Farewell Valegro and Uthopia

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Valegro and Uthopia – two horses whose brilliance lifted British dressage to new heights, and whose memories will forever live in the fabric of our sport.

On Monday 1 December, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin announced the passing of their great equine partners, Valegro and Uthopia, two legends of a golden era for dressage that transformed the sport in Great Britain. After many happy years spent in retirement as a duo, the pair’s final centre line would be a journey travelled together, as they passed away with respect and kindness.

Valegro

Few horses in the history of equestrian sport have commanded global admiration with the consistency and brilliance of Valegro. Bred by Martje and Joop Hanse in the Netherlands, Valegro was born in 2002 out of Maifleur and by Negro (Ferro) and originally named Vainqueurfleur. It was in 2005 that he caught the attention of Carl Hester, who brought him home to England, and began an unforgettable journey.

In 2006 he claimed the Badminton Young Dressage Horse title as a four-year-old and it was clear that the future was bright. Charlotte Dujardin took over the reins in 2007, and the rest is history. The pair rose through the levels to Grand Prix in 2011, where they posted an outstanding debut score of 74%. Later that year, they were part of the history-making gold medal winning team at the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam.

London 2012 would follow – the moment that Valegro stepped into the ranks of legends – earning double gold and winning the hearts of millions. From then on, records fell and the medals kept coming; the wonder horse completed his career having secured the full set of European, World and Olympic gold medals on more than one occasion, as well as two World Cup victories and no fewer than 52 international class wins between 2011 and 2016.

His performances were marked by a natural, unforced elasticity: a trot that seemed to lift from the ground with effortless buoyancy, a canter of immense power and regularity, and a willingness in the collected work that set him apart from his peers. Yet it was his character - gentle, intelligent and willing — that enabled him to rise to legendary status.

Even in retirement, Valegro continued to enrich the dressage community. His presence at demonstrations and events inspired countless spectators, reminding everyone that greatness in dressage is as much about passion and heart as it is about scores and medals. 

On one of his last public appearances at the National Convention, celebrating the 25th anniversary of British Dressage, the audience queued patiently just to have their photo taken with Blueberry and offer a quiet moment of gratitude. He was certainly the biggest attraction at the event and still loved the public adoration.

Valegro served as a model of admirable training principles, educating all equestrians on the importance of empathy, kindness and communication. His greatest legacy is representing the bond and harmonious partnership that can exist between horse and rider. For many, Valegro remains the embodiment of power, poise, and an enduring generosity of spirit.

Uthopia

Where Valegro dazzled with exuberance and power, Uthopia captivated with elegance, refinement and grace. Bred in the Netherlands, the stallion was born in 2001 by Metall and out of the Inspekteur-sired mare Odelia. ‘Uti’ was purchased by Carl Hester in 2005 and soon developed into one of the most consistent and admired Grand Prix horses of his time.

He won his Grand Prix debut in 2010 and went on to be the mainstay of the British team at the Europeans in Rotterdam the year after, securing team gold. At the same show, Uthopia became the horse to take Carl Hester to his first ever individual medals, securing double silver. At London 2012, the pair were pivotal to the gold medal success; before returning to the team in 2013, to earn a bronze medal at the European Championships in Herning.

With his distinctive lightness, fluid forelimb expression and remarkable elasticity, Uthopia demonstrated a classical purity that made him a cornerstone of Britain’s ascent on the world stage. His performances were marked by a quiet balance between harmony and power – a winning combination that translated into extraordinary softness and accuracy with the dressage maestro in the saddle.

Though different in personality and way of going, Valegro and Uthopia were united by the principles that brought them to greatness. Together, they brought our sport to new audiences, reshaped the public’s understanding of dressage, inspired a generation and demonstrated that outstanding performance is built on kindness and trust.

Valegro and Uthopia leave legacies that will shape British dressage for decades to come. Their hoofprints may have faded from the competition arena, but the mark they left on our sport is indelible.

Jason Brautigam, Chief Executive at British Dressage, gave his own personal reflections on hearing the sad news: “People often ask me how I came to be Chief Executive at British Dressage. The answer is simple: these two legends. The incredible performances of Uthopia and Valegro at London 2012 will live long in the memory of all equestrian fans. It was such a special occasion and was transformational for the sport in Great Britain. It was the moment that dressage captured the hearts and minds of the public, and I was no exception. It was an absolute privilege to see Valegro win gold again in Rio. An experience I will personally cherish forever.

