Hester grew up on Sark, an island between Guernsey and Jersey off the coast of Normandy, France. The island's primary mode of transport was by horse. At 19, he applied for a job at a riding centre in Hampshire, England. This opportunity marked his first competitive experience.

Club and Team

Hester is associated with Hester Dressage in Newent, England. His dedication to the sport has earned him the nickname "Grandad" among peers and fans.

Memorable Achievements

One of Hester's most memorable achievements is winning gold in team dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. His career has been significantly influenced by horse trainer Wilfried Bechtolsheimer.

Philosophy and Motto

Hester's sporting philosophy is clear: "I love riding, so that will never disappear. Competing isn't my huge joy. I do it because I want to go to championships. If I am one of the top four in my country, then I'll go. I want to continue riding and train other people. The challenge I love about riding is training."

Awards and Honours

Hester has received numerous awards throughout his career. In 2021, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Equestrian Writers Association (BEWA). He was named Channel Islands Sports Personality of the Year for 2016 and received the Global Dressage Visionary Award the same year.

In 2015, he was honoured with the British Horse Society Queen's Award for Equestrianism. He was named Best Rider of the Year by the French equestrian yearbook 'L'Annee Hippique' in 2014. In 2013, he was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year's Honours list.

In 2011, he was named the British Olympic Association (BOA) Equestrian Athlete of the Year.

Milestones

At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Hester became the first equestrian to represent Great Britain in dressage at six editions of the Olympic Games. His bronze medal in Tokyo made him the first male British equestrian to win three career Olympic medals in dressage.

In 2012, he was part of the first British dressage team to win an Olympic gold medal alongside Laura Tomlinson and Charlotte Dujardin. In 1992, he became the youngest male British equestrian to compete in dressage at an Olympic Games.

Other Information

In 2004, Hester established his own stables at Oaklebrook Mill near Newent, England. Here, he coaches riders and trains horses for dressage. He has co-authored several books including 'Down to Earth Dressage' with Bernadette Faurie and 'Real Life Dressage' with Polly Ellison.

He also released an autobiography titled 'Making it Happen' and a book about Valegro, a horse that Charlotte Dujardin rode to gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.

Valegro Statue

In October 2020, a bronze statue of Valegro was unveiled in Newent, England. The horse trained at Hester's stable and played a significant role in elevating their sport. "He changed so many of our lives and elevated our sport so this is a really proud moment for myself, Charlotte and everyone who has been involved with this very special horse," Hester said.

Carl Hester continues to contribute significantly to dressage through his training and coaching efforts while maintaining his passion for riding.