Carl Hester sealed his preparation for this summer’s World Championships with impressive wins on British team stalwart Fame in both the grand prix and freestyle at Wellington CDI.
But the mighty Fame wasn’t the only ace in Carl’s hand. His new ride Monet X made his grand prix debut at nine years old in the premier league – duly winning on 74.09%.
For all that fans of the sport tend to speculate on how much longer Carl might be spearheading the British dressage team, this latest young talent looks set to take Fame’s baton one day.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have two horses like this – two top-quality horses,” said Carl. “It takes me back to the Uthopia–Valegro days. I never thought that would happen again, and now I have Fame and Monet.”
Carl Hester takes on new ride: “It’s incredibly exciting”
Carl was offered the ride on Monet X, a “massive, powerful” black gelding by Guardian S, by Dan Bremner, who produced him up to inter II. The new pair made their competitive debut with an inter B win at Hickstead last month.
“I’m meant to be winding down, not winding up – I’m not gathering horses!” said Carl. “I said to Dan, ‘no promises, but if I fall in love with him, let’s see how it goes’.”
Carl didn’t hold back on the thrill this “hot, presencey” young horse gives him.
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“He has a lot of highlights – his half-passes are incredible with the reach he has in those,” he said. “Everyone talks about his hindleg, and he has unbelievable natural activity. He finds all the difficult work very easy in a relaxed situation – a test is slightly different.”
Carl paid tribute to Dan, who worked for him 10 years ago, for how well he has produced the horse, who is co-owned by Susan Singer and bred by Sandra Biddlecombe.
“Dan’s done exactly the right thing and given him time. I’m just putting a bit of icing on it. I didn’t think he was really ready to go out and do the grand prix today, but before you know it six months of the year have already gone, so I thought I’d better have a go and run through it.”
It was an impressive grand prix debut for their second time together down the centre line. Just one mistake in the first canter pirouette blotted a super display.
“What you’re seeing with Monet is a lot of potential – it’s nowhere near the polish I’d want to produce at international level, because I know how good it will be,” said Carl, who is planning one more outing, at Hartpury, this season.
“I can feel the partnership beginning to gel and it’s incredibly exciting looking forward to the next few years.”
Could Carl Hester’s Fame be better than ever?
But the baton is still firmly in Fame’s grip. At Wellington, the 16-year-old stallion produced within 0.2% of his best ever scores in both the grand prix and freestyle, which he posted at the Riesenbeck Europeans in 2023.
Carl Hester and Fame produce their personal best at the Europeans 2023 – and look on almost identical form three years on.
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
“Fame does feel better than ever,” said Carl. “He keeps going out and winning. He’s done two five-stars this season and come here for a bit of an outing as that’s all he’ll do before the worlds.
“He’s like a fine wine, and so consistent. He tries never to make a mistake. While his canter work and pirouettes are his highlight, it’s his character and temperament that make him what he is. He has the coolest, kindest nature you could wish for in a horse, and he shows that to everybody.”
The pair’s freestyle was particularly remarkable – with exceptional expression and pizzazz despite the drizzle and minimal crowds – to win by nearly 15% on 85.21%.
“It felt amazing, and I don’t ever say that about my performances because I’m always so critical about what I could have done better,” Carl said. “But I hit every note, he was so attentive today. It’s incredible to have a horse able to do something difficult – like our extended canter to double pirouette – and make it look so easy.
“It’s like he’s read the encyclopaedia of dressage and just goes, boom, boom, boom.”
As Fame moves towards veteran status, could he still be on an upward trajectory? We’ve seen it with plenty of top horses – for example, TSF Dalera BB and Mount St John Freestyle both excelling in their late teens.
“The interesting thing is that Fame doesn’t feel any different to when he was 12,” Carl said. “At the prize-giving I gave him a Polo on my right and a Polo on my left, and he can just turn round and grab anything – he’s so young in his body and heart.
“He and I are still realising how much better we can be as we get older. He’s the classic cliche of you never stop learning – and I know I have to be relaxed for him to be relaxed.
“Shows and movements aren’t a problem for him – it’s been getting his head to be [right]. Of all the most difficult things in a grand prix, what gives me the most pleasure is him standing still in prize-giving on a long rein.”
Carl hopes he’s got the balance just right for Aachen.
“He’s done six tests this year and they’ve all been above normal – he loves it,” Carl says. “He’s been so enthusiastic about all of them and I want him to go to the worlds with that same enthusiasm.”
Roll on Aachen – and beyond.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