“But most importantly, these two horses redefined dressage: their beautiful, gentle souls, relaxed temperament, and seemingly effortless ability in the arena heralded a new era. Their wonderful partnerships with Carl and Charlotte showcased the best of our sport. As any visitor to Carl’s yard would agree, spirits were always lifted by the sight of these two companions enjoying their well-earned retirement in the paddock. Now, they are sadly no longer with us, but we should take comfort that they remained inseparable to the end.”

Speaking on social media, Carl Hester gave a heartfelt reflection on his two old friends:

“Sleep well Blueberry and Uti, two of the greatest horses of our generation. It is with immense sadness that we have said goodbye to Valegro and Uthopia and without question, this is a loss that just feels hard to comprehend.

Trying to write a tribute to these two horses feels harder than I imagined. The yard just doesn’t feel the same without them; there’s an emptiness in the air. Valegro and Uthopia did more than win medals and write history, they gave our sport a golden era. They both showed that greatness can be gentle, sensitive and harmonious and they made a nation proud and inspired so many.

Being part of their journey will always remain one of my proudest achievements and the whole team and I are deeply grateful for the joy they gave to us at home but also to their fans around the world.

Their entire lives ran in parallel; they travelled to the shows side by side, lived in neighbouring stables, grazed in the same fields and retired together. Their bond and companionship were absolute.

As life as old boys advanced, so too did the health challenges, so allowing them to leave this world together was the final act of loyalty and dignity I felt I could give them, honouring a partnership that had never been separated in life.

They leave behind a huge void, and the yard has changed forever and so have we. They were our family, and I will love and miss them always. The impact they had will remain but sadly, we don’t get to keep horses forever.

We only get to carry what they leave inside us. And these two left us so much.”

Charlotte Dujardin, also reflected on her dancing partner of a lifetime:

“I don’t know how to start this with any other words. I knew of course this day would come, but I don’t think I could ever be ready for it. And I’m sitting here, summoning up the courage to write this, knowing I’ll never have the words, knowing they’ll never be enough, but wanting to share something anyway because so many people loved you and it just feels like the right thing to do. You have been and still are so loved.

You have been my constant, my rock. Through the highest highs and the lowest lows, your gentle presence, your steady heartbeat, the silent moments we shared together have been my everything, the place I could always go to. In those quiet moments we had so many conversations without words; you loved me completely, as I am. You saw my heart and I yours.

I’ve never sat on a horse like you, Blueberry. It was always your heart and your mind that made you the best. We grew together, learned together, believed together. You would enter the arena and just know how special you were - I could feel you grow. The hush of the crowd as everyone turned to look at you. It would make me sit a little taller, shoulders back, head up - I just wanted to do you proud, to show the world what you were capable of; I could feel every muscle in your body move, every breath you took, every shiver of excitement and we would just melt into each other, it was like you could hear my heart speak and I yours. 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…

You transformed our sport, yes. The London Olympics was the greatest stage, and we had no idea how our worlds would change, just a girl and a horse, trying our best.

But the biggest gift of all was the amount of joy you brought to this world. You made people smile every single day of your life. What a rare and special gift that is. You were born to do it, you always knew who needed extra care - so gentle with my children and the many others who met you, particularly those unwell. Seeing eyes light up - what a difference you made.

To those who were able to meet you, even if just passing by, you gave hope, love and belief - you genuinely changed people’s lives, just with a touch, a nuzzle, warm breath on a face; just by being you. I’m so glad William and Isabella met you - they will grow up knowing your name, hearing stories about you, looking at pictures and videos of you. You will live on, not just in theirs, but in so many people’s hearts, and that gives me great happiness - you deserve to, and will be, remembered forever.

You chose me. And I was forever yours. I don’t know why, or how, but I thank my lucky stars you did. Our story is one that anyone who’s ever loved a horse can relate to - far beyond the medals and the talent, the reason to keep going, the reason we get up in the morning and do what we do, for the simple love of a horse.

You have been, and always will be, my one in a million and it has been the honour of my life to be not only your dance partner but best friend. The magic we had, no one can take from us, and we will dance again one day.”

Photo © Daydream Photography