Carl Hester's top Grand Prix horse Uthopia will be making his come back to the show ring at the 2015 CDI-W London next week. The 14-year old Dutch warmblood stallion has not been competed for sixteen months.
Charlotte Dujardin will be competing Uthopia (by Metall) at the Olympia Horse Show in London instead of her number one Valegro, who was withdrawn from the event. Dujardin and Uthopia showed last at the CDI Windsor in May 2014, where they won the Grand Prix and Kur to Music.
Hester cited ongoing legal issues about the ownership of the horse, which began already back in 2012, as the reason for the black stallion not being shown for such a long period of time.
There are 16 combinations confirmed to compete at the 2015 CDI-W London. Joining Dujardin are her coach Carl Hester on his 2015 European Championship mount Nip Tuck (by Don Ruto), Fiona Bigwood on Orthilia (by Gribaldi), Henriette Andersen on Warlocks Charm (by Jazz) and Lara Griffith on Rubin al Asad (by Rubin Royal). They complete the British line-up.
Dutch Hans Peter Minderhoud will be presenting his Stockholm world cup winning Flirt, while Edward Gal will be riding the Odense winner Voice (by De Niro). alongside fellow Dutchmen, Diederik van Silfhout (Bonzanjo).
The other CDI-W London contestants are: Jorinde Verwimp (Tiamo), Fanny Verliefden (Annarico), Judy Reynolds (Vancouver K), Daniel Pinto (Santurion de Massa), Inna Logutenkova (Fleraro), Gonçalo Carvalho (Batuta) and Agnete Kirk Thinggaard (Jojo AZ).
Photo © Risto Aaltonen
Related Links
Show Career Carl Hester's Uthopia on Hold
The Curtain Falls for Carl Hester and Uthopia: 2012 CDI-W London Kur Final Show
Dujardin and Uthopia Repeat Victory in 2014 CDI Windsor Grand Prix Kur
Dujardin and Uthopia On Top in 2014 CDI Windsor Grand Prix