Charlotte Dujardin sets new British freestyle dressage record

Charlotte Dujardin has set a new British freestyle dressage record at the Hartpury International Festival.

Dujardin was awarded 90.65% aboard her Olympic mount, Valegro, beating Laura Bechtolsheimer's mark of 87.6%.

What is dressage?

  • A "ballet for horses", dressage involves training horses to follow instructions and move from point to point inside an arena, showing off different manoeuvres as they go. Judges placed around the arena determine their score.

The feat comes two months after the 25-year-old set a new world record for the Olympic grand prix special discipline.

She finished 15% ahead of second-placed Ashley Hozler on Breaking Dawn at Hartpury, with Michael Eilberg third aboard Half Moon Delphi.

Dujardin's routine, set to music specially composed for her by Tom Hunt, drew praise from Carl Hester, also part of Britain's five-strong dressage team that includes three of the word's top five riders.

"They nailed it," he said. "All the practice at home has paid off, and I feel we have a true Olympic-calibre freestyle that the whole nation can be proud of.

"Tom has done an amazing job with the music, and Charlotte and I just love it. There is a little bit more tweaking to be done, but roll on Greenwich - we will be ready."