Tag Archives: Charlotte Dujardin

Charlotte Dujardin Returns to Olympia Horse Show to Give Medal-Winning Masterclass

Triple Olympic gold medallist, Charlotte Dujardin, will be gracing the Olympia Grand Hall once again as it is announced she will be conducting a Dressage masterclass at Olympia, The London International Horse Show.

Dujardin, who retired her Olympic partner Valegro in an emotional ceremony at last year’s Show, will be treating spectators to a dynamic display on Tuesday 12 December 2017. Riding Mount St John Freestyle, part of Charlotte’s post-Valegro generation of horses making their mark on the sport, Charlotte will be demonstrating the skill and patience required to produce young horses.

Charlotte has high hopes for the eight-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by Mount St John Stud, and is looking to step up to grand prix level next year with the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ as the target. The duo has already attained a number of titles together including the recent Future Elite Championship and the Summer British Dressage National Championship.

Mount St John Freestyle will be put through her paces as Dujardin showcases the training routine of a champion, providing invaluable tips and a wealth of knowledge to equestrian enthusiasts, who will be given a rare insight into her winning secrets.

Charlotte Dujardin CBE said: ‘I’m so excited to be taking Mount St John Freestyle to Olympia this December. I have so many great memories there, from breaking two World Records back in 2014, to Valegro’s retirement last year. The atmosphere in the Grand Hall is always electric, so it will be a great experience for her.’

Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward, commented: ‘It is wonderful to welcome Charlotte back to Olympia this year. She has an excellent history at the Show and is a fantastic ambassador for Dressage as a sport and young riders looking to follow in her footsteps.’

Charlotte’s Masterclass will take place on the evening of Tuesday 12th December, the opening day of Olympia, the London International Horse Show and the evening of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix. The Show has a stellar line-up of equestrian greats joining Charlotte on centre-stage throughout the week, with racing legends Frankie Dettori and Sir AP McCoy switching disciplines for the Markel Champions Challenge, in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund on Friday’s ‘Race Night’.

The Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National will see the likes of Champion Jockey Jim Crowley and Aintree Grand National winner Leighton Aspell pass the baton to their children, with Alice Crowley and Lucy Aspell joining Frankie Dettori’s son, Rocco, in the starting line-up.

Seven days of top international sporting action including three FEI World Cup™ competitions in Dressage, Carriage Driving and Show Jumping, are expected to attract many of the world’s best horse and rider combinations. The Chilean Huasos will making their debut, and the Kennel Club Dog Agility will be joining the action, welcoming the country’s most talented dogs and their handlers.

Tickets for most performances, including Tuesday night, are still available.  Tuesday night also sees the release of tickets for the ‘Champagne Box’ offer, details of which are included on the Show’s website.  ‘Double Dressage’ tickets can also be purchased when visitors can benefit from a discount on the Tuesday night ticket if they purchase tickets for both dressage evenings.

For more information on Olympia, The London International Horse Show, and how to purchase tickets visit www.olympiahorseshow.com.

For more information, please contact:
Olympia, The London International Horse Show:
Gayle Telford, gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk 0203 176 0355

Carl Hester Does the Double as Valegro Retires in Style

The Olympia Grand Hall saw a sell-out crowd, as many of the world’s greatest Dressage riders took to the arena. The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Freestyle to Music wowed the packed crowd, with Carl Hester dominating for the second night running.

The talking point of the Show was the retirement of one of Dressage’s greatest horses, Valegro, with spectators treated to a special performance ahead of an emotional retirement ceremony.

The second day at Olympia, The London International Horse Show could not have ended any more perfectly than with British Dressage’s own Superman, Carl Hester, winning the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle supported by Horse & Hound.

The win with Nip Tuck, Hester’s second consecutive Olympia FEI World Cup™ qualifying win with his 18 hand high 2016 Olympic team silver partner, came during an emotionally charged evening performance that saw the retirement of Nip Tuck’s stable and Olympic team mate Valegro. The double Olympic gold medallist is part-owned by Hester and ridden by his pupil and former protégé Charlotte Dujardin.

Hester and Nip Tuck’s freestyle (84.669) delighted the capacity crowd many of who have come back to Olympia every year since the prestigious FEI World Cup™ qualifier was initiated here in 2003.

“That was the biggest atmosphere at Olympia that I have ever experienced,” said Hester, who is now aiming for the FEI World Cup™ Final in Omaha in April.  “Even yesterday in the Grand Prix it was super-charged and not just because of the numbers. Barney was a little on edge but I was really pleased that even out there, with so many people, he kept with me.”

Hester was also a major part of the evening’s retirement ceremony for Valegro.

“It has been such a joyous occasion,” said Hester. “I know everyone thought it would be sad, but how could anyone be sad to see Valegro go out so fit and well and happy – it’s been a happy-sad day.”

Hester and Nip Tuck not only successfully defended their Olympia title, but comfortably held off the potential challenge from Dutch Olympic riders Hans Peter Minderhoud with Glock’s Flirt (81.880) and Edward Gal with Glock’s Voice (80.467). The two Dutch riders, as last night in the Grand Prix, took second and third place. Hans Peter Minderhoud, the current holder of the FEI World Cup™ title took the runner up position with Glock’s Flirt with who he won the title last year – his first FEI World Cup™ accolade.

“I expected a great class with a big atmosphere so I knew we would have to produce our very best and then I heard Carl’s score,” said Minderhoud.

“I just had to keep to the plan and do the best we could and not over-ride him. He was really with me and really trying so I am super happy, but perhaps it’s time to make my freestyle more difficult.”

Fellow Dutchman Edward Gal and the stallion Glock’s Flirt were third, while Irish rider Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K (78.269) performed a powerful and expressive routine to a seasonal foot-tapping compilation to be fourth. British rider Hayley Watson-Greaves achieved a personal best with Rubins Nite for fifth place.

While Hester has yet to win a FEI World Cup™ Final, he has trained both Valegro and his rider Charlotte who have won the FEI World Cup™ series on two occasions (2014 & ’15). The pair is the current holders of the record FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix (87.129% in Lyon, 2014) and Grand Prix Freestyle score (94.16 in Las Vegas, 2016).

The 14-year-old equine superhero is part-owned by Hester, who has trained him and his rider Charlotte Dujardin through the fairy-tale style story that runs from four-year-old young horse champion to achieving double Olympic glory this year at Rio.

The 2017 FEI World Cup™ Final (March 29 – April 2) takes place in Omaha, Nebraska.

