Charlotte and Valegro’s competition wardrobe raises thousands for charity
Dressage star Charlotte Dujardin has raised over £7,000 for equine charity the Brooke.
The double Olympic gold medalist and global ambassador for the charity donated items from her competition career to be sold in an auction.
Among the items on sale in the New Year’s Day auction were tack and riding equipment worn during the London 2012 Olympics.
“It really doesn’t take huge amounts to make big differences and I’m so grateful to you all who bid on my items,” said Charlotte.
“The money raised from the auction will go towards helping almost two million hard working horses, donkeys and mules living in some of the world’s poorest communities, who help their owners earn a living and support their families.”
The 13 auction lots featured items used by Charlotte and Valegro in competitions throughout their career to date.
The lots included a riding hat and boots used in the London 2012 Olympics, signed saddle cloths worn by Valegro and a pair of his horseshoes.
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Global ambassador
Charlotte became global ambassador for the Brooke in 2015.
Last October, Charlotte travelled to India to see the charity’s work first-hand alongside fellow international dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer.
The Brooke operates in 11 countries around the world helping to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules.
Other equestrian supporters of the Brooke include chef d’Equipe of the senior British dressage team Richard Waygood, who is also global ambassador of the charity. The charity’s president is the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Brooke was set up in Egypt 81 years ago when its founder Dorothy Brooke, rescued 5,000 former warhorses left behind after World War One.
Today the charity reaches 1.5m working equines in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
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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.