Carl Hester

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Carl Hester MBE is one of Britain’s most successful and influential dressage riders and trainers. A seven-time Olympian and Olympic gold medallist, Carl holds the joint record for the most Olympic appearances by a British athlete with Nick Skelton. For over three decades, he has helped shape the landscape of British dressage both in and out of the arena.

Carl has been crowned British national champion 11 times and has represented Britain at a record seven Olympic Games, four World Equestrian Games (WEG) and 10 European Championships.

Carl grew up on the Channel Island of Sark, where his first mount was a donkey called Jacko. He moved to mainland Britain aged 16 to work at the Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy in Dorset. Just 18 months after taking up dressage, Carl won the 1985 Young Dressage Rider Championship on the Fortune Centre’s skewbald mare, Jolly Dolly.

In 1989, Carl started riding for the Bechtolsheimers. In his three and a half years with them, Carl went to the World Championships in 1990 and the European Championships in 1991 on Rubelit Von Unkenriff, as well as the 1992 Barcelona Olympics on Georgioni. Carl credits the Bechtolsheimers for setting him on his path to international success.

Alongside his own competitive achievements, Carl has become one of the sport’s most respected trainers. He discovered and mentored Charlotte Dujardin, guiding her partnership with Valegro – the most decorated dressage horse in history – to Olympic, world, and European glory. Carl also co-owns Valegro and remains a key figure in developing British talent.

As a rider, he has produced a succession of championship horses. His notable rides include Liebling, who helped secure team silver at both the 2009 European Championships and the 2010 WEG; Uthopia, with whom Carl won team gold at the 2011 Europeans and 2012 London Olympics; and Nip Tuck, who contributed to team silver at the 2014 WEG, 2015 Europeans, and 2016 Rio Olympics.

He also partnered Hawtins Delicato to team bronze at the 2018 WEG and 2019 Europeans, and rode En Vogue to Olympic and European team bronze in 2021. Most recently, Carl competed Fame to team gold at the 2023 Europeans and team bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Carl also has a regular column in Horse & Hound magazine, which is also available to read online.