Three-time Olympic Champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro entered the Olympia Grand Hall for a final time, performing their London 2012 Gold medal winning freestyle test to a sell-out crowd in a touching retirement ceremony. In 2014 the pair set the Freestyle Dressage world record at Olympia, and currently holds the highest Olympic score in the Freestyle. Beyond their phenomenal medal haul, the pair has achieved a great amount for the sport itself, as acknowledged by British Dressage in a special award ceremony during last night’s performance.

Valegro and Charlotte were joined in the arena by mentor and part-owner, Carl Hester, as well as groom Alan Davies, in what was an emotional last dance. The packed-out stands gave the duo a well-deserved standing ovation as they paraded out of the arena.

Speaking after the ceremony, Charlotte Dujardin said, “There have been so many happy memories; he’s won every gold medal there is, including three Olympic golds and two FEI World Cup™ titles. He’s a once in a lifetime horse and I’ll miss competing with him enormously.”

The solitary foot-perfect performance secured the Services Jumping Championship win at Olympia, The London International Horse Show for the Household Cavalry’s Major Chambers, an accolade he has chased for six years with the 12-year-old gelding Hightide.

“It’s the ultimate [equestrian] title to win when for the military,” said Major Chambers, a Riding Master for the Lifeguards. “We have been second two times previously, and I had actually qualified two horses at the Royal Tournament for this final. I decided to bring Hightide as I trust him in the atmosphere here. The other horse, Freeway, has never been here before, so it made sense.”

Major Chambers bought Hightide at Gorsebridge sales eight years ago for the Defence Animal Riding Centre as a school horse. However, the two quickly developed a strong bond. “I decided to try him out one day and fell in love,” said Major Chambers, who was also part of the winning Services Team Jumping squad with Hightide at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Telford, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk
0203 176 0355
www.olympiahorseshow.com

Hester Wins and Valegro Bows Out on a Night to Remember at Olympia

Carl Hester with Nip Tuck. (Jon Stroud Media/FEI)

Olympia, London (GBR), 14 December 2016 – On an electrifying night at the London International Horse Show, Carl Hester won the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2016/2017 Western European League with Nip Tuck. This was a back-to-back double on home ground for the 49-year-old British star and his 12-year-old gelding, but the man who has been largely responsible for placing British dressage firmly on centre stage in recent years had to battle for the limelight, as his victory was quickly followed by an emotional farewell performance by his stable-star, Valegro.

The Grand Hall at Olympia was packed to capacity as reigning FEI World Cup™ champions, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt, filled runner-up spot ahead of Dutch compatriot and 2010 champion Edward Gal in third with Glock’s Voice. A fourth-place finish for Judy Reynolds has promoted the 35-year-old Irish phenomenon to the top of the Western European League going into the next leg of the series in Amsterdam (NED) in February.

Reynolds and Vancouver K led the way after the judging break with a score of 78.269, but Hester moved the target on to 84.669 with another of his text-book rides. “This was the biggest atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at Olympia. Barney (Nip Tuck) was a little on edge, but I’m really pleased that in that atmosphere he kept with me!” he said after posting what would prove to be the winning score.

Hester, whose own career is filled with major highlights, is the man who created the fairytale partnership between Charlotte Dujardin and the amazing gelding Valegro, who together have become icons in the sport over the last five years. Breaking world records was all in a day’s work for this sensational duo, but just a few short months after adding to their haul of Olympic gold in Rio, the 14-year-old horse was officially retired from the sport after presenting one last stunning performance of their winning London 2012 Olympic Games Freestyle test.

Hester, who trained and mentored the pair, said, “It has been a such a joyous occasion – I know everyone wanted it to be sad but how could anyone be sad to see Valegro go out so fit and well and happy – it’s been a happy sad day!”

Dujardin described Valegro as “just the perfect horse, with the biggest heart in the world; he always gave me his very best!” while fellow-Olympian, Richard Davison, put it all in perspective when he said that it was “the alchemy” between Hester, Dujardin and this very special horse that has been key to this extraordinary success story.

Detailed result here

Quotes:

Carl Hester GBR (1st): “My plan is to get to Omaha (for the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017 Final). I started at Lyon and will next head to Amsterdam and keep room in the diary for another one if needs be. I last competed in a World Cup Final in 2005 with Escapado.”

Hans Peter Minderhoud NED (2nd): “I expected a great class with a big atmosphere so I knew we would have to produce our best, and then I heard Carl’s score so decided to keep to the plan and just try to do everything the best we can and not over-ride him. I am super happy, but perhaps it’s time to make my Freestyle more difficult.”

Edward Gal NED (3rd): “My horse was a little unsettled at the beginning as being last to go he got left on his own in the warm up arena – which, because he is a stallion, distracted him. But otherwise he felt good and he made not many mistakes – it was a good start for our World Cup season. I love to come to London the atmosphere in the Hall is very special, and especially at Christmas time!”

Full standings here

Don’t miss a hoofbeat! Watch it all LIVE on www.feitv.org.

Social media: #FEIWorldCupWEL #RidetoOmaha #FEIWorldCupFinals #TwoHearts

Rider biographies: view online and download from www.fei.org/bios.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Olympia:

Jo Peck
Press Officer
JoPeck@hpower.co.uk
+44 1753 847 900

At FEI:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Dressage Stars Take Centre Stage on Opening Night of Olympia

The World’s best Dressage riders were out in force on the opening night of Olympia, The London International Horse Show, where Carl Hester was crowned winner of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix supported by Horse & Hound aboard his Rio Team silver medal winning horse Nip Tuck.

In addition to the top-class competition, Britain’s favourite horse, Valegro, graced the arena along with Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester, ahead of his retirement, and Emile Faurie also gave a foot perfect masterclass.

Spanish horse whisperer, Santi Serra, opened the show with his unique display featuring dogs and horses, paving the way for a spectacular performance from the Pride of Portugal Lusitano horses and riders.

Olympia, The London International Horse Show kicked off in great style with the first night’s full house witnessing British Olympic rider Carl Hester win the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix (supported by Horse & Hound).

The British favourite produced a controlled and confident test from the giant Nip Tuck who, despite being 12 years old, is still a notoriously spooky horse. The pair produced particularly impressive piaffe and passage and claimed a unanimous win from the five judges.

“I am very happy with him tonight,” said the Gloucestershire rider. “This time last year it took another 24 hours to get to this point.”

“We can improve on the score and yes I need to be more attacking in the ride to gain the higher marks but tonight was a stepping stone to that and, considering how spooky he can be, he is becoming a very reliable horse.”

