Charlotte Dujardin Age, Height, Weight, Books, Medals

Charlotte Susan Jane Dujardin CBE is a celebrated British dressage rider, equestrian, and writer. Recognized as a dominant force in dressage, Dujardin has earned multiple World and Olympic titles, marking her as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

She is noted for holding an unparalleled collection of elite dressage titles, including the individual Olympic freestyle, World freestyle, Grand Prix Special, World Cup individual dressage, and European freestyle titles simultaneously, a feat that highlights her exceptional skill and dedication.

Early Life

Born on December 26, 1985, in Enfield, Charlotte Dujardin grew up in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, where she attended Vandyke Upper School. She began riding at the tender age of two, initially by returning her elder sisters’ horses from show jumping rings to their trailer.

By age three, she secured second place at her first Pony Club show jumping competition. Dujardin’s passion for riding was supported by her mother, Jane, who financed the hobby by buying and selling ponies. Leaving school at 16, Dujardin went on to win the Horse of the Year Show competition four times and triumphed at the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead on three occasions.

Career

Encouraged by her trainer Debbie Thomas, Dujardin shifted her focus to dressage, using an inheritance from her grandmother to buy a horse. In 2007, after seeking employment with renowned trainer Carl Hester, she received some coaching and was soon offered a job at his yard in Newent, Gloucestershire. This marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership.

In 2011, Hester and co-owner Roly Luard entrusted Dujardin with developing the novice Dutch Warmblood gelding Valegro. The combination quickly proved successful, with their first dressage Grand Prix event leading to a team gold at the European Dressage Championship in Rotterdam. They went on to break the World Record for the Olympic Grand Prix Special discipline in 2012 with a score of 88.022%.

Dujardin and Valegro continued to dominate, winning the 2012 World Cup freestyle event at Olympia with a score of 87.875%, and securing their fourth consecutive World Title in Las Vegas in 2015 with a score of 94.169%.

Olympic Success

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro were selected to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics. They set a new Olympic Record of 83.784% in the first round and went on to win gold in the team dressage event. Two days later, they won individual gold with a score of 90.089%, performing to a medley of iconic British music. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Dujardin and Valegro repeated their success, winning double individual gold medals and setting a new Olympic dressage score of 93.857% in the Grand Prix Freestyle.