Charlotte Dujardin rode a top notch Freestyle with her Valegro (Negro uit Maifleur keur v.Gershwin) in the Brazilian Centro Nacional de Hipismo. The 93.857% showed off the talent of the breeding product of Joop and Maartje Hanse from Zeeuwe Burgh Haamstede and secured, just as in London, the Olympic title.

In tears she tells: “Valegro will retire and we have not definitely decided that it would be after the Olympic Games but I entered the ring knowing this could be our last performance. It was as if Valegro felt that I was not fully focused, the moment I came in the ring I got the feeling he took over. He really took care of me during the freestyle. He helped me, carried me to the end.” With incredible ease the bay gelding passaged through the arena, the flying changes nicely uphill and the active piaffe executed without any effort. A display of harmony that was rewarded with gold. Charlotte Dujardin: “It is very warm, so I did the warming-up inside with airco and the last 10 minutes outside and when I started I felt ready. Valegro gave me such an incredible feeling, I really enjoyed it. I cannot describe how it feels to ride him, but I can tell you this: he has a heart of gold.”

Isabel Werth steered her talented mare Weihegold to silver (89.071%), right before Kristina Sprehe and Desperados (87.142%). Right next to stage we find  Verdades (Florett AS uit Liwilarda ster v.Goya, fokker P. Crum uit Herveld) and Laura Graves (pictured). “If I had won that medal, I would have retired”, said the American rider jokingly. “But now Verdades will get a well deserved holiday and afterwards we slowly pick up training again for the larger competitions.” Carl Hester placed seventh with Nip Tuck (Don Ruto out of Irena stb v.Animo, bred by Paardenmelkerij & Fokkerij J. v.Breemen from Bavel) (82.553%), Hans Peter Minderhoud secured a top 10 position with Johnson (KWPN-stallion, Jazz out of Roxane keur pref prest sport-dr s.Flemmingh, breeder P. van de Vleuten from St. Oedenrode) (9de: 80.571%). Arlando (KWPN-stallion, Paddox out of Herlanda ster pref prest s.Mytens xx, breeder A.J. van ‘t Klooster from Eemnes) with Diederik van Silfhout can be found on place 11 (79.535%), Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K (Jazz out of Phantastia stb s.Ferro, breeder G.M. Korver from Harmelen) ended in place 18.