Dutch Olympic team riders Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal, regular visitors to the London Show, were second and third.

Hans Peter and Glock’s Flirt, the reigning World Cup champions stand second. It was just the second show for the pair since their World Cup win in Gothenburg in April.

“I am very satisfied with Flirt, especially as he had all summer off and only came back at Maastricht where he was second. Already he feels improved and hopefully he will be better again tomorrow,” said Hans Peter who has been coming to the London show for the last ten years.

“We always try to do this show and now feel very much at home here in London,” said Hans Peter. “It has a great atmosphere and is good way to end the year.”

It was also only the second outing for the stallion Glock’s Voice since he competed with Edward Gal at the Olympic Games in Rio.

He said; “Yes, he was a little overwhelmed by the atmosphere and a little bit too much of a stallion in the warm-up – which is quite small and was busy with other horses – so he was a bit difficult and falling into the corners and a little against my hand at times, but we can most certainly can do better and tomorrow we start again.”

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle starts Wednesday night at 7.30pm after which the audience will have their tissues at the ready for the retirement ceremony of the British team Olympic gold medallist horse Valegro.

Valegro made his first UK public appearance since winning his third Olympic gold medal in Rio, much to the delight of the packed crowd. Fans were treated to a Q&A session with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, questions for which were submitted in advance by members of the audience. Charlotte and Valegro also demonstrated a couple of the moves that gave them such phenomenal success in the competition arena.

The session also included an awards ceremony, with the following awards presented:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award to Valegro’s groom Alan Davies, presented by Chris Hewlett (Chairman of the British Grooms Association)
  • BHS Fellowship Award to Carl Hester, presented by Lynn Petersen, Tessa Martin-Bird and Julia David from The British Horse Society
  • British Dressage Award to Valegro and Charlotte Dujardin, presented by Jennie Loriston-Clarke

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Telford, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk
0203 176 0355
www.olympiahorseshow.com

Valegro Retirement amongst the Live Broadcast Highlights of Olympia Horse Show

On 13-19 December, Olympia, The London International Horse Show, is back in its iconic venue and set to grip spectators from day one.

For those who are not able to attend the Show, coverage from the event will be available via the BBC, FEI TV and through streaming and video on demand, thereby ensuring you don’t have to miss a moment.

This year’s event is particularly special, with double Olympic Gold medallist, dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin appearing with her outstanding horse, Valegro, before he retires from competition. Furthermore, double Olympic gold medal winning Show Jumping duo, Nick Skelton and Big Star, will be competing; allowing home fans to have a rare first-hand display of their magical partnership.

The competition will be of the highest international standard, with three FEI World Cup™ competitions in Driving, Dressage and Show Jumping as well as other outstanding international jumping classes including The Cayenne Puissance and The Olympia Grand Prix.

Each performance includes international displays from the Portuguese Lusitanos and Santi Serra who will demonstrate their breath-taking horsemanship as well as old favourites, the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National and the Kennel Club Dog Agility.

To view the show online and on TV this year, below is our day by day listing of coverage*:

Tuesday 13 December:

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix
19:30-22:35 – LIVE on FEI TV

Wednesday 14 December:

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Freestyle to Music and The Retirement of Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Valegro
19:30-22:35 – LIVE on BBC RED BUTTON, BBC ONLINE & connected TV and FEI TV

Thursday 15 December:

The Santa Stakes
12:00-12:30 – LIVE STREAM

The Christmas Pudding Stakes
18:45-19:50 – LIVE STREAM

The Cayenne Puissance
21:00-22:15 – LIVE on the BBC RED BUTTON, BBC ONLINE & connected TV

Friday 16 December:

The FEI World Cup™ Driving Leg
12:45-13:25 – LIVE on FEI TV

The Snowman Stakes
15:00-16:25 – LIVE STREAM

The Entire Evening Performance
18:45-22:25 – LIVE on BBC RED BUTTON, BBC ONLINE & connected TV including;
Markel Champions Challenge
The Longines Christmas Cracker

Saturday 17 December:

The Christmas Masters
15:15-16:15 – LIVE STREAM

The FEI World Cup™ Driving Leg
18:30-19:15 – LIVE on FEI TV

The Martin Collins Enterprises Christmas Tree Stakes
20:45-22:15 – LIVE STREAM

Sunday 18 December:

The H&M Pony Club Mini-Major
12:30-12:50 – LIVE STREAM

The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Leg – Presented by H&M
13:45-16:30 –  LIVE BBC TWO HD, ONLINE & connected TV
14:35-16:30 –  LIVE on FEI TV

The H&M Ivy Stakes
21:00-22:25 – LIVE STREAM

Monday 19 December:

The Six Bar
12:30-13:30 – LIVE STREAM

The Entire Evening Performance
18:45-22:25 – LIVE on the BBC RED BUTTON, BBC ONLINE & connected TV including:
The Mince Pie Stakes
The Olympia Grand Prix

Wednesday 21 December:

Highlights
12:00-13:00 – BBC TWO HD, ONLINE & connected TV

* All programmes subject to change 

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Telford, gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk 0203 176 0355

Land Rover Celebrates Winners of Central Park Horse Show

(New York, NY) – September 24, 2016 – Land Rover North America returned as the official vehicle for one of the world’s most iconic equestrian events, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, which took place in the heart of New York City. Under the bright lights of the New York sky line, spectators saw some of the very best competitors in equestrian sport coming together to perform in Central Park’s Wollman Rink. Highlights included double victories from two-time Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward, a display from the world-famous duo of Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, award-winning pure bred Friesian stallion, Frederick the Great, along with a special ceremony to honor the U.S. equestrian Olympians from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OLYMPIANS HONORED

The red carpet was rolled out in the arena as the Olympic stars arrived in in a Range Rover HSE and a Range Rover Autobiography Long Wheel Base to be honored in front of the sell-out crowd. Among those honored were U.S. Dressage Team Olympic Bronze medalists Steffen Peters, Laura Graves, Allison Brock, and Kasey Perry-Glass; U.S. Show Jumping Team Olympic Silver medalists Kent Farrington and McLain Ward; and U.S. Olympic Eventing Team member and winner of the Individual Bronze medal, Phillip Dutton.

Dutton commented on his appearance. “What an incredible honor! Being here in the city and being honored for my Olympic performance, it’s a dream come true and I am so proud to be here. The show is great; what a good concept to bring the sport to the people. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the team behind it has done a fantastic job.”

