Dressage star Carl Hester takes biopic in his Stride

Carl Hester, who will ride in his seventh Olympic Games this year in Paris, is getting the biopic treatment.

“Carl Hester’s journey has done for dressage what ‘Billy Elliot’ did for ballet,” says Drew Curtis, co-producer of the Carl Hester biopic, Stride.

Hester will work with veteran producers Drew Curtis (Ironclad, The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson) and Richard Conway (The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson, Sexy Beast) to produce Stride, a feature set to tell the story of his remarkable career from humble beginnings on the tiny channel island of Sark to triumph at the London 2012 Olympics and beyond.

The biopic will feature his historic win at London 2012, where he rode Uthopia, alongside Charlotte Dujardin on his own Valegro, where, along with Laura Betcholsheimer (now Tomlinson), they won team gold in dressage for the first time ever.

The film will follow Hester’s life, from growing up in a single parent family on Sark, a tiny Channel Island with no cars, through his formative years of hard work and dedication with the guidance of great mentors to becoming arguably the greatest dressage rider, trainer and owner of all time.

“Carl has proven time and time again that he is both an exceptional athlete and, by partnering his legendary horse, Valegro, with Charlotte Dujardin for their Olympic Games debut in 2012, an incredible manager,” Curtis told Variety. “Carl Hester’s journey has done for dressage what ‘Billy Elliot’ did for ballet.”

“It’s King Richard and International Velvet rolled into one. Stride is not just a film for equestrians. Carl’s moving and humble story of passion, hard work and self-belief will undoubtedly prove an inspiration to all.”

Having begun his Olympic career as the youngest ever British rider at Barcelona in 1992, Hester is now set to compete as the oldest British rider in Paris, a record seventh appearance at the Games. Stride was officially announced on June 27, the day after Hester — who has three Olympic medals under his belt — was confirmed as being part of the latest British dressage team.

“I am excited to be working with Drew and Richard in bringing my story to the big screen and showing that with dedication and hard work even humble beginnings can take someone to the top,” said Hester. “Looking back on 2012, it was an incredible journey and a fairytale result. Undoubtedly the greatest moment in my career to date.

Katie Gilmour is the host of Poles, Piaffe & Prosecco: the podcast for riders that love to train, laugh and drink prosecco! The podcast is free to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Katie is a Webby and ESMA award winning multi-media journalist with an equestrian focus. She hosts the podcast Poles, Piaffe & Prosecco, which is free to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Katie lives on her family farm in West Sussex with her husband, four children and an assortment of horses, ponies, dogs, cats and poultry.