The painting “The Master” featuring Carl Hester and Nip Tuck was unveiled at the NEDA Symposium in Maine. Commissioned by Mary Phelps to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation, “The Master” was part of the silent auction that included Valegro’s horse shoe and saddle pad. The event took place at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine, and involved dressage lectures and demonstrations across two days. A total of around $10,00 was raised for the foundation.
Lisa Marie and Carl also signed a limited number of canvas prints that were available during the clinic and auction. His instagram photo had over 2500 hits, and the banner of the painting (which is also signed) was given to Lisa Marie as a thank you gift.
Hester is a virtual living legend in the dressage world and one of the greatest ambassadors of the sport worldwide. He is a five-time Olympic veteran and was an integral part of the history-making British Dressage Team at the 2012 London Olympic Games where the team won the nation’s first-ever Gold medal in dressage. He won a Team Silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where he also was the trainer of the three other team members. Hester won two FEI World Equestrian Games™ Team Silver medals in 2014 and 2010, as well as several European Championship medals including Team Gold and Individual Silver medals in 2011, Team Silver in 2015 and 2009, and Team Bronze in 2013
Hester’s talent and dedication to dressage has also earned him numerous accolades. He was named the first-ever Honorary Patron of British Dressage for his nearly 30 years of service to his sport in November 2016. Earlier that same year he was awarded the 2016 Global Dressage Visionary Award and the British Horse Society (BHS) bestowed Hester with an Honorary Fellowship, their highest honor of which only seven people hold the title. In 2015 he received the BHS Queen’s Award for Equestrianism, while the highly regarded French equestrian yearbook L’Année Hippique named Hester ‘Best Rider of the Year’ and ‘Best Trainer of the Year’ in back-to-back editions. In 2013 Queen Elizabeth awarded Hester with an MBE, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for winning the Team Gold medal in London. In 2011 the British Olympic Association named him the Equestrian Athlete of the Year.
Also considered to be one of the world’s best trainers, Hester has brought countless horses to the elite grand prix level including the most famous horse in the world, Valegro, who he co-owns.
