Dressage Future Elite Championship winner crowned

Charlotte Dujardin and Times Kismet win the Dressage Future Elite Championship 2023 — (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

When Times Kismet was an embryo, her breeder was told not to bother; she was too small to stick in the recipient mare.

Thankfully, Peter Belshaw carried on regardless and the result, eight years later, is a mare Charlotte Dujardin has flagged as a future Olympic horse – and with whom she won the Dressage Future Elite Championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) this evening.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

From dubious embryo to Olympic prospect: Charlotte Dujardin’s fantastic HOYS win

“I’m thrilled with my performance in there with Kismet,” Charlotte said. “She’s only eight, only done a handful of shows this year, with me being pregnant, and I always think this is such a good experience for young horses, as you can’t recreate these atmospheres and arenas.

“She won at Aachen and at the nationals but they were both outdoors and it’s good to see what they’re like indoors, and she took it like a real pro. That’s all you can ask, I’m delighted with her.”

Charlotte and Kismet danced their way to a 83.75% winning score, which means Charlotte has now won this class six times, on six horses. Her previous rides include Imhotep in 2019, who has since won medals for Britain at two championships, and Charlotte thinks Kismet may follow in his footsteps.

“But she’s only eight, she can do a bit of everything,” she said.

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