For one year, the future of Olympic champion Valegro has been unclear, as the triple world record holder was reluctantly offered for sale by owners Carl Hester and Roly Luard. At Christmas Hester finally cut the gordian knot and announced that the horse is off the market. The owners' duo wishes to recover the costs for keeping Valegro by establishing a syndicate of investors.
"It's a relief," Hester told Eurodressage about the news that Valegro will stay with Charlotte forever. "No more dreaming, of course, and the mortgage (on his yard) stays," he added frankly.
In his column in British magazine Horse and Hound, Hester explained his decision to end this deadlock. "Roly Luard has been a loyal and supportive owner of Valegro, and before that of Escapado. Roly and I feel that Valegro, who has been with me since he was 2, should be nowhere else other than in our care, with his rider, trainer, owners and staff."
Hester will ensure that the Dutch warmblood gelding will not move away from his yard and is now looking for investors. Paradoxically, last year after the Olympics fanatic supporters of Valegro formed a potential syndicate and started asking for donations on the British Dressage Forum so they could buy a share in the ownership of the gelding. At the time, Hester nor Luard endorsed this impromptu endeavour. Now Hester is looking for enterpreneurs who can invest big in the horse.
"We are (...) looking for people to come and invest with us, to be part of an enjoy the amazing story that is Valegro, in the same way as serious investors in the racing game. Sometimes, you have to give up the chance of a lifetime for a horse of a lifetime," he explained.
One month ago, Hester traveled to Australia for a masterclass at the CDI Sydney. He also sat down with Australian equestrian journalist Chris Hector of The Horse Magazine and talked about his decision making process. Carl confessed that he couldn't part with his long-time buddy and was concerned about the horse's "welfare" if he were sold.
"You kind of get to the point, I get worried about the fact, will we ever find him a home that does what we do? We only do what we do because we've had him his whole life and his value is meaningless in the sense that he's still a horse and he doesn't know he's worth that amount of money so his routine doesn't need to change. If someone else pays a huge amount for the horse, will they ever let him be a horse? I wouldn't blame them. I don't know," Carl stated.
By establishing a syndicate of investors, Hester and Luard hope to recover the costs of keeping the horse. He is also considering generating income with Valegro via advertising. "We'll recoup some money. Whether he's used for advertising, whether we do a syndicate with someone who wants to come in just because they love dressage."
The interview was conducted in November and at the time Carl told Hector, "we're dealing with a racing syndicate manager at the moment who's helping us piece a programme together that might suit some people. I'm not in any hurry."
Hester exclusively disclosed to Eurodressage that Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro will be aiming for the 2014 World Cup Finals. After riding a world record score at the 2013 CDI-W London, they will compete in their next World qualifier in Amsterdam on 23 - 25 January 2014.
Article and Photo © Eurodressage
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