Carl Hester on the Duke of Edinburgh, and preparing for the Olympics
BEFORE the glory of the 2009 European Championships and the floodlit evening performances we’ve since enjoyed in the amazing atmosphere of the Royal Windsor Horse Show , the dressage world was delighted to be invited to take part, on grass, at national level, back in the 1990s.
It was a rather splendid affair sponsored by Hermès, with a big lunch tent and all that, but positioned away from the main showground.
My memory of those amazing times is knowing that if a horse could cope with the distractions at Royal Windsor, it could cope with any other international show.
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This exclusive column is also available to read in this Thursday’s H&H magazine (22 April, 2021)
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Fiona Bigwood and Hawtins Delicato on their competitive debut.
Credit: Kevin Sparrow
Hawtins Delicato, the former medal-winning ride of Carl Hester, will now be campaigned by British Olympic rider Fiona Bigwood
Credit: K SPARROW
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