WORLD CLASS SHOW JUMPING HIGHLIGHTS

Rio Olympic Team Silver Medalist, McLain Ward, was unstoppable on Thursday as he clinched the top prize in the Open Canadian Pacific FEI Speed Class with a stunning round aboard the powerful, HH Carlos Z, in the time of 58.63 to seal their first Central Park Horse Show victory. Ward swiftly followed up his success with a second win in the crowd favorite Puissance competition. In the fourth and final round Ward went head-to-head with Andrew Kocher (USA) to face the imposing 6ft 9 wall against the iconic back drop of the New York City skyscrapers, with both unable to clear the wall the $50,000 prize fund was shared between them and were crowned joint winners.

ward McLain Ward spoke of his double-victory. “Carlos has been a great campaigner of mine over the years and is great against the clock. We weren’t really expecting the puissance win but ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Z performed beautifully so we are really pleased. The atmosphere is phenomenal, the setting is so iconic and beautiful – it’s a great show.”

Friday culminated with the highly anticipated US Open CSI 3* Grand Prix presented by Rolex. Included in the formidable line up were World no.2 Kent Farrington and 2014 winner Georgina Bloomberg. Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set a tough course which saw only 10 horse and rider combinations advance through to the final round, in what promised to be a highly competitive jump off. Spectators were treated to a nail biting finish which saw Jimmy Torano clinch the title aboard his eight-year-old Day Dream in the time of 37.05 seconds to claim the coveted Rolex Grand Prix title. Sharn Wordley (NZL) secured second place with the only other double clear round in the competition and Conor Swail (IRL) had the fastest four-fault round to place third riding Cita.

DRESSAGE STARS SPARKLED UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF NEW YORK CITY

The international dressage Grand Prix CDI4* made its first appearance in the Wollman Rink on Friday afternoon and was won by Olympian Judy Reynolds (IRL) and Vancouver K with a beautiful round to finish on a high score of 73.80%.

On Saturday night Ireland’s Judy Reynolds returned to the Wollman Rink for the US Open Dressage Freestyle Presented by Axel Johnson and claimed her second title at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Paired with her 14-year-old gelding, Vancouver K, Reynolds produced another stunning round with a final score of 77.051.

Three-time Olympic Champions, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, wowed the crowd with their breath-taking gold medal winning freestyle routine. The audience was on their feet as the world renowned pair performed for the first time since the Olympic Games in Rio.

Dujardin commented on the evening. “It is such an honor to be here. I am so glad that people get to see Valegro; he is such a special horse and he loves to perform so he has really enjoyed himself here.”

Michael Curmi, Brand Experience Manager, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC, said, “As a proud and longstanding supporter of the equestrian sport, we were thrilled to be a part of this unique event for a third consecutive year and are even more pleased with how the events unfolded.

“The Central Park Horse Show is one of the most anticipated equestrian events of the year taking place in one of the most exciting cities in the world. To be a part of something so special and to be able to help continue to build awareness of equestrian in the U.S. is incredibly gratifying.”

About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world’s most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEF), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.

Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K Win $75,000 U.S. Open FEI Dressage Freestyle CDI 4*

Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro Wow the Crowd with a Thrilling Performance; Kelley Farmer and Kodachrome Top $50,000 Duchossois Cup

September 24, 2016 – New York, NY – Saturday night at the 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show (RCPHS) featured a fantastic display of world-class dressage with a win for Ireland’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K in the $75,000 U.S. Open FEI Dressage Freestyle CDI 4*, presented by Axel Johnson, as well as a special freestyle demonstration from three-time Olympic gold medalists Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro.

Seven entries performed their grand prix freestyles set to music in the impressive atmosphere under the lights of Wollman Rink in New York City on Saturday evening for the $75,000 U.S. Open FEI Dressage Freestyle CDI 4*, presented by Axel Johnson. It was a packed house to watch the beauty and grace of dressage at its very finest in an incredibly unique setting.

With a high score of 77.051%, the win went to Ireland’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K, who were also the winners of the U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix CDI 4*, presented by Axel Johnson, on Friday.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Lovsta Stuteri’s Paridon Magi took the second place finish for the second day in a row, as well as the second year in a row, earning a score of 76.650% for their Saturday night freestyle performance. Third place honors were awarded to Denmark’s Mikala Gundersen aboard Janne Rumbough’s My Lady with a score of 72.400%.

Freestyle winners Vancouver K and Judy Reynolds represented Ireland in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then had a short break before making the journey to New York City for the opportunity to compete at this one-of-a-kind event. The 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Jazz, and owned by the rider’s parents Joe and Kathleen Reynolds, performed consistently to win back-to-back classes this week.

“It is kind of surreal really,” Reynolds remarked on the achievement. “I was probably a little bit more nervous tonight because I wanted to win again. I knew we had the capability of doing it, so I wanted to produce the performance of the night and I put more pressure on myself. I think it is fantastic. I certainly didn’t think this was going to happen when I came over here. For Ireland it is quite historic. I don’t think anybody has ever won two classes in one weekend at a CDI, so it’s nice to have done that.”

Reynolds got her start riding in Ireland and moved to Germany after college to continue training at a higher level.

“You essentially never stop learning; every day you still learn something new with these horses,” Reynolds detailed. “I am a believer that you need to compete against people who are better than you to be better, so when I was finished with college I made the decision to move to Germany. I had been quite successful in Ireland, and went to Germany and started at the bottom again, and I had to work my way back up. You were just against the best of the best, and it forced you to be better, so I kept going and it has gotten us where we are.”

To prepare for Saturday night’s freestyle, Reynolds actually watched video of her performance at the Olympic Games with Vancouver K.

“I watched back the freestyle from Rio so I could get a feel for the most recent version that we have ridden,” she noted. “I noticed that I could improve on a couple of timings. Tonight he wasn’t being quite forward enough for me, so I had to make up some time in a couple of corners to stay on music, but I didn’t really change anything as such.”

The pair’s next stop is the Dressage at Devon CDI-W in Pennsylvania since they are already in the U.S.

“We keep going next week at Devon. We are here, so we are going to make the most of it,” Reynolds detailed. “To be honest, I felt a touch rusty this week, so I think next week will be better. I will be looking forward to that and then we will continue our World Cup campaign. Then, depending on how it goes, we might be back in America for the Finals.”

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven had a great night with Paridon Magi and also spoke of her freestyle performance on Saturday.

“I was actually very proud of him today. I thought he was really working with me and right on the aids,” Vilhelmson-Silfven remarked. “I was spot on the music where I wanted to be, so I had a great feeling and a great ride. I have been riding him in competition for a year, and I get to know him more and more. I am learning how to warm him up and how to make myself ready with him. Today was the first time I felt like I had a really good feeling.”

