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‘It makes me emotional to think what I’ve achieved this year’: Charlotte Dujardin wows en route to London International freestyle victory

Gemma Redrup Gemma Redrup

    • Charlotte Dujardin took the top spot for a second night in a row in the London International Horse Show freestyle dressage results this evening (14 December).

    Riding Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s exciting 10-year-old Imhotep (Pete), Charlotte wowed the judges  in the FEI dressage World Cup freestyle, presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd and supported by Horse & Hound, to score 89.465% to a medley from the film Madagascar.

    “It’s Pete’s first indoor show and to perform how he has done, I couldn’t ask any more,” said Charlotte, who topped a British one-two-three in the London International freestyle dressage results, with Lottie Fry (Everdale) and Becky Moody (Jagerbomb) in second and third respectively. “Go Great Britain, I say! The prospect of the Paris Olympics next year couldn’t be more exciting. What an honour it is to be British.

    “I have a real partnership with Pete that I absolutely love. To me, that is what it’s all about – when you can reassure them, hold his hand and say it’s OK. He has so much energy and never stops – he just keeps going and going and I love that – it’s me all over.”

    Charlotte missed riding at last year’s London International Horse Show as she was pregnant.

    “I was so sad to miss last year, but to be back riding here this year makes me so proud and riding in front of a home crowd is incredible – it’s a dream to ride here,” explained Charlotte. “It makes me so emotional to think what I’ve achieved this year. I honestly didn’t think I’d be riding having had my daughter Isabella in March. It’s been fantastic, the best year ever – I can’t thank Carl [Hester] enough for what he’s done for me and putting me where I am today.” 

    Charlotte’s technicality scores for her freestyle ranged between 79.25% and 87%, with judge at C, Andrew Ralph Gardner, awarding her 87%. Her artistic scores scores ranged between 94% and 98.6%, with the latter coming from Jacques van Daele at M. 

    Imhotep’s personal best score in grand prix freestyle came at the European Championships in Riesenbeck in September, where he earnt 91.396% from the judges, but his London performance this evening is a close second. 

    Tonight’s London International freestyle dressage results added to Charlotte’s victory in yesterday’s grand prix aboard Imhotep with a score of 81.76%.

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    Gemma Redrup
    Gemma Redrup

    H&H features, racing and point-to-point editor
    Gemma is an experienced journalist, having been part of the H&H team since 2014, who is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting talents have taken her to numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
    Gemma Redrup

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