The equestrian world is in mourning following the death of Valegro, the legendary dressage horse who, alongside rider Charlotte Dujardin, became a British sporting icon. The three-time Olympic gold medallist was put down at the age of 23.
A Partnership That Made History
Valegro and Dujardin formed one of the most celebrated partnerships in sporting history. Their golden era began at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where they clinched both the individual and team dressage gold medals. They repeated their individual success four years later at the Rio 2016 Olympics, securing a third gold.
This incredible haul made Valegro the most decorated dressage horse in British history. Beyond the Olympics, the duo dominated the sport, winning two gold medals at the World Equestrian Games and an impressive six golds at the European Dressage Championships.
An Emotional Farewell on Social Media
The news of Valegro's passing was shared by Charlotte Dujardin in an emotional Instagram post. It marked her first return to the platform since receiving a year-long ban from the sport in December 2024, following an investigation into a separate incident involving a horse.
"I knew of course this day would come, but I don't think I could ever be ready for it," Dujardin wrote. She reflected on their unique bond, stating, "A partnership that everyone talks about, but you can't really know until you've experienced it. And we danced Blueberry, didn't we dance.."
A Second Loss for British Dressage
In a further blow to the sport, it was also revealed that Valegro's stable-mate, Uthopia, has been put down at the age of 24. Uthopia, ridden by Carl Hester, was part of the same gold medal-winning team at the London 2012 Olympics.
Hester explained that both horses faced health challenges in their later years. He paid a moving tribute, saying, "Valegro and Uthopia did more than win medals and write history, they gave our sport a golden era."
He added that the decision to let them pass together was "the final act of loyalty and dignity I felt I could give them." Their legacy continues to inspire a generation of riders and fans across the nation.
