Carl Hester will make historical past at Paris 2024 by changing into the second British athlete, following Nick Skelton, to compete in seven Olympics. As he tells Horse & Hound, loads has modified since his first in Barcelona in 1992.
“Barcelona looks like so way back, it’s weird,” he says. “These Video games felt like I used to be simply doing a little bit of sport on vacation as a result of the Olympic Village was on a seashore – it was enjoyable and I didn’t have any expectations.
“After all, we had been critical when it got here to the using and wished to do nicely, however I didn’t admire what went into the game again then.
“I’d solely been competing at grand prix for simply over two years, and in these days I used to be simply studying to steer my manner round a take a look at slightly than the horsemanship behind it and the coaching.”
Carl provides that as Britain’s performances on the massive stage have improved the stress has constructed and constructed. He, after all, not solely has to take care of himself and his Paris-ride Fame, but additionally assist his teammate Charlotte Dujardin with Imhotep.
“In a manner, that’s good as a result of at an Olympics you’ve a lot time to kill eager about competitors,” he explains. “So I’m truly very fortunate that I’ve one thing to deal with in Charlotte.”
The place Charlotte at all times tries to dam the stress out, I get the sense that Carl takes that stress on for the group and feels chargeable for them.
“It’s not nerves, it’s extra angst,” he says. “The stress is totally different now as a result of we’ve been successful medals and the expectation is excessive on a regular basis.
“We’re an skilled group and with the horses we’ve received in the meanwhile, we really feel like if we didn’t come residence with a medal we’d have misplaced it.
“In these previous few weeks I’ve to ensure we’re not overtraining and we’re maintaining all of it calm however, after all, human nature is that you simply wish to hold practising and practising – attempting to make all the pieces higher. There are such a lot of elements concerned and, as at all times, I’m wanting ahead to all of it being over!”
Carl Hester on taking dangers on the Paris Olympics
Carl and Charlotte’s preparations have been nearly excellent and each Fame and Imhotep – in addition to fellow group rider Lottie Fry and Glamourdale – look to be peaking on the proper time. However Denmark and Germany additionally look very robust.
Carl expects it to be an in depth battle between the three, and with no drop scores on the Olympics, there’s an added fringe of uncertainty and stress.
“It creates an enormous stress as a result of you recognize you possibly can’t afford for something to go mistaken,” Carl provides.
I ask if that adjustments his method to how he rides the take a look at.
“It’s very tough for me at this level to vary my manner of using. I believe it could be secure to say that I’m not as aggressive because the others as a result of I’m at all times engaged on my concord and attempting to make all of it look good.
“I do know I must take extra dangers. In Tokyo with En Vogue it was exhausting as a result of I wasn’t positive at occasions whether or not he would or wouldn’t explode and it was a tough enviornment to experience in, particularly moving into third, figuring out that my rating was so essential.
“However now with Fame, I really feel like I’m ready to take extra dangers.”
To learn our unique interview with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin in full, learn this week’s challenge of Horse & Hound journal, in outlets from 18 July.
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