Third place finisher Mikala Gundersen had a fun first experience competing in Central Park with her mount My Lady this week and was happy with her result on Saturday night as well.

“I was just so excited to be here,” Gundersen stated. “I really enjoyed the whole thing, and the venue, and I am so excited to be in this horse show. My goal was to go in there and have fun. My Lady was a little rusty – we haven’t shown for a while. She was a little sucked back, but other than that I am proud of her for going in there and doing so well.”

Judge Katrina Wuest shared her comments on the event and great competition as well. She expressed, “I would like to mention the show itself, and the fact that these top riders come here shows that this event is worth coming to. New York I think for all of us is a magic city and this was a magic night. I think this is very important. We want to sell our sport and we have to sell our sport to help it grow and make it more and more popular. It is a sport that is difficult to understand, and we only can sell it with these magic moments. The rides here and the public showed that this was top sport.”

International Equestrian Group and RCPHS founder Mark Bellissimo added his remarks on the evening, stating, “I want to thank the riders and the competitors who came here this year. The riders were fantastic tonight and it was very competitive, so I have to thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules. It was an enchanted evening. To see the crowd stick around and the cheers for every ride I think was fantastic. We are committed to making dressage special in this country, and I want to thank Antonia Johnson. She has been the big sponsor of this event. Without her this event doesn’t happen, so we thank her for that commitment to the sport, along with Fritz and Claudine Kundrun.”

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro

Following freestyle competition, three-time Olympic champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro did a momentous freestyle exhibition to the thrill of fans. Dujardin then let spectators come down to the arena to meet her world-famous mount in person. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many dressage enthusiasts and a memorable and incomparable moment at the RCPHS.

Valegro will have his official retirement from a record-breaking career in a ceremony at the Olympia Horse Show in London, England, in December, and finished out his competition career on a high note at the Olympic Games in Rio.

Valegro will still make public appearances, and after the very first of those non-competition performances on Saturday, Dujardin commented, “I think it is nice for me to be able to come into an arena now and not worry if I make a mistake. I can just go in there and enjoy it even more than when I was competing. Valegro is such a special horse and the consistency he has had is incredible. Now I don’t have to worry about that, and I can just have fun. It is nice for him to come and do these things as well. He loves meeting the crowd, and he loves the people. He was bombarded with people tonight, and he loves it. They were patting him, and hugging him, and kissing him, so what a nice end for him.”

Detailing her choice to retire Valegro this year, Dujardin remarked, “He is only 14 and he could do a couple more years, but to me I don’t feel that I have any reason to keep going with him. He has won absolutely everything. He holds every world record. He has been a horse of a lifetime for me. I would love everybody to remember him as the best horse he is, and after Rio I could not have asked for a better ride. It was just one of the most emotional and magical rides of my life, and I would hate for him to finish his career down. He owes me nothing, so why not finish at his best? It is not the end of Valegro. He is not going to compete, but he is still going to be around and people will see him, and I think that is very nice for him.”

After a fantastic experience for both horse and rider in New York City, Dujardin and Valegro will now return home to England. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show thanks them and all of the horses and riders that helped make this year’s dressage edition so special.

Kelley Farmer and Kodachrome Win $50,000 Duchossois Cup, Presented by The Gochman Family

While dressage took center stage on Saturday evening at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, hunter competition was the highlight throughout the day, featuring classes for pony, junior/amateur, and professional hunter riders in Wollman Rink. Jumping courses set by Kentucky-based designer Bobby Murphy, the three classes featured beautiful, hand painted fences and specially added decor for the unique afternoon of competition.

The $50,000 Duchossois Cup, presented by The Gochman Family, was the highlight event of the day session with a win for top hunter rider Kelley Farmer aboard Nine Moore’s Kodachrome. Fifteen entries jumped in round one, and the top ten then returned for a second hunter round to determine overall scores.

For Farmer and the eight-year-old Warmblood gelding Kodachrome, the judges awarded 88 points in each round for the winning 176-point total. Liza Boyd and Stella Styslinger’s O’Ryan finished second with scores of 87 and 88 for a total of 175. John Bragg guided Ann Thornton’s Early August to third place honors with a score of 173, earning 86 and 87 in their respective rounds.

Representing class sponsor The Gochman Family, Becky Gochman spoke about the second annual U.S. Open Hunter competition in Central Park and the great classes on Saturday.

“You never know when you start a new idea how it is going to end up and I think our second year was even more successful,” Gochman stated. “I think in the hunters, it is really important to be somewhat innovative, and I think this setting allows us to do that. I think this year’s addition of Caroline Passarelli, a 15-year-old announcer along with the usual announcer was a wonderful addition and something different. The great group of younger riders, amateurs, and young professionals, along with our great top professionals, gives validation to this horse show, and I hope it continues for many years because horses do belong in the city. They have a long history (here), and when we see a lot of people looking in and enjoying the horses as they are being led down to the ring, that is very meaningful, and that is what it should be all about.”

Gochman continued, “We wanted the riders starting at a young age to be able to do this too. Not everybody that came this year was qualified for the other national shows, so I think it is very cool that people came from all over the country and got to experience something like this. I was very proud of that fact. For me, this is about the innovation, and to have the music, and the artistic jumps, and Bobby Murphy course designing – New York City is about innovative things and art, and the hunters are an artistic form, so I think it really goes together.”

Farmer also competed in Central Park in the inaugural year of hunter competition in 2015 and was proud to come back and get the win this year. She was aboard a great horse that has earned many top results throughout the season.

“I want to say thank you to Becky and David Gochman and all the other sponsors that put this on,” Farmer remarked. “This is amazing to be in the middle of Central Park in this venue. It is pretty unbelievable. What a beautiful class.

“As far as my horse goes, I have to thank his mom (Nina Moore), and I have to thank the horse,” Farmer continued. “He is a lovely animal and he has done nothing but try to be amazing since I have gotten him. I am very lucky to be able to have a horse like that to ride and an owner like this who likes to come see this and wants to support it. For them to put on this event is amazing, so I am very lucky.”

Speaking further about Kodachrome, Farmer stated, “I think that horse speaks for himself when he goes in the ring. He tries to go his best every time. He is such a good jumper. I don’t ever have to worry. All I have to think about in the ring is being smooth. He is so rideable; there are not a lot of concerns except staying out of his way and letting him do the job.”

