Dujardin Excels

The ever-adorable Gio scores a personal best under Charlotte Dujardin, on an inspiring evening at the show’s new home

- PIPPA ROOME

FEI WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

1ST CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN (GBR) on Gio

2ND LOTTIE FRY (GBR) on Dark Legend

3RD FREDERIC WANDRES (GER) on Duke Of Britain

SOME think of dressage as the staid relation in the horse-world. But that was far from the truth last Friday night as riders battled it out in the freestyle that forms the London leg of the World Cup, in a class supported by Horse & Hound.

We might have missed the beautiful curved ceiling of Olympia’s Grand Hall this year, but the packed crowd did all they could to raise the roof of the ExCeL, the well-received new venue for this Christmas show.

Britain’s heroine, Charlotte Dujardin, was the spectators’ darling, winning here for the fifth time. She took the competition reins once again on Gio – her Olympic and European medallist, who has been sold to the Pidgley family for junior rider Annabella to pilot – and finished more than 7% clear of the field in both the grand Prix and the freestyle.

“There’s nothing more exciting than going into an arena with a huge crowd behind you,” said Charlotte after her freestyle. “I’d forgotten what it’s like to hear that buzz and it’s the best feeling – I’ve missed it so much.”