It’s not just British show jumpers who will be enjoying the Florida sunshine in Palm Beach this season as they will be joined by Britain's golden dressage duo, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin for the World Dressage Masters, 26-29 January 2012.
While Charlotte will blaze the US trail with Carl Hester and Roly Luard's superstar ten year old phenomenon Valegro, Carl will partner Penny and Fiona Bigwood's WEG team silver medallist gelding, Wie Atlantico. This will be Carl's first outing on the 13 year old Hanoverian gelding who has only been in his stable for a matter of weeks. Joint owner Fiona, who is expecting her third child this spring said, “Carl offered to keep Atlantic ticking over for me until the baby is born, but if he can fit in one or two shows before that, then that’s even better.”
Charlotte and Valegro are no strangers to the WDM circuit, having won the Moorlands Grand Prix Special at Hickstead in July last year. This will however be the first time that Valegro has travelled by air, and also the first time Charlotte has been to America. “It’s very exciting and will be good fun.” Charlotte said, “It felt a bit hairy going into Olympia as we hadn’t been out since the Europeans, but after experiencing that, I feel we’re ready for this. I want to try and hit 80% again, keep your fingers crossed for me!”