I told her: ‘We can’t let the Germans get a 1-2-3’

There was no confidence from the dressage world when Charlotte came to Tokyo with Gio, this inexperienced horse. But it is ridiculous to underestimate Charlotte, she is the best rider in the world, she is an out-andout winner.

Before she entered the arena I said to her: “We can’t see three Germans on that podium.” She replied: “Absolutely not.” That’s Charlotte, the ruthless competitor. As always she just goes in there and nails it. She was just brilliant.

What made this medal so special is that she and Gio were the underdogs. Everyone assumed that Mount St John Freestyle would be her horse in Tokyo, but she had a small injury and so Gio came in. In truth, he wasn’t ready.

Everyone thought her chance was gone, but he is a delightful little horse with so much presence and desire. He just gives himself over to Charlotte. She has brought him up from a young horse. She had never ridden him in an Olympic stadium and put him under that sort of pressure to perform. For her to get those scores from a horse that is 10 years old, they just blew it out the water.

I first saw that winning instinct in Charlotte back in 2011, her debut year of Grand Prix, when we did the Europeans together and won gold. She relished competing. She is the great white shark of dressage. She munches up all of her prey.

It’s not left on her shoulders to win the medals anymore, which it probably was back in the Valegro days. As individuals we’ve worked together for 14 years, but we are both very different – she needs calming down and I need winding up, which is why it works so well.

Charlotte has been a catalyst for a lot of change in our sport. Winning gold in London 2012 as this young girl from a totally normal background, working as a groom for me, and creating this amazing partnership with Valegro – who also has his own huge fan club and a statue in our town, Newent. It made our sport open to the public. It has gone to a new level, and Charlotte has influenced that with her desire for perfection.

She only thinks of getting 10 out of 10 when she rides. I don’t think anyone could ever get 100 per cent in a dressage test, but Charlotte can come closer than anyone.