Owner Nina Moore also remarked on the event and watching her horse win in one of the world’s most famous venues.

“As an owner, a lot of times you go with a trainer and have to have a little bit of faith,” Moore noted. “This particular horse has done everything I was told he could do. I know the trainers always want them to be that, but how many times does lightning strike? He has just been everything.

“To be lucky enough to get invited to something like this and have sponsors like the Gochmans who do this – you go to horse show after horse show, but you don’t see these fences, and the support that they are giving this industry is incredible. To bring it out to the public like this and to see your own horse under such circumstances with skyscrapers in the back and such beautiful fences, it is kind of a fairytale. It is a very neat thing to have happen.”

Second place finisher Liza Boyd spoke about her mount O’Ryan and her experience competing in Central Park as well. Boyd also praised the addition of young announcer Caroline Passarelli this year.

“I think that the addition of Caroline was amazing, that was really spectacular,” Boyd stated. “Thank you to the Gochman Family, and everybody involved. Bruce Duchossois was a part of this too, and we love him and miss him, and I think he would have loved it.

“As a rider, I felt like I rode better this year because I knew the ring and I had a better feel for it,” Boyd noted. “I just knew to change my ride a little bit, and it paid off. The horses amaze me that these hunters come in here with this atmosphere and go as well as they do. I think these hunters are just getting better and better because of classes like this. The Bellissimos having all of these big hunter events is just great for the hunter industry and only helps us riders, so thank you all. My favorite part is the walk from the schooling area to the ring. It is very surreal when you are just bonding with your horse walking through Central Park. It is something I have never experienced. You feel very special as riders, and the hunter riders appreciate this very much.”

Speaking of her mount, Boyd detailed, “I love O’Ryan. He is a good guy. He is a 14-year-old that is very seasoned. He went with his owner in the junior/amateur class earlier and was third, and then he came back and tried his heart out for me. The horse is a real trier and I can’t say enough good things about him.”

John Bragg came all the way from California to compete in Central Park and made his trip worthwhile with a third place finish aboard Early August. Explaining his decision to make the journey, Bragg stated, “They called me and asked if I was interested in coming, and I was already coming for the indoor circuit and other horse shows back East, so I thought it would be a nice way to start. My clients were thrilled to come here, and we really love New York. The next four weeks we have horse shows on the East Coast, so it was unbelievable to be invited to come and participate here.”

Bragg was aboard a young horse in eight-year-old Early August, a Belgian Warmblood gelding that he imported just over one year ago.

“He shows in the First Year Greens, so he is probably less experienced than a lot of the horses in the class, but he is pretty brave and willing. That is why I chose him,” Bragg detailed. “It’s a nice horse.”

Remarking on his preparation to compete in Central Park, Bragg noted, “I didn’t really know what to expect since I had not been here. We prepared like a normal horse show. Warming up this morning was pretty good, and then the light changed and I was a little worried, but I think it is really good experience for us and our horses to be put in different situations to learn and get better. There is a lot of pressure to jump those jumps at that height, and to do well with the different types of jumps that they use, so I think it is really great.”

While the competition welcomed young riders on ponies in the arena, young equestrian Caroline Passarelli also enjoyed the opportunity to commentate on the fantastic classes and hopes to do more in the commentating business and horse industry in the future.

“It was such an amazing experience to be in the presence of such greatness all the way from the ponies to the professionals,” Passarelli stated. “Every person you watched go in was another riding lesson. I don’t think it’s possible for me to be any more fortunate. It is a great experience, and I have learned so much just in today alone. Being able to watch these professionals go in and lay down trip after trip on such beautiful animals is really something I am so thankful for.”

Mindy Coretz and Zola Thompson Earn Hunter Classic Wins

The $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic was held earlier in the afternoon on Saturday at the RCPHS and saw a win for Mindy Coretz, of Tulsa, OK, riding Eighteen Acres Farm’s Happy Hour to a high score of 80. Teddy Vlock and Century Performance Horses’ At Last placed second with a score of 78. Stella Styslinger guided her own O’Ryan to a third place finish with a 77-point total.

Coretz trains at home with Libby Barrow at Farewell Farms and had the help of hunter trainer Hope Glynn in New York on Saturday. She is currently in her final semester of college at the University of Tulsa, studying Business Management.

Coretz had just finished showing for the summer and decided she could not make it to this year’s fall indoor competitions because it would cause her to miss too much school, but when a couple of other opportunities came up, including a chance to compete the RCPHS, they were too great to pass up.

“I got my horse home from Kentucky and was going to give him some time off, and about 24 hours later I saw something promoting the Chicago Hunter Derby, and I thought that if I could not do indoors I could find another fun little outing,” Coretz explained. “As it turned out, I made going to Chicago Hunter Derby happen and then tied it into coming here. I heard so many good things about this show last year, and my horse has really matured so much and done some amazing things for me, so I thought it was a good time to give it a try.”

Winning horse Happy Hour is a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (by Argentinus) that Coretz purchased last summer.

Coretz said of Happy Hour, “He is really special, and he has done some really cool things for me. I have had the opportunity to do some things this year that I never thought I would be able to do, and I jumped some classes that I never thought myself capable of jumping. It has been a really fun ride, and I definitely owe it all to him.”

Though Coretz has three exams and a paper due on Monday and will head straight home to study, the memory of winning a class in Central Park is something the rider will remember forever.

“There is nothing like it,” Coretz said of the experience. “Forget riding, before you ever even get on a horse, just being here, walking behind the green barricades and people taking pictures. When you are in the schooling ring, there are all these onlookers crowding around the barricades trying to get a glimpse of these horses and reaching across trying to say hi. The same thing walking to the ring; there are cameras and tourists, and it is really cool. There is nothing else I have ever seen that is anything like it. Then you finally walk down here into this ring, and you have the New York City skyline, and it is unbelievable. I was so adrenalized out there just because of the atmosphere.”

The $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic also gave some younger riders the experience of competing in Wollman Rink in front of the New York City skyline and saw a win for 12-year-old Zola Thompson of Birmingham, AL. Zola trains with Jack Towell and Liza Boyd at Finally Farm and guided Robin Greenwood’s Elegance to victory with the high score of 85. Baylee McKeever rode Lee McKeever’s Greystone’s Star Bright to second place with a score of 75. Lucy Thornhill and her own Sneaky Fox placed third with a score of 74.

