Carl Hester may have been one of the best-kept dressage secrets in Great Britain, but not any longer. He has competed for the British team since 1990, when he rode in the World Equestrian Games at the age of 24. Since then, his career has included three Olympics, a World Equestrian Games, World Young Horse Championships, and 39 national dressage titles along the way.

In 2005, he finished sixth at the European Championships and 10th at the FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas on Escapado. Many of these titles and successes have come on horses he has trained himself–a growing rarity in today’s sport.

In 1985, at age 18, Hester was Young Rider National Dressage champion, as well as being short-listed for the British junior eventing team–all with the same piebald mare, Jolly Dolly.

Hester was raised on the tiny Isle of Sark, off the coast of England. Sark is the smallest of the Channel Islands, population about 500, one of the last existing feudal states, still touched by medieval magic. Here, he rode bareback up and down the 300-foot cliffs on donkeys and what-ever carthorses were around. He went to “the mainland” to study for the British Horse Society Assistant Instructors license and then went to work for Janni and Christopher Taylor.

“Janni Taylor is a true horseman, along the lines of horse-whisperer people like Ray Hunt,” said Hester. “She has spent so many years observing and interacting with the horses. She taught me how to influence the horse’s mind. I give her all credit for getting me to want to think about horses this way.”

In 1989, a telephone call changed his life. He started riding for the Bechtolsheimer family and suddenly had world-class horses and the lifestyle that goes with them. (Father Bechtolsheimer, “Doctor B,” has been a member of several British dressage teams, and daughter Laura was a member of the team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games).

Hester said, “I rode my first Grand Prix horse in October, 1989, did my first Grand Prix test in March, 1990–and went to Stockholm for the World Equestrian Games later that same year.”

Despite the heady success and wonderful horseflesh, he made the difficult decision to go out on his own a few years later. He credited Dutch breeder/trainer Bert Rutten for giving him valuable insight at this difficult time. Hester was wondering aloud how he would find sponsors in order to be able to afford a Grand Prix horse, and Rutten said simply, “But you can just make your own.”

“And I realized that was what I really wanted to do,” said Hester with a smile.


A Few Of His Favorites
Hester has had a few favorites through the years, including the Bectholsheimer family’s immensely talented Giorgione, his partner for the 1992 Olympics.

“Giorgione taught me the meaning of brilliance and showmanship. He gave me the feeling of what a top horse is,” said Hester. “I only regret not being experienced enough to truly deserve him at that time.”

Most of Hester’s other champions, how-ever, came from surprising backgrounds. “I was asked by one of our magazines to give a free lesson to some lucky subscriber,” he said. “They sent me a pile of photos. One was this tiny woman on this huge horse, which was paying no attention to her whatsoever. I thought–well, I cannot go wrong trying to help this pair.”

A lesson was arranged, he watched the pair for a while, then asked to have a sit, and realized there was a lot more to the slumbering giant. The owner agreed that the horse could probably use some training from Hester–and this is how he came to have the ride on Legal Democrat, his partner at the 1997 and 1999 European Championships.

But the most affection is reserved for Escapado, a brilliant gelding (by the Thorougbred Ex Libris) and Hester’s partner at Olympics, European Championships, the World Cup Final, Aachen CDIO (Germany) and several other of Europe’s most prestigious shows. More than any other horse, Escapado required every bit of Hester’s intuition, experience and understanding of horse psychology, until finally, the long-sought and hard-won partnership was achieved.

Michel and Mette Assouline, Grand Prix trainers based in England, found Escapado as a 3-year-old at a German auction, got him home, decided the horse was just Hester’s type, and called him. Escapado, or “Peanuts” as he is known, was obviously a large talent, but he seemed incapable of the focus necessary for the FEI levels.

Throughout his early training and career, Peanuts kept running hot and cold–a wonderful competition followed by disaster. A true low point came during the selection trials for the 2004 Olympics, when the final spot came down to Hester and Escapado or Emile Faurie on Rascher Hopes. After a successful tour earlier that year, Peanuts had a total meltdown in the Aachen arena. There was much debate, and the pressure to do well with the grudgingly awarded team spot nearly did Hester in.

“The finding, creating and maintaining a top horse is a full-time job of itself,” he said. “Trying to run a business on top of that nearly killed me.”


Finding The Key
Hester has always believed in daily turn-out for his horses, going back to his early eventing days. When he turned to dressage, he saw no reason to change the routine.

This turned out to be fortunate, because 24/7 turnout finally solved Peanuts’ problems. Somehow, the space allowed him to settle down mentally.

