Hester on high

Carl Hester regains the top national title with En Vogue, but a newer grand prix horse pushes the pair all the way

-  ALEX ROBINSON , JO PRESTWICH

EN VOGUE rounded off Carl Hester’s super 2023 season in the best possible way, when the pair were crowned British national champions. It’s the 11th time Carl has taken this title, the last time being in 2019 with Nip Tuck.

However it wasn’t all plain sailing. The overall title is determined by total marks from the LeMieux grand prix and Kudos freestyle, and while Vogue won the former with a test Carl described as, “one of the nicest grands prix I’ve ridden”, of the freestyle, Carl said: “He reminded me that Vogue is still Vogue no matter that he’s been brilliant in every other test he’s done this year!”

Carl came to Somerford Park straight off the back of winning team gold at the Europeans with Fame, and says he has been looking forward to giving Vogue his time to shine. “At the Europeans, Fame got all the glory he deserved, but Vogue has been on an equal footing all year and I’m glad he got to come here and prove himself. He deserves every moment of this and I wanted to give him his best chance today. Winning the grand prix with him here was one of my end-of-season goals.”