Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester join impressive Festival of Dressage lineup
Dressage superstars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro will be joining an impressive lineup at The Festival of Dressage this summer (8-12 July).
Charlotte will compete alongside her trainer and H&H columnist Carl Hester at the 10th anniversary festival at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire,
It is hoped this year’s competition will be even more popular than the last, where more than 300 riders from 19 nations took part across the five days.
“We are thrilled that Charlotte and Valegro are planning to compete at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage,” said Phillip Cheetham, assistant equine director at Hartpury College.
“We’re also looking forward to Olympic champion, Carl Hester, returning to the festival stage and I know everyone in the Hartpury community will be rooting for him.
“With Carl coaching our own elite dressage riders and having such a high-profile locally, he’s always a hugely popular competitor.”
The festival will be Charlotte and Valegro’s only competition before they head to the European Championships in Aachen (11-23 August).
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“To have the chance to watch the very best in the world at our unique venue is an opportunity not to be missed,” added Mr Cheetham.
This year’s festival incorporates CDI3*, CPEDI3*, premier league and the Shearwater young dressage horse championship with a Saturday gala evening performance of both national and international grand prix freestyle.
Entry to the Hartpury Festival of Dressage is free from Wednesday to Friday and £5 on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets for the gala night are £16.50 in advance and hospitality options are available to include a champagne reception and a four-course meal overlooking the arena.
For more information visit: www.hartpury.ac.uk/dressage
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.