JO BARRY AND VIVALDI VThe owner of a horse who went from a “delinquent” four-year-old to beating Valegro, winning national titles and starting a dressage dynasty has died aged 24, after a happy retirement. Vivaldi V (Freddie) was sent to Jo Barry on 14 February 2006 for a month’s schooling, but he never left. He and Jo competed up […]

Louise Bell - Horse & Hound Dressage FeatureOn a cold winter’s day in 2019, Louise Bell’s eyes glowed bright as she spoke about a home-bred yearling, for whom she had high hopes: “He’s absolutely spectacular – he’s the golden child.” Seven years later, the now eight-year-old dressage horse called Peaky Blinder is living up to the promise he showed back then. Known […]

The late Queen’s delight when meeting Valegro at Royal Windsor is forever etched in Carl Hester’s memory. **In his latest exclusive magazine column, Carl Hester pays a personal tribute to the lives of stable stars Valegro and Uthopia** Anyone who has horses – or any animals – knows that even when you see the end coming, it doesn’t make it any easier. It’s not only the horses’ owners, riders and grooms who have looked after them, but their vets who all have to come to terms with when the time is right. Many […]

Charlotte Dujardin riding Valegro winner of the grand prix freestyle at The London International Horse Show at Olympia in 2014.On the eve of the 2025 edition of the London International Horse Show, we relive the world record-breaking tests of Valegro and Charlotte Dujardin at Olympia in 2014. The pair shattered both the grand prix and freestyle world records on successive nights, adding to the grand prix special record they set two years earlier. To […]

Valegro going on a walk at Carl Hester yard at Oakelbrook Mill near Malswick in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 3rd September 2020 **In this extract from H &H dressage editor Oscar Williams’ four-page magazine tribute to the horses who reshaped British dressage and gave us so much more than medals, he looks back at how both horses found their way to Carl Hester’s yard...** Uthopia was never meant to be the star of anyone’s yard. Dutch producer Ivonne Lawrence had gone to see a different horse when she spotted a small black three-year-old with a chewed tail watching her from the corner of a barn. He’d been sat on a handful of times, but the moment she rode him, […]

The equestrian community is remembering Valegro and Uthopia – the much-loved dressage powerhouses who gained fans worldwide. Following the announcement on 1 December of their passing, there has been an outpouring of love as people shared happy memories of what made them so special. Valegro’s co-owner Rowena Luard said she was “smitten” at first sight. […]

DAPFFK British dressage rider Carl Hester performs his skills with his horse Uthopia during the team competition of the FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 18 August 2011. Photo: Uwe AnspachTop British judge Isobel Wessels, who was on the panel at all of Valegro’s record-breaking performances, has remembered him and Uthopia for their talent and characters – and putting Britain on the world stage. The international rider, trainer and five-star judge has paid tribute to the much-loved pair following the announcement on 1 December that […]

Alan Davies - Oaklebrook Mill, Malswick, Newent, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom - 20 March 2020Top groom Alan Davies has paid tribute to Valegro and Uthopia, the superstar horses he lovingly cared for throughout their competition careers. On Monday (1 December) Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin announced that Valegro (Blueberry) and Uthopia (Uti) had been put down, aged 23 and 24 respectively. Alan was head groom to Carl and Charlotte […]

Charlotte Dujardin has paid tribute to her three-time Olympic gold medal-winning horse, Valegro

Charlotte Dujardin has paid tribute to her three-time Olympic gold medal-winning horse, Valegro

Sark-born Olympic dressage rider Carl Hester has announced his 'immense sadness' at the passing of horses, Valegro and Uthopia....