Double Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin insists it is a pleasure to ride a horse the calibre of Valegro after they set a new world record at the European Dressage Championships – although it was team bronze for Britain.
Dujardin, who won Olympic team and individual gold aboard Valegro at London 2012 last summer and also triumphed at Hickstead earlier this month, bettered her own world best in the grand prix discipline to 85.942 per-cent in Denmark.
However that wasn’t enough for Britain to retain their European team title in Herning as their total of 233.540 was behind that of the Netherlands in second with 233.967 and winners Germany with 234.651.
Michael Eilberg and Gareth Hughes got the British charge underway while Carl Hester, part of Britain’s Olympic gold medal winning team from London 2012, was the third up a day later aboard Uthopia scoring 75.334.
And Dujardin, who has been worked hard by mentor and coach Hester in the build up to the European Dressage Championships, admitted her ride Valegro never ceases to amaze her.
“What an amazing horse. It was only his third show of the year, and he goes in the arena and does that,” said Dujardin.
"It was so emotional. I don't often get emotional, but when you go in there and you have a horse that tries his hardest, it's incredible.
"He is always helping me, and it gives you so much confidence as a rider when you've got a horse that tries like that. I am just so lucky to be able to ride him.
"I wanted to break the world record, if I am honest. I was going for everything. We just went for it."
© Sportsbeat 2013