CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN
The Olympic dressage champion talks about supporting local businesses and long weekends in the West Country
I find the produce from farm shops is always so fresh
There’s nothing better than coming home to Gloucestershire.
I spend a lot of time travelling all over the world and, as much as I like competing abroad and meeting so many different people, it’s always lovely to be here again. It’s such a pretty county and I’m lucky to live near the Malvern Hills – a great area to explore, with ancient woodlands, castles and rolling fields. There are some really steep climbs, too, so it’s a good way to keep fit.
I’m not a city person and don’t really like being in busy, built-up areas,
which is why I love living in the countryside. My favourite place to be is somewhere peaceful, with spectacular views. I really enjoy walking my dogs – Winnie (a boxer), Hugo (a poodlepatterdale cross), Harley (a pure poodle) and Jingles (a rescued golden retriever) – in the nearby Forest of Dean, where they like to jump in and out of the rivers and streams.
We’re spoilt for choice with all the wonderful places we can visit in the UK.
Friends of mine own a hotel in the Lake District with beautiful views out over the River Derwent. My fiancé Dean and I often go there to relax when I’ve got some time away from horse riding. Devon is also brilliant fora long weekend. Once I’m used to driving down the narrow country lanes, I love to explore the beaches and moors – it’s one of the best places for sprawling, open spaces.
We’re also lucky to have great local produce in this country.
I’m not very confident in the kitchen, so Dean does most of the cooking – my favourite meal is his Sunday roast. I enjoy a good selection of seasonal vegetables with it, which I buy from a farmers’ market close to where we live. I’ll also stock up on fruit to snack on while I’m training – although my horse Pumpkin seems to think it’s all for him, and often ends up eating more than I do!
I think it’s important to support small businesses.
We go to the butchers nearby for our meat, and I find that the produce in farm shops and farmers’ markets is always so fresh. I like to eat organic ingredients where I can and make sure what I buy is cruelty-free.
Although a lot of the events I compete in are in urban areas,
I have fond memories of the International Wellington Arena in Hampshire. Back then you had to hack through the woods to get to the showground. It was a lot of fun and so exhilarating, especially when my horse was young and a bit wild.
Spring is a wonderful season for riding.
It’s great being in the arena when the sun’s shining and the weather is getting warmer. I enjoy it more and I know the horses do, too. It’s a lot more challenging in the winter – our feet and hands get so cold and it’s much harder to keep warm and dry.
I love a spot of gardening when I have time.
My mum has a vegetable patch, where she grows cucumbers and tomatoes – I’d like to have one. At home, I have apple and pear trees, so I can just pop into the garden and collect fruit if I’m baking a pie – although the dogs like eating them, too!
The Girl on the Dancing Horse by Charlotte Dujardin is published in hardback and ebook by Preface, £20