Valegro’s career has been truly outstanding, with numerous gold medals and world records along the way. But do you know exactly what he’s won and when? No, neither did we.
53 wins in 66 outings
Following his recent retirement, and assuming he won’t win any medals for grass eater of the year (although according to Carl he will give it his best shot) we decided to find out.
This list doesn’t include his all his wins – frankly we haven’t got the space. But since Charlotte and Valegro’s international career kicked off in 2011 they have achieved 54 wins, in 67 outings. These include 14 international championship medals and 10 golds.
National titles
Prior to his international career, Valegro also swept the board on home turf. He was national champion at every level from young horse to Prix St Georges, with one exception – something no other horse has achieved, or is likely to again.
2006 Supreme Young Horse Champion (Carl Hester); Four year old Young Horse Champion (Carl Hester)
2007 Supreme Young Horse Champion; Five year old Young Horse Champion; National Novice Open Champion
2008 Winter Elementary Open Champion; National Elementary Open Champion; National Medium Open Champion; Winter Advanced Medium Open Champion; National Advanced Medium Open Champion
2010 National Prix St Georges Champion; National Inter I Champion
International medals
Valegro’s first medal was in 2011 at the European Championships in Rotterdam, where they won team gold. However, it was when he took team and individual gold at London 2012 that he became a household name. Since then the medals have kept coming.
2013 European Championships, Herning: team bronze, individual Special and Freestyle gold
2013 FEI Reem Acra World Cup Champion, Lyon
2014 World Championships, Normandy: team silver, individual Special and Freestyle gold
2014; FEI Reem Acra World Cup Champion, Las Vegas
2015 European Championships, Aachen: team silver, individual Special and Freestyle gold
2016 Olympic Games, Rio: team silver, individual gold
World records
Along the way, Valegro also picked up all three world records, which remain unbroken:
Grand Prix 87.460% at Olympia in 2014
Grand Prix Special 88.022% at Hagen CDI in 2012 (Olympic Special Test)
Grand Prix Freestyle 94.300% Olympia, 2014
To celebrate this incredible horse, we have put together our favourite memories in Valegro’s Farewell. This new TV show features exclusive interviews, footage of Valegro at home and away, and a lot of tears.
Valegro’s Farewell is sponsored by 