"Valegro Was Just The Best Horse" | The FULL STORY of Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro

We take a look at the incredible career of British Dressage sensation and world record holder Charlotte Dujardin. In 2007, Charlotte Dujardin was paired with a gelding called Valegro. The rest is Dressage history... In this episode of our ICONS series, Charlotte talks about her incredible partnership with Valegro and about Valegro's emotional farewell.
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[@feichannel]

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[@lulabellegnostic8402]

He lives at the same home with charlotte and carl, he is happy and sound and is regularly hacked out by alan his groom. I can’t think of another horse of this calibre that you could say the same. A true testament to the care and respect charlotte and carl give their horses.

[@PLegalrep]

Valegro is TRULY the most beautiful horse of all time. His posture, his rhythm, his strength and glowing coat simply cannot be matched. That horse literally carries an aura about him, and what a great rider to bring out those qualities.

[@user-ho3ht2wi8g]

Beyond description

[@emmagracestokes8565]

There will never be another Valegro. Truly he is in a league of his own. It’s a privilege to have gotten to watch him in person in NYC

[@HollyJordan15]

As they call him The Professor.

[@nereti1303]

Great round-up. I don't think their performance at Olympia with the How Train Your Dragon music will ever be bettered.

[@livingandthriving]

Agreed. That was pretty much perfect.

[@catneedham4913]

Agree- Chills

[@annak5099]

i agree

[@Ihaveadog230]

Yep. My favourite things mashed together, horses, and HTTYD.

[@annak5099]

@@Ihaveadog230 same

[@iridiumSerpent]

You can tell Valegro is enjoying it the entire time

[@Foxie770]

He’s a showman and a ham for the camera. The best horses have the heart of an athlete. They know when it’s time to perform.

[@liajulee4451]

There's no team in the world of dressage greater than dujardin and valegro.

[@theadultpantry7219]

I've seen him live 3 times, once at the EC in Aarhus and twice at Olympia, the charisma that horse has and the capacity to hold an entire arena in unparalleled and it does not translate over screen. He is the Freddie Mercury of horses.

[@catneedham4913]

Valegro’s attitude is what makes him a champion apart from his athleticism. He’s such a confident, happy boi!! Love him so much

[@jenniferrebecca2813]

YES! He oozes star quality 💕

[@midnight19488]

the horses doesnt look happy AT ALL. do you know that opening their mouth is a sign of pain?

[@catneedham4913]

@@midnight19488 Valegro is relaxed and not tense. Could he do the same routine bitless? Probably eventually. But unfortunately dressage hasn’t caught up to other equine sports. But if you look at his movement, he is relaxed. It’s very difficult if not impossible to get a horse to do that level of dressage well without the horse fully participating

[@mairimcgonigill4347]

Sheer class, pure and simple! Enjoy your retirement Valegro, you've earned it. ❤❤

[@melissawarfield]

I hope that Valegro will hold the Dressage title for a long time. Valegro is the BEST Dressage horse all around. Congratulations Valegro and Charlotte.

[@jessie333]

Velegro will always be the greatest horse in Dressage ❤️🤩🦄

[@virginiarebyak6784]

They are my all-time favorite team! Charlotte is now doing the same great work with MSJ.

[@jenniferrebecca2813]

He’s a legend isn’t he. A through and through superstar!

[@mdee860]

That she loved him so, was so kind & pastured her horses speaks volumes. She & Valegro deserved their success! He was NOT a machine to her 🥰😘👍👏👏👏❤🐴❤

[@virginiarebyak6784]

@@mdee860 Charlotte is one with her horses. They're not just money makers. Love her for that! She's got a great relationship with Gia or Pumpkin. I agree about Valegro being the greatest horse in Dressage.

[@mdee860]

@@virginiarebyak6784 - 👍👍👍 I just love that she calls him Pumpkin!!! Says a lot, plus, she said he's so sweet in the stall!!

[@Carolesoriginalpieces]

Absolutely breathtaking

[@katehannan4573]

He's such a graceful horse :)

[@Smth_official145]

Valegro And Charlotte is just the best partner's ever existed oh my goodness!

[@kxtulapsi]

Im so glad Valegro Is Living a great life currently!

[@meg9004]

I don’t think you’ll ever get much better than this phenomenal team 🤩

[@jenniferrebecca2813]

Agreed! They just ooze star quality ✨

[@ginalopes6083]

Blueberry was such a gem. So beautifully relaxed while he and Charlotte did their routine. Wonderful Valegro!

