Olympics » Horse Clips

Sir Mark Todd – should it also be Sir Carl Hester?

Posted by Chris on January 1, 2013 Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin, Dressage, Horses, Olympics

Jan 012013

A few days ago the UK’s New Years Honours were announced. Today New Zealand have just announced their New Year Honours. Mark Todd has been knighted for his services to Eventing and so will be known as Sir Mark Todd.

I congratulate Mark Todd because he has made an enormous contribution to Eventing but surely there should be some consistency in awarding Knighthoods by different countries. If Mark Todd has earned a knighthood then Carl Hester must also have earned a knighthood.

Uthopia’s fantastic extended trot for Leisure Ride TV advert

Carl competed at the Olympics and was part of gold medal winning team but in addition to this he trained Charlotte Dujardin who won team and individual gold medals. Further justification is the fact that Uthopia and Valegro, ridden by himself and Charlotte at the Olympics were spotted by Carl as youngsters who had potential for the Olympics. He and Charlotte trained them to be gold medal winning horses.

Carl has made an enormous contribution to dressage and was critical to the dressage successes at the Olympics and I believe that this justifies a knighthood.

New Year Honours for Equestrians

Posted by Chris on December 29, 2012 Dressage, Horses, Olympics, Paralympics, Show Jumping

Dec 292012

The Olympic and Paralympic equestrian teams were very successful winning a lot of medals. The New Year Honours list reflects this success and has awarded honours to the following riders:

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Sophie Christiansen	Janeiro	Gold – Team Gold – Championship Test Grade Ia Gold – Freestyle to music Grade Ia
Charlotte Dujardin	Valegro	Gold – Dressage Team Gold – Dressage Individual
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Natasha Baker	Cabral	Gold – Championship Test Grade II Gold – Freestyle to music Grade II
Laura Bechtolsheimer	Mistral Hojris	Gold – Dressage Team Bronze – Dressage Individual
Scott Brash	Hello Sanctos	Gold – Show Jumping Team
Peter Charles	Vindicat	Gold – Show Jumping Team
Deborah Criddle	LJT Akilles	Gold – Team Bronze – Championship Test Grade III Bronze – Freestyle to music Grade III
Carl Hester	Uthopia	Gold – Dressage Team
Mary King	Imperial Cavalier	Silver – Eventing Team
Ben Maher	Tripple X	Gold – Show Jumping Team
Sophie Wells	Pinocchio	Gold – Team Silver – Championship Test Grade IV Silver – Freestyle to music Grade IV

In addition Will Connell, the Performance Director of the British Equestrian Federation has been awarded an MBE.

£21m investment in Equestrian Sports for Rio Olympic

Posted by Chris on December 18, 2012 Dressage, Horses, Olympics, Paralympics

Dec 182012

UK Sport today announced that equestrianism would be awarded

almost £18m for Olympic Equestrian Sport
almost £4m for Paralympic Equestrian Sport

I was interested to see how this compares to the funding for the 2012 Olympics but apparently it is difficult to do a straight comparison. However, it does appear that it is an increase but it is difficult to say how big an increase.

I believe that UK Sport’s strategy is to build on the successes at the 2012 Olympics and invest more money in the sports that won medals. All the equestrian sports – Dressage, show jumping and eventing – all won medals including 3 gold medals so equestrianism earned the increased funding. Carl Hester, pictured riding Uthopia, was part of the gold medal winning dressage team.

The news is reporting that some sports, notably swimming, have received less or even no funding because the sports were not successful at the 2012 Olympics. I can understand their frustration because they are not being given the funding to improve the sports performance on the international stage. However, being totally selfish for a moment this strategy means that my sport gets more fudning so personally I am happy.

I assume that the next announcement will be how the funding will be split between BD, BSJA and BE.

In a related announcement today Sport England has today announced a £493m investment in grassroots sport over the next 4 years as part of the legacy of the Olympics. Equestrianism will receive £6m which is a 46% increase. This money will be used to increase participation in equestrian sports and develop talent pathways.

So overall a good day for equestrianism with increased funding for both grassroots and elite equestrians.

Olympic Saddlecloths auctioned for Charity

Posted by Chris on November 30, 2012 Carl Hester, Dressage, Olympics

Nov 302012

Uthopia’s fantastic extended trot for Leisure Ride TV advert

The saddle cloths worn by Uthopia and Valegro to warm up before their team gold medal winning performance at the Olympics are being auctioned on eBay. Apparently, they have not been washed so if you win the auction you will even have some genuine hairs from Uthopia or Valegro on the saddlecloth. To confirm the saddlecloths are genuine there will be a card signed by Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin.

The saddlecloths are being auctioned for the Gaddesden Place RDA Centre so the proceeds are going to a very good cause.

The saddlecloths are being auctioned separately on eBay. The postage will be paid by Classic Dressage. Good luck bidding !

Gold medal winning Olympic horses, Valegro and Uthopia, to be sold

Posted by Chris on September 12, 2012 Carl Hester, Dressage, Horses, Olympics

Sep 122012

The Evening Standard is reporting that both Valegro and Uthopia are to be sold possibly to an Arabian Royal for a reported price of £20 million.

If this price is true then these two horses would certainly justify this high price because they were both part of the gold medal winning Olympic British team with their riders Charlotte Dujardin & Carl Hester. Charlotte & Valegro also won the individual gold medal for their freestyle to music. Charlotte and Valegro are now world number 1 in the FEI World Rankings.

Carl Hester is part owner of both horses. Valegro is part owned with Roly Luard. Uthopia ownership seems to be the subject of some discussion. It is unfortunate that when a horse is worth several £millions the fact is that the owners, for totally understandable reasons, want to get a return on their investment and sell the horse. I would never criticise any owner for doing this – I would do it ! – but it is unfortunate that, as a general statement, the new owners generally do not have the same riding skills as the rider who trained the horse to international level. As a consequence the horse does not compete with the same level of success after being sold.

All horse owners know that there is a special bond between horse and rider, whether you are a happy-hacker or a professional rider. From personal experience I know how hard it is when you have to sell a horse. Charlotte is reported saying that Valegro’s sale is “heart-wrenching” but that she “knew it was going to happen”. Carl said “I’ve had the horses since they were babies. I’m emotional they have to be sold”.

From a personal point of view I believe that it was almost inevitable that Valegro and Uthopia would be sold following their success at the Olympics and would not criticise any of the owners for taking the money. However, I do feel sympathy for Charlotte because she must have a very special bond with Valegro because she did her first International competitions on Valegro, her first Olympic games and won two Olympic gold medals all within a couple of years.

Page 1 of 11 1 2 3 … 10 11 Older Entries