On the heels of her Grand Prix victory Wednesday at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Charlotte Dujardin made it a double with a freestyle triumph on Imhotep, three weeks after taking up riding again following the birth of her baby, Isabella Rose.
She was marked at 83.2 percent for her performance. Gareth Hughes, who was second in the Grand Prix, obtained the same placing in the freestyle with an 80.510 on Classic Briolinca.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep in the shadow of Windsor Castle. (Photo courtesy of Royal Windsor Horse Show/Peter Nixon)
An exuberant Charlotte said, “I was so excited to come here, it was really not in my schedule to rush back after having my daughter, but I got on and felt really good. I absolutely love this show, so here I am.
“I was so excited to be here, back out here riding and competing, for me it’s just such a buzz and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Of Imhotep, she continued: “He hasn’t competed since the World Equestrian Games last year, so it was a huge ask for him to come here as it’s such a huge atmosphere.
“I’m a bit ring rusty, he’s a bit ring-rusty, we’re still making mistakes, but he’s such an incredible horse to come to this kind of show and perform the way he has the past two days, I can’t ask for more. To get this under our belt is absolutely fantastic.”