“Wouldn’t Recommend It”: Olympic Equestrian and Trainer Opens Up About Meeting the World’s Best Dressage Horse

If you keep up with British Dressage Championship results, you might know Charlotte Dujardin – the multiple World and Olympic champion who won a record-setting six Olympic medals, three of which were gold. In recent years, Dujardin—one of the most decorated female Olympians in British history—took the dressage world by storm with her new horse, Imhotep, also lovingly referred to as “Pete.”

Besides garnering attention for being her first horse since famed Valegro, the captivating eight-year-old chestnut gelding broke through the 90% barrier in international events, solidifying his status as a rising star. Speaking about her champion ride, the equestrian let in on her adoption of Pete.

Equestrian narrates star horse’s story

Charlotte Dujardin discussed Imhotep’s career development in an exclusive conversation with Horse & Hound. His story is one of incredible growth, however, he wasn’t always with Dujardin. He was purchased at the age of two by Coral Ingham and Dujardin’s longtime coach, Carl Hester after dressage rider Henry Boswell saw his potential in the 2021 Grand Prix. “It’s the only time I’ve bought a horse from a video and I wouldn’t recommend it, but when I saw him get off the lorry I was happy!” said Dujardin.

Imhotep started off competing in young horse divisions with rider Robert Barker until Sadie Smith – Carl Hester and Charlotte’s assistant trainer and dresser since 2016 – took over and helped him get to the Medium level. Later, even with that initial risk, Imhotep’s journey took a turn for the better. Charlotte remarked, “Pete was so naughty as a young horse,” giving an insight into the early difficulties she encountered with her horse. However, Imhotep’s ascent to fame in the dressage world happened in the years that followed.

The shared Olympic win

Pete was a key member of the British team that won silver in the 2022 World Dressage Championships at the age of nine. Imhotep’s incredible feat was topped off by an even more spectacular performance in 2023 at the European Dressage Championships when he won both an individual bronze medal and a team gold.

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Their victories in the grand prix and the freestyle at The London International Horse Show in front of a joyous home crowd in 2023 represented the apex of their success. Speaking on her close relationship with the energetic horse, Charlotte remarked, “I have a real partnership with Pete that I absolutely love.”

“He has so much energy and never stops – he just keeps going and going and I love that – it’s me all over,” she added.

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