At the 2022 Lemieux national dressage championships, Charlotte Dujardin was on fire in the Fairfax Saddles national dressage championships prix st georges gold winning with Hilus MHB, finishing second with Alive And Kicking and picking up a fifth with Hawtins San Floriana for good measure.
Hilus MHB, a 10-year-old Johnson gelding is owned by Sarah Pidgley whose daughter, Annabella, had earlier won the Stubben Inter II with Gio and is by far the most experienced of the trio.
“He came to me as Annabella hadn’t got the time to ride him,” said Charlotte. “He’s working inter II at home now and has an amazing ability to piaffe and passage and inter II will definitely be the plan next year.”
That obviously will be when Charlotte is back in the saddle after she gives birth to her daughter.
“The nationals are going to be my last competition outing before that,” she said. “I’ve been so lucky that I’ve not suffered morning sickness or any wild cravings. It was a bit of a worry before the World Championships as morning sickness would have been tricky. I did think, as I was going to do my test there, that there I was at World Championships with a baby on board; now she’s ridden to her first national success!”
Alive And Kicking, second in the national dressage championships prix st georges gold final, is one of Charlotte’s own and was bought off a video.
“She’s called Audrey, as in Hepburn, because she’s so beautiful,” said Charlotte. “I bought her from Sweden although she is in fact Dutch bred. She’s the first I’ve bought unseen but I went with my gut feeling; sometimes you have to take a risk. I just love her.”
You might also be interested in:
Gemma Owen on her riding goals and why she won’t miss this week’s National Dressage Championships
Former pacer who’s ‘taught over 50 people to canter’ is crowned national dressage champion
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
