The decorated British Olympian reappeared on the international stage at CDI Wellington (11-12 October) for the first time since her one-year suspension, where she rode Braveheart – an eleven-year-old gelding by Bordeaux out of a Tuschinski mare, owned by Ellie McCarthy. The competition featured a small but strong field of riders, including fellow British Olympian, Gareth Hughes.
Charlotte and Braveheart delivered a winning Grand Prix performance, scoring 73.739%, with individual judges’ marks ranging from 71.413% to 74.783%. Five combinations advanced to the Grand Prix Special where Charlotte and Braveheart also topped the leaderboard. The combination earned a score of 72.830% to secure a clean sweep at the event.
Momentum continues at Le Mans
One weekend later, Charlotte continued her winning momentum at Le Mans CDI3* in France, this time riding Alive and Kicking (All at Once x Fürst Piccolo 2), an eleven-year-old mare co-owned with Ulricke Bachinger and Carl Hester. The pair captured the Grand Prix with 74.739%, with scores spanning from 72.717% to 77.065%, before going on to win the Grand Prix Special on 75.128%.
The Le Mans appearance marked the first international start for Alive and Kicking since May 2024, when the pair competed at CDI Hickstead and achieved a personal best of 77.370% in the Grand Prix.
The double victories mark a significant comeback for Charlotte, signalling her continued presence among the world’s elite dressage riders. With both Braveheart and Alive and Kicking showing scope and power in the arena, the performances suggest that the British rider’s competitive spirit remains as sharp as ever.
