
IT was team bronze for Britain in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic dressage – which star performer Charlotte Dujardin said was as good as gold.
In keeping with the British team’s 10-year record of finishing on the podium at every major championship, Charlotte on Gio, Carl Hester on En Vogue and Olympic debutante Lottie Fry on Everdale finished a whisker off the silver medal, just pipped at the last minute by the US team, with Germany taking their 14th Olympic team dressage gold.
Britain – fielding three horses making their championship debut – had been hot on Germany’s heels at the start of Tuesday’s (27 July) grand prix special competition.
Carl had pulled out all the stops to ride a beautiful test, keeping 12-year-old En Vogue calm enough to perform at his best, scoring 78.34%.
“Charlotte said, ‘You don’t have a choice, you have to go for it’,” said Carl. “I have struggled with his nerves and finding the right balance, but today, the cliché was true – he was a boy going in, and he came out a man tonight.”
Lottie also maintained her poise – despite an enthusiastic Everdale’s early slip into a canter – to score 76.85%.
Denne historien er fra July 29, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 29, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat

‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits

'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix

'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports

'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"

The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options

Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season

Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead

In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London

'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life