{"id":28860,"date":"2016-09-02T11:16:33","date_gmt":"2016-09-02T01:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/?p=28860"},"modified":"2017-09-30T17:21:22","modified_gmt":"2017-09-30T07:21:22","slug":"thm-exclusive-carl-hester-de-brief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/2016\/09\/thm-exclusive-carl-hester-de-brief\/","title":{"rendered":"THM Exclusive: Carl Hester De-Brief"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CarlPort2\"Chris Hector grabbed the chance to have a quiet word with Carl at Rio…<\/b><\/p>\n

Photos by HippoFoto<\/h3>\n

When we did our little interview at Aachen last year, I asked how were we going to get the judging right after it had been very bad at Aachen and you said you thought it was working itself out, that does seem to have happened here…<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thinking that, and I\u2019m glad you said that, because I don\u2019t get the feeling anymore that we are riding against riders who will automatically be given points. That\u2019s not a good way to compete – but I don\u2019t get that feeling now. It can\u2019t happen really now because of the Judges Review Panel, because of the knowledgability of journalists, because of the knowledgeability of the crowds, you can\u2019t get away with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Olympic<\/p>\n

Carl and Nip Tuck, looking elegant<\/em><\/p>\n

The knowledgeability of the crowd here was perhaps a little lacking when they were booing Jurado Lopez\u2019s score…<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBut at least they have passion. Who could be disappointed with that score, really – I know they were booing a bit, but the horse got a great score, at the end of an Olympics, that can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Princess was on song when she came in today with\u00a0Valegro…<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cShe was amazing, and I have to say, watching her ride today, it was measured, it was controlled. I could see her doing everything she could, not to make the mistakes she made last year. The half halts, get it sitting, ride the movement, finish it, re-balance – rather than just like go go go. I don\u2019t want him to look like that any more, I just want him to be neat and tidy, he has enough activity when he is sure, he doesn\u2019t need all this… and I think looking at last year, not only was he bored of the game, but he was also being over-paced, because everybody was trying to beat him. This time, by not having her competing on the big wide stage, she went there and rode like she would do at home.\u00a0 It was fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Olympic<\/p>\n

Charlotte and Valegro, as close to perfect as it gets…<\/em><\/p>\n

Everybody is desperately interested in Valegro\u2019s retirement but no-body cares about Barney…<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t retire! If he can come seventh at the Olympics, I\u2019m not stopping now. First of all, I would like that horse just to prove a point, come on – no hind legs, no paces, you can do it. We can do a bit better. I\u2019ve ridden some great horses in my life, but I enjoy riding that horse the most, I really do. Sitting on Barney, I\u2019m riding presence, going round today, you are sitting behind a neck like that, and he starts to go, and when he\u2019s more relaxed and starts to use his body like he was today. In the Grand Prix he was so nervous, but today when his body moves, his hind legs don\u2019t look so much not part of him. Honestly you sit there, and he is so lovely in my hands, when I have him really light and on his hind legs, it\u2019s just the best feeling, the feeling of changing something…\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Olympic<\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t that supposed to be what dressage is about…<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI know we say that Chris, but not every horse is capable of it. If we all trained with the rules and the blocks of the training scale… I haven\u2019t been able to put those blocks in place with that horse. The contact came as he has got more on his hind legs, some things have been back to front a little bit with him. That\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Has Charlotte got the next superstar in her stable?<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI do, yeah. She\u2019s got a seven-year-old mare, Freestyle, which belongs to the Mount St John Stud, it won its first Prix St Georges with 76. It has a temperament like Valegro, and when it moves, you don\u2019t hear it on the floor. It is a very light, elegant horse. It piaffes like an elephant on a drum. If you painted it white it would be an Andalusian. I think she is the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FreestyleDujardin\"<\/p>\n

Charlotte’s next superstar? Freestyle (Fidermark x Donnerhall x Atatuerk) Photo: Kevin Sparrow<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCharlotte and I have invested a lot, we\u2019ve got seven-year-olds, six-year-olds, five-year-olds and four-year-olds, and Charlotte is going I\u2019ve found another one, let\u2019s buy this one.<\/i> No – NO more money is going into horses. That\u2019s it, we have enough because we have about twenty two.\u201d<\/p>\n

Off he goes, smiling, into the next stage of the world\u2019s dressage future…<\/p>\n

\"Olympic<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This season breed a top dressage performer, stallions available from International Horse Breeders from top European stallion station PSI \u00a0Go to www.ihb.com.au <\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vitalis<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

F\u00fcrstenball<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sir Donnerhall<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester, Carl<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n