[@ToLoveTruth]

There’s just so much love and respect between this pair…stunning, super-intelligent horse and an amazing woman who rides with both her head and her heart…Charlottes’s kindness and humility are SO inspiring…watching this magical duo pretty much reduces me to tears…the beauty and majesty are overwhelming. Just WOW! ❤️🔥❤️

[@nancyparisi6158]

A magnificent horse and rider.

[@alyssaequestrian3465]

The fact that this horse IS and always will be the best horse of all time and people are still hating on them is so sooooo sad

[@sidilicious11]

He’s the Secretariat of dressage horses.

[@Carolesoriginalpieces]

Absolute poetry in motion 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 BRAVO !!!!!!

[@esteraweglowska7025]

The most successful and amazing duo

[@veronicaukynwa8489]

Charlotte has a unique ability to work with her horse. Valegro is the master he taught Charlotte well. Charlotte is world class with her dressage and the perfect music to match.

[@patricialowe9350]

Best horse and rider ever , don’t think we will see another horse like valegro 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@racheldutchak3980]

he NEVER swishes his tail...that shows you how relaxed, connected and how well he knows his job:)

[@lindarichards996]

The first dressage test shown of this video shows this horse has a lot more cadence than other horses at the same level. It makes for such a good piaffe.

[@garotadagavea]

Ballet dancer here. This horse knows how to plié. And he has an amazing musicality. An equine virtuoso.

[@carolbellinetti8845]

I can not watch these two without tearing up🥲 All that power under control. These two are poetry in motion🥰

[@HollyJordan15]

I’m the same, cry every time!

[@audreymurphy438]

Valegro and Charlotte are pure class ! ...

[@johannarocho3040]

I shed tears everytime I watch Valegro!

[@lisemarielichtermann7626]

She'd and Vallegro are the DREAM TEAM.she has a way about herself & communicating the steps with her horse is phenomenal.

[@kiara6262]

I miss them so much

[@margarete6933]

What a team ❤

[@cordywitt6400]

Great! I could watch this video a hundred times. Valegro seemed to really enjoy performing with Charlotte. ♡

[@Sloooth]

Blueberry really is a one of a kind!

[@truecynic1270]

Perfection. True Beauty.

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

Charlotte is the most amazing horsewoman. She chose Gio to take to Tokyo because she knew he was resilient enough to make the trip. If only certain others had cared more for their horse than the olympic title…….

[@wendabillman3270]

True poetry in motion.

[@equestrianashes6564]

Aww you’ve got to love mr.blueberry 🥰

[@CatherineCallowHerbert6714]

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!!! I could watch this ALL DAY! :)

[@FadeMouse]

Fantastic rider, fantastic horse. Dominating team!

[@MargieB51]

Heavenly music for GOD HAS BOTH his 2 beloved souls together as one they are paradise to watch thank you trainer for all you have done for these two beautiful, loving soulmates to team up ,horses are in heaven as you know

[@H1ddenB1ades]

Charlotte and Valegro has kind of ruined me when it comes to dressage 😅 No matter how well the pairs do, I just keep on thinking. Well nothing beats Charlotte and Valegro 😢 I miss seing them together, we probably won't see dressage like that in a while. Don't get me wrong Charlotte is a great rider, and she's really gone places with her other horses too. But no matter what, her and Valegro was a match made in heaven because these two together...just wow

[@carsynbabcock5911]

Absolutely gorgeous! I have never seen so much grace in my life! I’m definitely subscribing.

[@sophiecrosthwaite9625]

Incredible Charlotte and Valero 🤤😍

[@marianahernandezfernandez3907]

Bellísimas imágenes. Gracias

[@sophie12909]

Holy mother of pearl! YALL ARE AWESOME AMAZING AND SUCH A TEAM!!!

[@jessicacamco5047]

I would of loved to see the story of how and when they bought him etc

[@bulgarianfarmadventure7202]

I remember Carl brought him out at a clinic held by a horse magazine in the UK. He said he bought him cheaply as a youngster he was too small for a dressage horse. Fortunately he grew, but I remember his trot was amazing as a youngster. If you search for Carl on You tube I'm sure there's a video of the clinic floating around, Carl talks about him on it while he is been rode.

[@Pippipopfugl]

He bought him at a auction in Holland for 4000 pound. He didn't make it as a stallion so he got him cheap :)

[@gemproductions9648]

You can read that in her autobiography

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

Carl says he bought him ‘cheap’ because he was small and no one else wanted him.

