Charlotte Dujardin and her mentor have ten horses here at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show and having watched Carl take victory in the Grand Prix, she clearly wanted a piece of the winning action too. Riding Carl’s Hawtins Delicato, she put up an assured performance to win the Kingsley Equestrian Inter I Freestyle. The judges rewarded it with 74.75% which proved a winning score. A win despite a lack of ‘match practice’ as the son of Diamond Hit has only had one run at Somerford this year, his first since claiming the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges championship.
Charlotte said; “He was overwhelmed yesterday in the arena walk and he’s just very green and inexperienced but he really tries. He’s not naughty in any way, he just lacks competition mileage so in the test you just have to give him confidence and sit quietly. He’s nearly ready for Grand Prix.”
Carl was quick to add; “He has top talent for piaffe and passage and his hind leg in trot and canter is as good as you’ll see in any horse currently.” The British bred gelding clearly has Carl’s attention.
Charlotte continued; “It’s exciting for the sport that I have my two youngsters in MSJ Freestyle and En Vogue and Carl has Del and we could be seeing them representing Britain as early as next year at the World Championships.”
Charlotte will debut ‘Del’ at Grand Prix sometime soon but then relinquish the reins to Carl but this one is certainly ‘one to watch’.
Second place went to Carl’s stable jockey Sadie Smith with another British bred rising star, Keystone Dynamite on 71.33%. Sadie’s been with Carl since last September and is clearly benefitting from riding Grand Prix horses daily. “I’m really happy with him today. He’s quite spooky and looks for confidence from me. I lost balance in one pirouette but that was all; not bad as it was only our fourth Inter I, first time doing an Inter I freestyle and the first time actually riding to the music!”
Charlotte was keen to let her yard-mate take part in the lap of honour and when asked what was going through her mind Sadie commented; “I thought ‘this is quite cool, hopefully it’ll be me in the rug soon’.” And few would bet against her becoming the next success story to come out of the Hester stable.
Full results – click here
Event website – click here