Valegro, who is undoubtably one of the most well known dressage stars in the world turned seventeen on the 5th of July!
The stunning bay KWPN gelding has had an immensely successful career, having won countless titles at FEI World Cups, European Dressage Championships, Olympics and other international events, as well as securing three world records.
Valegro and Dujardin’s partnership began in 2011 in Gloucestershire, when she was asked by British Olympian, Carl Hester to bring him on, with the intention of Hester taking over the reins in the not-so-distant future. However, after the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam, Dujardin and Valegro proved to be an unstoppable force and continued to stay together till valegro’s retirement in 2016.
Over their career, Dujardin and Valegro won team and individual-gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, winning the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle with scores of 83.663%, 83.286% and 90.089% respectively.
Dujardin and Valegro continued on to set a world record in the Grand Prix at the 2012 London Olympia, with a score of 84.447%.The previous record of 84.045% was held by Edward Gal and the jet-black stallion, Totilas. Valegro and Dujardin continued on to win an individual gold-medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with a score of 93.857% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Dujardin and Valegro were also part of the silver-medal winning team at the Rio Olympics, in 2016.
The adored gelding was also fortunate enough to meet Her Majesty The Queen earlier this year at the Royal Windsor Horse Show!
Equestrian Life wishes Valegro a very happy birthday!