“This is my first time at the Central Park Horse Show,” Thompson stated after her victory. “At first I was really nervous, but I talked to my sports psychologist, Margie, a few days before we came and she told me to keep calm and to take one thing at a time. I was scared because it was only one trip and I didn’t want to mess it up, but she told me that everyone else only gets one trip too and to not be nervous. I just kept calm and I have a breathing exercise that I do that keeps me calm before I go in.”

Thompson has ridden Elegance (aka Ellie) for almost one year and was very happy with the mare on Saturday.

“She has been really great. She is really calm and smooth,” Thompson described. “She is a really fun pony to ride and she has a really great jump, so I am thankful to be riding her.

“When I heard that I got an 85 I was really excited,” Thompson continued. “It was just so unreal. It was a really great experience to show here, and we hope to come back next year.”

The 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show (RCPHS) concludes on Sunday, September 25, with Family Day at Wollman Rink and Free General Admission. The day’s activities include pony rides, face painting, a Show Hunter presentation, and more! Gates are open 12:00-3:00 p.m.

The $216,000 FEI Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex, and Friday night ceremonies will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, September 25, from 9-10:30 p.m. EST. For more information and full results, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world’s most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEF), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.

Charlotte Dujardin Kicks Off Opening Press Conference at Central Park Horse Show

Valegro arriving in New York.

Horseflight Brings Valegro to New York

New York, NY – September 20, 2016 – Festivities officially got underway for the third annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show (RCPHS) on Tuesday, September 20, with the opening press conference at Wollman Rink in New York City.

Reigning Olympic Dressage Gold Medalist Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) arrived to welcome international media and guests to Central Park on Tuesday, along with grand prix show jumper and inaugural RCPHS Grand Prix winner Georgina Bloomberg (USA). Mark Bellissimo, founder of International Equestrian Group (IEG) and the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, opened the gathering and greeted those in attendance.

Joining Bellissimo, Dujardin, and Bloomberg were representatives from Gallop NYC and Mini Horse Heroes who spoke about how their charities benefit from the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, as well as Cynthia Richardson, President of the Arabian Horse Association. Officers from the New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Auxiliary Unit were in the ring, Land Rover vehicles and mini vehicles were on display, and Frederik the Great: The World’s Most Handsome Horse gave a demonstration.

The 2016 RCPHS begins Wednesday, September 21, and continues through Sunday, September 25, 2016, featuring multi-discipline competition and equestrian exhibitions set to the incredible backdrop of the New York City skyline.

“We would like to welcome equestrian fans to New York City for what we think is a spectacular week in the world of horse sport,” Bellissimo stated. “With this backdrop, it is one of the more amazing places in the world, and we are so excited to make this one of the premier equestrian events on the world circuit.

“We have world-class competition with some of the top Olympic athletes in their respective sports,” Bellissimo continued. “We also have some special guests, including three-time Olympic gold medalists Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro,” Bellissimo continued. “They are the most accomplished horse and rider combination in the history of dressage, and we are very excited for her to take time out of her busy schedule to be here.”

U.S. Open Dressage, presented by Axel Johnson, will be featured this week on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24. In a very special appearance, Dujardin and Valegro will perform a freestyle demonstration on Saturday evening. Valegro arrived in New York courtesy of Horseflight.

In her opening remarks, Dujardin stated, “It is always a huge privilege to come back here and be a part of this show again. I came last year and rode Evi Strasser’s horse and did a display. To be back here this year and have Valegro here for everybody to see in person is wonderful. Not many people get to see him live. I think it is great for the sport that the fans get to see him, and it is great for me that I can come here not in a competition mind and have a more relaxed time with no pressure. Doing the freestyle on Saturday night will be great fun for me. It is always really good to come here and ride with such an incredible backdrop, and I have to thank Mark, and his wife Katherine, and all of the sponsors for making this happen.”

On Friday evening, the U.S. Dressage Team, which won the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, will be honored in a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishment. The U.S. Show Jumping Team, which earned a silver medal in Rio, will also be honored, as team members McLain Ward and Kent Farrington are set to compete. Joining the celebration as well is Phillip Dutton, who won the Individual Bronze medal in Eventing for Team USA.

Also on the show jumping roster is hometown girl Georgina Bloomberg, who is one of the top riders in the U.S., and won the inaugural grand prix in Central Park in 2014.

Bloomberg stated, “This is definitely a huge privilege to be able to ride here. This is where I grew up; it is the best city in the world, and to have a top level competition back in this city means a lot to me as a New Yorker and as a show jumper. This has become a premier event on the fall schedule for many show jumpers, and we have some really exciting competition here with some of the best show jumpers in the world. The only thing that was better than competing here was winning here, so I will definitely be aiming for that again this year. Thank you to Mark and Katherine, and Michael Stone, and everybody else that is involved with putting this event on in Central Park. It is definitely worth it for the riders, and we really appreciate it.”

This year’s event will feature U.S. Open competition for Show Jumping, Dressage, Hunter, and Arabian disciplines, as well as a fun and educational Family Day through five days in New York City’s iconic Central Park.

Tickets for Friday night are sold out, and less than 100 tickets are available for Thursday and Saturday nights! To get yours, go to http://bit.ly/29LwkkD.

About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world’s most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEF), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro to Perform at Rolex Central Park Horse Show

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.

Olympic Bronze Medal U.S Dressage Team to Be Honored; Watch Top Dressage Horses and Riders Compete in U.S. Open Dressage

September 10, 2016 – New York, NY – The Rolex Central Park Horse Show (RCPHS) is pleased to welcome back top dressage riders to Wollman Rink for competition in the U.S. Open Dressage, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24. In a very special appearance, Olympic gold medalists Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro will perform a freestyle demonstration on Saturday evening. On Friday evening, the U.S. Dressage Team, which won the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, will be honored in a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishment.

“We can’t wait to see Charlotte and Valegro perform under the New York City skyline at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show,” said International Equestrian Group CEO Mark Bellissimo. “They have millions of fans around the world, and our spectators will not be disappointed by seeing this stunning pair in action in the world’s greatest city.”

Global superstars Charlotte Dujardin OBE of Great Britain and her incredible partner Valegro will perform a freestyle test for spectators and fans of horse sport on Saturday evening. This may be the last chance to see this dynamic duo perform live together in the United States.

At their home Olympic Games in London, Dujardin and Valegro captured the team and individual gold medals. This past month, they repeated their individual gold medal performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and helped Great Britain to a team silver medal.

The pair has won a silver, a bronze, and five gold medals at the European Championships, won two individual gold and team silver medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games, won the FEI World Cup Finals twice, and landed the FEI World Individual Dressage Ranking number one spot.

