The People's Horse

Crowd favourite Nip Tuck cruises to a double victory to crown Carl Hester national champion for the 10th time.

- Lucy Elder

THEY are two of the sport’s greatest ambassadors. So it was only fitting that Carl Hester and his consistent partner Nip Tuck should reach major milestones together with their glorious victory at British Dressage’s flagship event.

This was Carl’s 10th national champion title and 68th win at these championships. Reaching double figures was all the more special because it came on a horse with whom he has won medals and titles all over the world.

The timing of this show means it usually falls too close to each year’s major international championship for the top combinations of the moment to compete. But with Hawtins Delicato serving as Carl’s ride for the Europeans, “Barney” was able to come to Stoneleigh and take his first national title.

“He deserved that for what he has done for British dressage,” reflected Carl. “He was due the win, not me.”

The 15-year-old gelding looked as delighted to be there as the crowd were to see him, and the combination’s freestyle was intense from the outset. They started in passage and, before they reached the end of their first centre line, they had executed both piaffe and canter pirouettes. “The first line has such an impact and he did that brilliantly,” said Carl, who also showed 23 perfect one-time changes on a curving line.

Barney, by Don Ruto, is also relishing his new schoolmaster role with up-and-coming rider Rob Barker — winner of the medium silver title here.

“He is a young guy with talent, a beautiful rider and Jane [de la Mare, the horse’s co-owner] and I would be thrilled to see him on Barney,” said Carl. “Like a lot of riders, Rob has no access to an advanced horse and this is a perfect stepping stone. Barney has a lot to give and is so nice to ride that it will give Rob a great feeling for training his future horses.”