Olympic dressage British riders – what you want to grasp

The long-anticipated announcement has arrived and we now know for sure the British riders for the Olympic dressage in Paris.

The chosen horse and riders are Carl Hester (Reputation), Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep) and Lottie Fry (Glamourdale), with Becky Moody (Jagerbomb) because the reserve. Let’s get to grasp them a bit of higher…

• Earlier Olympics: Regardless of being top-of-the-line dressage horses on the planet, not one of the horses travelling to Paris have ever competed at an Olympics. However that’s no longer the case for the riders. Carl shall be competing at his 7th Olympics – changing into handiest the second one Brit ever to take action. Charlotte – competing at her fourth Olympics – may change into probably the most adorned British feminine Olympian of all time will have to she declare a medal of any color in Paris. For Lottie, this shall be her 2nd Olympics, having competed in Tokyo with Glamourdale’s stablemate and Imhotep’s sire Everdale.
• Solid names: Imhotep is Pete, Glamourdale is Glammy, Jagerbomb is Bomb, and Reputation – smartly he’s simply Reputation! All 4 are Dutch warmbloods, Imhotep and Jagerbomb are geldings, whilst Reputation and Glamourdale are stallions.

Carl Hester and Reputation end their grand prix check on the 2023 Eu Dressage Championships. Credit score: Benjamin Clark.

• Horse medals: Glamourdale, Imhotep and Reputation had been all a part of the gold medal-winning staff eventually 12 months’s Eu Championships in Riesenbeck. Galmourdale could also be the reigning double international champion, having gained the grand prix particular (82.5%) and the freestyle (90.65%) on the 2022 Global Championships in Herning – in doing so that they become Britain’s first particular person gold medallist at any championship since Valegro gained gold on the Rio Olympics in 2016. Glamourdale additionally gained particular person silver within the freestyle eventually summer time’s Eu Championships, whilst Imhotep gained particular person bronze in each the particular and the freestyle.

A overjoyed Becky Moody leaving the sector on Jagerbomb all over the FEI Dressage Global Cup freestyle on the 2023 London Global Horse Display. Credit score: Peter Nixon.

• Rider medals:  As a trio, Charlotte, Lottie and Carl Hester are probably the most adorned British dressage athletes ever. Charlotte boasts an outstanding file with six Olympic medals, together with 3 golds and a silver with Valegro, and a double bronze with Gio. Moreover, she has secured six Global Championship medals, 12 Eu Championship medals and has two times gained the Dressage Global Cup. Carl Hester isn’t a long way in the back of with 3 Olympic medals: staff gold in London with Uthopia, staff silver in Rio with Nip Tuck, and staff bronze in Tokyo with En Style. He additionally has 3 Global Championship medals and 8 Eu medals. Lottie Fry, the youngest of the 3, used to be a part of the bronze-medal-winning staff in Tokyo on Everdale who she additionally gained staff silver with on the 2021 Eu Championships. With Glamourdale, she has added 3 Global Championship medals and two Eu medals to her title.

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep after their grand prix on the Eu Dressage Championships. Credit score: Benjamin Clark.

• Youngest and oldest horses: Jagerbomb is the youngest at 10 and Reputation is the oldest at 14. Glamourdale is 13 whilst Imhotep is 11.
• Youngest and oldest riders: Lottie is – remarkably – nonetheless handiest 28, Charlotte is 39, Becky 44, whilst Carl Hester shall be Group GB’s oldest athlete at 57.
• What the riders say: Becky: “Jagerbomb has such an implausible mind and a middle that simply needs to do it… there’s nonetheless such a lot to return from him.” Charlotte: “Imhotep has taken on such a lot as a tender horse… he’s fantastic and he’s getting higher and higher.” Carl: “Once in a while on your existence, you get a horse who you’re feeling simply suits you, and Reputation suits… his enthusiasm makes him a dream horse.” Lottie: “I’ve by no means sat on anything else like Glamourdale earlier than, he’s all the time been so particular… he’s a showman and needs everybody’s eyes on him.”

It’s a stellar staff and we will be able to’t wait to cheer them on in Paris. Glance out for extra protection on-line within the build-up to the Video games, plus our complete mag preview (18 July) and shape information (25 July), which can quilt all 3 Olympic equestrian disciplines.

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H&H dressage and game horse editor

Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s level in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for most sensible dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after completing an equine control direction in school. Beneath Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, along his day task.