Top dressage combinations will be competing in the U.S. Open Dressage, presented by The Axel Johnson Group. On Friday at 1:30 p.m. is the U.S. Open Dressage CDI Grand Prix, and on Saturday evening is the $50,000 U.S. Open Dressage CDI Freestyle.

On Friday evening during the NBC Sports Network broadcast of the $216,000 FEI Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex, there will be a commemorative ceremony to celebrate the bronze medal achievement of the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2016 Olympic Games for team members Steffen Peters, Laura Graves, Allison Brock, and Kasey Perry-Glass, along with Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover.

“We want to honor the U.S. Dressage Team and help promote the sport of Dressage in the United States,” said Bellissimo. “Antonia Johnson and Fritz and Claudine Kundrun have been huge supporters of Dressage in this country, and this event, and we are hopeful that we can showcase these great horses and riders in this world-renowned destination. We appreciate and value their support.”

Dressage sponsor, The Axel Johnson Group, is well known in the dressage world through Antonia Axson Johnson, Chairman and Owner of The Axel Johnson Group, who is a long-time supporter of equestrian sport. The Axel Johnson Group is a fifth generation family business that employs more than 20,000 people around the world. Equestrian sport has been a family passion and legacy for Johnson for more than 100 years.

Don’t miss seeing Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, plus the U.S. Dressage Team and top dressage horses and riders at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Tickets are selling fast! To get yours, go to http://bit.ly/29LwkkD.

The official hotel is the JW Marriot Essex House and special rates are available for a limited time at http://bit.ly/1qV3FBt. In the “Please Select Guest Type” box, select “Attendee” when making a reservation.

About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world’s most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEF), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.

Dujardin and Her Horse with a Heart of Gold Do It Again

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. (Dirk Caremans/FEI)

Rio de Janeiro (BRA), 15 August 2016 – Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin (31) and the fabulous 14-year-old gelding, Valegro, were in a class of their own when posting an Olympic Dressage record score of 93.857 in the Grand Prix Freestyle to claim their second successive individual title. The double-gold medallist at London 2012 is the first British woman to retain an individual Olympic title, and she now matches the British record of three gold medals for a female athlete set by cyclist Laura Trott Sunday.

On an afternoon of high emotion in Deodoro Olympic Park, it was two members of Friday’s gold-medal-winning German team who took silver and bronze, the multi-medalled Isabell Werth (47) and Weihegold scoring 89.071 to finish ahead of world no. 1 Kristina Broring-Sprehe (29) and Desperados on a mark of 87.142.

Emotions

Dujardin could hardly contain her emotions after securing the victory. “He couldn’t have done any more,” she said of the much-loved horse who is known at home as Blueberry. “I was thinking this could be the last time,” she added before bursting into tears. The British partnership hold all the world records in their sport, and the result was just short of the Freestyle record of 94.30 per cent they set at Olympia Horse Show in London (GBR) in 2014.

The scores really began to soar as the final six combinations took their turn, and IOC President, Thomas Bach, arrived just in time to see Broring-Sprehe set the new standard before Dujardin and Valegro blew that away when rocketing into the lead by a margin of more than six points. America’s Laura Graves produced the performance of her career with Verdades to finish just off the podium on 85.196, her third personal-best result posted at these Games.

Record books

Werth already entered the record books when her team gold on Friday gave her the edge over the previously most-medalled German Olympic equestrian, Dr Reiner Klimke. Monday’s silver brings her tally to a massive 10 Olympic medals during an extraordinary career but, last to go, she was realistic in her expectations. “I knew Charlotte had 93 or 94 per cent, and Germany already won team gold, so with silver today I couldn’t ask for more. I really enjoy competing against the best; that’s what makes us all better, and Charlotte and Valegro really deserve this,” she said.

Dujardin talked about her own expectations. “We set the world record at 94 so I knew it was possible, but to come and do it again here at the Olympics is quite special. Today was magic; in London there was no pressure to take gold but today I was nervous because I felt the expectation to deliver. But trotting around the arena before the start, Blueberry felt so good it just put a smile on my face and I just knew it was going to be okay. I felt he knew what I was thinking in there and he looked after me; he did his very best. I have a partnership, a connection with this horse that nothing is going to break; he has a heart of gold,” she said.

Lit up

The pair has lit up the sport since coming together in 2011. “To think what he has achieved in the last four or five years, it seems almost impossible,” the British rider said, admitting that retirement is “on the cards” for Valegro now. “We’ll discuss it when we get home, and he definitely won’t be doing another Olympic Games or a big championship. I owe it to him to finish at the top,” she pointed out.

As for her own plans, marriage is at last on the horizon. Her partner, Dean Wyatt Golding, proposed to her during the London 2012 Games “and I said yes,” she explained. “Bless him, he’s been waiting a long time; we’ve been together nine years but it’s definitely going to happen now!” Somehow it seems very likely that a horse with three Olympic gold medals around his neck could be a prominent member of the wedding party.

Result here https://www.rio2016.com/en/equestrian-dressage-individual-grand-prix-freestyle

Quotes:

Patrick Kittel SWE: “I only heard a couple of days ago that I couldn’t use my Stevie Wonder music. We asked a long time ago about using it for the Olympic Games and we only heard back at the very last minute so this music is an old one and Deja isn’t used to it and I think she felt lost in it, and I did too! I’m happy overall; this is an amazing horse; she needs more experience competing over three days but she’s going to be great!”

Carl Hester GBR: “I felt the mark matched my test; sometimes you go in there and think you should have gotten more, but not today. We got five more marks than Friday and he was so much more relaxed. He was so quiet I could just let him walk for the last five minutes before we came in.”

Charlotte Dujardin GBR: “I’ve only ridden that floorplan once, at Hartpury, and we’ve changed it a few times since. There were things I hadn’t even tried before today and that’s why he is so magical!”

Laura Graves USA: “I’m thrilled with this score. I didn’t feel like I had quite as much horse as I had in the last couple of days; it’s obviously very hot; we’ve been here now for a day over two weeks, so it’s been a long time to keep our horses going like this.

“It was another personal best for me, by three percent or something like that, so that’s three personal bests at the Olympic Games!”

Equestrian in the Olympics

Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic Games since 1912. Team and individual medals are awarded in three disciplines – Dressage, Eventing and Jumping. Uniquely across the Olympic Movement, men and women compete against each other for all the medals in equestrian sport.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

Rio 2016:

Anja Krabbe
Venue Media Manager
anja.krabbe@rio2016.com
+55 (21) 97556 1218

FEI:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38