To celebrate the Olympic dressage gold-medallist's 48th birthday today (29 June), we've dug deep into the archives to take a look back at his career in pictures
Jolly Dolly
Carl with the Fortune Centre’s Jolly Dolly, winning the 1985 Young Rider title. Carl joined the Fortune Centre, where adults with learning and physical disabilities can learn to ride, after leaving his homeland of Sark at the age of 19
Slightly Trendy
Carl with Janni and Christopher Taylor’s schoolmaster Slightly Trendy, with whom he was selected for the Young Rider team, at a competition at B.E.C in 1988
Wesley
A sight seldom seen! Carl Hester performs on grass with Wesley, at Barnsley in 1990
At Goodwood
Carl aged 25, at Goodwood in 1992
Walzertakt
Carl on the Hanoverian stallion Walzertakt at a selection trial in 1992
Continued below…
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Giorgione S
Carl at a selection trial in 1993, riding Dr. Wilfried Bectolsheimer’s stallion Giorgione S. The previous year the pair had represented Britain at Carl’s first Olympics and had retained their 1991 title at the National Championships. Wilfried described “Gino” as “the dominating force in British dressage” during his career. His daughter, Olympic medallist Laura, rode Giorgione as a “little girl” and Wilfired has a statue of the horse overlooking his outdoor arena.
Boucheron
Carl with Boucheron at Talland in 1994
Dolendo
Carl and Dolendo enjoy a lap of honour after triumphing at the South West regionals. In 2001, Donald qualified for the National championships with both Carl and Spencer Wilton, going on to win the medium championship with Carl and take fourth in the elementary with Spencer.
Baroness III
Carl with Baroness III, who was runner-up to Carl’s other ride Donner Rhapsody, in the 1999 national medium championship
Donner Rhapsody
Carl riding Donner Rhapsody, a full sister to the great Donnersong, with whom he took the national medium and advanced medium classes in 1999 and was fourth in the prix st georges championship in 2001
Escapado
Carl with Escapado, affectionately known as “Peanuts”, who he rode at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing best of the Brits in 13th, and went on to ride into fifth at the 2005 European Championships. Escapado then went to Hans Peter Minderhoud, launching Hans Peter’s grand prix career, before joining Dolendo for retirement at Carl’s yard in 2011
Donnersong
Carl with Donnersong, who he described as “king of the small tour”. Donnersong was retired to stud in 2003 and died after recurring bouts of laminitis in 2012, having enjoyed retirement with owner-breeder Kate Carter
Donnersong
Carl and Donnersong at Addington, on Valentine’s Day in 2000
Dolendo
Carl with his great horse Dolendo, or “Donald” taking the medium championship in 2001. Donald went on to take national grand prix titles with Spencer Wilton before the ride passed back to Carl. Donald was ruled out of the 2008 Olympics due to injury and retired with Carl in 2011
Jumbo
Carl dressed as “The Explorer” riding the leading British stallion Jumbo at a Christmas pantomime event
Valegro
Carl with Valegro and his groom Alan Davies