Dujardin initially showed horses but was persuaded to try dressage by her trainer, Debbie Thomas. She quickly excelled in the discipline and bought her first grand prix horse, Fernandez, with inheritance money from her grandmother. "My parents don't have a lot of money," she said. "It was only through my mum's mum dying that we managed to buy Fernandez."

Coaching and Nicknames

Her personal coach is Carl Hester, a British dressage rider. Hester gave her the nickname "Edwina" after Edward Scissorhands due to her movement and hands. Another nickname she has earned is "The Girl on the Dancing Horse."

Achievements and Awards

Dujardin's most memorable sporting achievement came at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where she won gold in both individual and team dressage. She has been honoured multiple times, including being named Professional Rider of the Decade by Horse & Hound magazine readers in December 2020.

She was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 and had previously been made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013. In 2014, she was named Sportswoman of the Year by The Sunday Times and Sky Sports.

Milestones

At the 2012 Olympic Games, Dujardin became part of the first British team to win gold in dressage. She also became the first British equestrian to win individual gold in dressage. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she won silver in team dressage and gold in individual dressage, making her the first British equestrian to win three and four Olympic medals of any colour.

Personal Life

Dujardin resides in Newent with her partner Dean Golding and their daughter Isabella Rose. She enjoys spending time with friends and walking her dogs. Her heroes include Carl Hester and German dressage rider Isabell Werth.

Challenges and Injuries

Throughout her career, Dujardin has faced several challenges. She fractured her skull in 2009 after a fall and has suffered from back problems. Despite these setbacks, she continues to compete at a high level.

Superstitions and Philosophy

Dujardin has a pair of lucky breeches that she wears during competitions. Her sporting philosophy revolves around creating a partnership with her horses. "It's easy [to stay motivated] because it's not just about competing but the whole partnership I have with my horses," she said.

Notable Horses

Valegro is one of Dujardin's most famous horses. They won gold together at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Valegro was retired from competition in December 2016 and honoured with a statue in October 2020 at the International Centre for Birds of Prey in Newent.

Autobiography

In March 2018, Dujardin released her autobiography titled 'The Girl on the Dancing Horse.' In it, she revealed her struggles with depression following the 2012 Olympics and a breakup with Golding. She credits her horses for helping her through difficult times.

Controversies

Dujardin faced controversy when she was disqualified from the 2019 European Championships after traces of blood were found on her horse Mount St John Freestyle's flank. Judges accepted there was no intentional mistreatment. "It was very difficult to deal with the social media side of things," she said.

Dujardin continues to be a prominent figure in dressage, balancing her roles as an athlete, coach, and horse trainer while residing in Newent.