at his yard in Newent, Gloucestershire, where she has since remained. Charlotte’s horse at the time was Fernandez. From the start, Charlotte was asked to bring on the novice Dutch Warmblood gelding Valegro, owned by Hester and Roly Luard, with the intention of that horse being ridden by Hester. However, after competing in their first dressage Grand Prix event in 2011, the combination became part of the successful team, which won gold in a European Dressage Championship competition at Rotterdam.
The pair then won the FEI World Cup Grand Prix at London Olympia in 2011, setting a new World Record for the Olympic Grand Prix special scoring at 88.022%, in April 2012.
Dujardin and Valegro were selected to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games and in the first round the team set a new Olympic Record of 83.784%. On 7 August 2012 the pair were members of the team, which won the gold medal in the team dressage event. Two days later, in a routine accompanied by music by Tom Hunt which included Land of Hope and Glory, The Great Escape and the chimes of Big Ben; the pair won the gold medal in the individual dressage event with a score of 90.089%.
A global superstar was born….
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Valegro and you are my absolute favourite dressage combination, and I was so sad when I heard that ‘Blueberry’ was going to be sold. I watched you win the gold medal in London, and was so happy for you!! Hopefully you will win more and have such a good bond with your up and coming mounts. I wish you very good luck for the future……… From Jennifer aged 12
Blueberry and Charlotte you are a perfect partnership and Charlotte, you are my idol. I hope my horse has learned something from the many pictures i have shown her of you two, going ‘hint, hint’ every time!!! You are totally inspirational, your tests make tears come to my eyes, I hope you have many more great successes and get as much love and respect and bond (over everything) with your next owner, Blueberry. Best of luck in the future, you are a force to be reckoned with and i have no doubt you will go far. From Olivia aged 13. xxx
I love you and Blueberry, you are going to be in my English talk at school! I read PONY Mag, and love your feature bit, I think it’s awesome your writing for them! Is Blueberry really going to be sold?
I hope you continue with your success and same to Blueberry. You taught me loads about horsemanship and stuff.
From Ellie, 13.
you are an amazing dressage rider
You are such an inspiration! I love that you wore your helmet during the Olympics, setting a wonderful example for riders of all disciplines and at every level. XOXO
such a good rider
xx
Charlotte is AMAZING:) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
and you know it
lve ur horses
Hi Charlotte,
I reccently Met you at Longines GTC, You & Laura were both fantastic.
Thank you for the photo afterwards & the advice from yourself & Laura for my para-dressage, I really appreciate it.
Stacey