[@jajajaaaa_]

I just realized they used the audio from how to train your dragon 😭 it gave me goosebumps

[@Robin-Cale17]

Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester deserve their wins!! They ride and train with integrity!! ❤ Show me another horse that used his hindquarters like Valegro! The FEI is a joke. They are rewarding people, these days, who train using Rollkur. They turn a a blind eye to the cruelty. Charlotte Fry started with Carl, but unfortunately she left, and now trains with Rollkur. What is the FEI for anymore? 😕

[@livetwice7702]

And that is how to train your dragon

[@janicevanderbur3430]

❤️❤️❤️

[@Top5Empire]

Nice😍👌

[@julieenslow5915]

Note to Charlotte: PLEASE don't use the past tense when talking about Valegro. I mean, you do see him almost every day when at home, he is still alive - right? You are scaring the fans!

[@xSilentMoonx517]

10th like? Not bad😏 gotta say they're amazing😍

[@bambibartley9000]

💗

[@hannahequestrian4470]

In their last performance he looks like a blue roan sort of

[@shawnabloom]

He’s body clipped there.

[@ccziv]

Dreamy.

[@Gabihorse]

Chalo must love "How to train your dragon" hehe

[@jrkribfkfkr2903]

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄♥️

[@mijoutte]

in the outro, did we see brian morton?

[@hannahequestrian4470]

The fact that blueberry is a bay

[@raphael6226]

Does Charlotte Dujardin act in Free Rein?

[@aquawoelfly]

In one clip he (UK/EU) calls them pilaf pirouette And in another she (US) calls them bandenbou pirouette (sp?) Does it go by both nqmes or is there a differance im not seeing?

[@kscott2655]

A piaffe is a stationary lifted trot. One pirouette was done at the trot/piaffe, the other at a canter. They are different gaits. I heard her say something like you mentioned, but I don't think there's a dressage movement by that name.

[@starriderkittykat9064]

What kind of horse is Valegro?

[@leah4360]

Dutch warmblood KWPN

[@hollynagy8078]

93 was it.

[@wendigo490]

Shame that they had to Geld him to improve him he would have made come cute babys

[@sanmat1099]

I don't understand why they force the horses to work with their head nearly touching their chest?

[@larrybrown6068]

You don't force anything, you ask them to work in the correct outline, so that their whole body is being used properly.

[@Rabbi1966]

That's not forcing if you want to see forcing look at total us and gal thats forced

[@seagull9273]

I’m early

[@cottoncandy4486]

Can you imadgine scoring over 90% omg

[@reneeburry4399]

E

[@claireconnor263]

First and early

[@Lilian040210]

"Mount St John Freestyle" who tf names some of these horses 🤦‍♀️

[@sandyshanks111]

"Freestyle" isn't part of his name. It's the event.

[@diwi1942]

Mount St John is the stable name where she was bred by Emma Blundell. Freestyle is her name. What Sandy Shanks wrote is incorrect.

[@angelaphilpott6690]

Ines Schaible You haven’t got a clue when it comes to perfect Dressage. Don’t bother commenting as you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Sounds like sour grapes to me 😥

[@happytraveller2122]

Why is his mouth all foamy?

[@larrybrown6068]

Because his jaw is relaxed, if it was tense it would be dry.

[@stephaniestrong8960]

Additionally, when horses are relaxed, they salivate more. Thus having more saliva creates the foam.

[@mdee860]

SOOOO glad they're not wearing the stupid Top Hats 🤮🤮🤮

[@inesschaible6046]

The horse is behind the vertical and there is too much tension

[@wendybergsma6116]

What?

[@windchaser12]

No there isn't and no it isn't.

[@inesschaible6046]

@@windchaser12 you should look exactly then you would recognize

[@xhogun8578]

Think you are talking about the wrong horse (heas)! Unlike many dressage horses he was not behind the vertical and if he was tense he wouldn't be able to transition so beautifully and easily between movements.

[@wendybergsma6116]

@@xhogun8578 yeah, I believe that with ease I don’t know very much bout’ horses but that’s believable😂🤣

[@jissellylemus6852]

NO thanks😑😑

[@sandralogue]

BIDEN:If you nominate Obam..I mean me for President I prom....BOOOOOOM

[@reesecarr2105]

people that do this are on an ego trip, the horse is jumping she's just hurting him his knee's will be worn out in a few years

[@andiebebbington]

Considering he was retired sound and at the top of his game I’d had say his legs are worn out.

[@reesecarr2105]

@@andiebebbington the person on that horses back is on an ego trip. just saying....

[@windchaser12]

Nope

[@reesecarr2105]

@@windchaser12 you must be on a ego trip yourself. I'm a horse vet.

[@dixiewinxeqandmore356]

He's a stud now, I'm not sure how you are getting his legs/knees aren't sound?

[@melindamassey14]

Id rather watch men riders.

[@larrybrown6068]

I like to watch good riders, doesn't matter if they're male or female.