“Lucky the turnout has done more good for the horses’ legs than not–and it certainly proved the key for Peanuts,” said Hester with a laugh. “Which was important, because I was at my wits’ end as to what else might work.”

Turnout–and a carefully planned routine at shows–proved the key: Peanuts always got a hack around the grounds so he could see everything, decide for himself what everything meant, and feel confident.

Hester and Peanuts found their rhythm at Athens, where they were the highest-placed British combination, and went on to sixth place at the 2005 European Championships and a top-10 finish at the 2005 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, where Escapado, coughing from the theatrical Vegas smoke bombs that still filled the arena, his heart “beating so loudly it almost drowned out the music,” managed to hold it together and produce beautiful piaffe and passage.

Many in the horse sport world were stunned when it was announced that Escapado had been sold right after the European Championships.

Hester, speaking slowly, said, “I realized all my dreams with Peanuts at Europeans. When I came third in the Grand Prix Special–that was my Olympic bronze medal. And World Cup, where the noise, the smoke, the arena and crowds all combined to distract, but he stayed focused and performed so beautifully–I achieved everything I wanted.”

Escapado went to a wonderful home with Dutch rider Hans-Peter Minderhoud, winner of several World Young Horse Championships. Minderhoud had already been successful at the FEI level with some of those champions when his sponsor, Exquis, offered to help him find a going Grand Prix horse.

The sale has allowed Hester to build his own stables in Gloucestershire. Long a dream, now under construction, the house is lovely and old, “and the stables will match that.” The 18 stalls will be filled with horses owned or co-owned by Hester, his partner Spencer Wilton, and a few carefully picked friends. “I have learned that this is what works for me, to own horses only with good friends,” he said.

Without a doubt, one of those stalls–and large turn-out pastures–will always belong to Dolendo. After the sale of Escapado, it was been Spencer Wilton’s turn at Grand Prix.

Wilton won the Saumur CDI*** (France) last year, as well as being reserve champion at the British National Championships, but his Grand Prix partner, Dolendo, is somewhat typical of the kind of horse Hester likes–a challenge.

Dolendo, or “Donald,” as he is known, was bought sight unseen on the strength of a phone call from British dressage team member Sandy Phillips. “Trust me,” she said.

When the huge, 17.2-hand gelding (by Donnerhall) arrived in England, it became apparent that he had a bad habit of running off whenever he felt like it. Nevertheless, his suppleness and brilliance were also apparent. Patience, knowledge and experience–and a good sense of humor–won out, eventually. Hester and Wilton both ride all their various horses, but in the end, it was decided that Wilton would be the show partner for the big chestnut.

After several tests in which Dolendo simply turned and spun out of arenas, warm-up and competition alike, form has finally been found. Even at Saumur, however, Dolendo took one look at the competition arena and promptly turned around, before agreeing to go in and produce a 70 percent in the Grand Prix Special.

Of course, with the scores climbing into the 70s, serious money is again being offered. Hester said, “I have no regrets with Peanuts–but I will not do it again. After all–it is only money.”


Never Burnt Out
Since that time, Hester has written two well-received books, Down To Earth Dressage, with Bernadette Faurie and Real Life Dressage with Polly Ellison.

In the books, as in his lessons, he talks about real moments in training and specific solutions. His love for horses is evident in the attention he pays to the details as each rider and horse warm up.

Hester has effectively coached top riders, including New Zealand’s 1994 world eventing champions, Vaughn Jeffries and Bounce. Hester was the dressage coach for the New Zealand eventing team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (where New Zealand won individual gold and silver and team bronze), and remains good friends with Jeffries, occasionally flying to Kiwi-land to give clinics. He could be seen at the 2006 WEG, being an eye on the ground for other top international riders.

“I love to teach. I’ll teach anyone,” he said, smiling happily. ” I don’t care what level–so long as they seriously keep working. That is just the best feeling.”

His steady list of students at home include several who may never compete at high levels, but he has respect for their dedication and consistency.

His strength as a trainer is immediate in the first few minutes. Any educated trainer uses similar principles, tools and exercises. But it is the rare ability to find a priority for each horse and rider and to communicate what to do and how to accomplish it that makes Hester special.

When he goes home, he looks forward to getting his new young horses out. “I enjoy the young ones, seeing the new puzzles, thinking about how to solve them, just as much as working the Grand Prix,” he said. “The training is just as interesting when riding young horses as sitting on Escapado.”

This joy and curiosity keep Hester from burn out, and it is easy to believe him when he said, “I love my life!”


Lita Dove