Carl Hester.

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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Just enjoying a cuppa and an episode of Dressage Superstars on Horse and Country tv and wonder if anyone has had any dealings / met Carl Hester in person? Is he as nice as he appears to be?

I am not star struck by anyone but would love to meet him, i would seriously think i would be completely tongue tied.
 
Mahoganybay said:
Just enjoying a cuppa and an episode of Dressage Superstars on Horse and Country tv and wonder if anyone has had any dealings / met Carl Hester in person? Is he as nice as he appears to be?

I am not star struck by anyone but would love to meet him, i would seriously think i would be completely tongue tied.
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I have met Carl twice at organised yard visits to his yard in Gloucestershire. He is so lovely and approachable and is happy to have his picture taken with you etc. we got to meet most of his horses including the wonderful Valegro and Uthopia. They are the kindest most relaxed competition horses I think I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and the whole atmosphere at the yard is very relaxed and friendly. I was coming out of the loo just as his yard manager Fiona was coming in and we had a lovely long chat and she said Carl is an amazing person to work for and it was clear she has a genuine fondness for him. As for the way he keeps and trains his horses, I think the results speak for themselves!! A true horseman in every sense.
 
WinkingWillow said:
I have met Carl twice at organised yard visits to his yard in Gloucestershire. He is so lovely and approachable and is happy to have his picture taken with you etc. we got to meet most of his horses including the wonderful Valegro and Uthopia. They are the kindest most relaxed competition horses I think I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and the whole atmosphere at the yard is very relaxed and friendly. I was coming out of the loo just as his yard manager Fiona was coming in and we had a lovely long chat and she said Carl is an amazing person to work for and it was clear she has a genuine fondness for him. As for the way he keeps and trains his horses, I think the results speak for themselves!! A true horseman in every sense.
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That is really how it comes across watching his series, love the relationship he has with Charlotte as well, especially her calling him granddad, seems to take it on the chin.
 
The company I work for sponsored him during the run up to 2012, and as I did his sponsorship contract, I got to meet him a couple of times - he was really nice, very approachable and has a wicked sense of humour.
 
I went to a clinic a few years ago at his own yard. Had the best time, he was so lovely and his yard and horses are beautiful. Honestly seemed like such a nice, friendly guy.
 
I used to work at Gleneagles and I'd stand and watch him giving lessons there. There was never anyone else around - just Carl, the person having the lesson and me hanging over the gate post! He seemed lovely. Always used to smile at me and say hello, even tho he probably thought I was a right stalker!
 
16 years ago my boss for my weekend job trained with him and her top horse went there when she was away with work. So I went to his yard a few times to pick him (the horse not Carl) up to go to a comp. I also watched a couple of her lessons. He made me tea and once when it was snowing he got me a (horse) rug and wrapped me up in it so I didn't get cold watching.

An absolutely lovely bloke and as a 16 year old I had no idea how lucky I was to have met him and seen his yard and see him teach. His staff were lovely and Roo was so wonderfully looked after. I once prepped him for a show there as they didn't have time, but even so one of the girls still had time to give me some tips to make my plaits fab!!

I had the opportunity to work for my boss as a year out before uni, but my dad didn't want me to and said to pull his funding uni for me, so I couldn't. Wish I'd done it and not gone to uni now lol!!!

I don't have a bad word to say about the man (although I'm sure someone somewhere does lol) and he gave my friend and I a wave when we were waving our flag at Hickstead last month during the mounted prize giving!!
 
I've seen him at a couple of clinics and he seems very approachable. Looking forward to seeing him and Richard Davison next month at their dressage convention.
 
I missed the chance to meet him with work!! D: D: D: (was away) he signed a photo for us though, I think he must be lovely :p
 
I met him (and Charlotte) briefly when they made a surprise appearance at a local dressage competition here in Guernsey. It was just after the Olympics and he and Charlotte were en route to Sark to spend time with Carl's family and friends (have to get there via Guernsey on a very small ferry!)

They had literally just come from the airport and must have been exhausted but were more than happy to chat to everyone, pose for photos and sign autographs. They had even brought their medals with them.

It was fantastic to meet both of them. It gives us Guerns a real sense of pride that Carl has achieved so much and has come from such a tiny island in our Bailiwick :)
 
You see these posts are not changing my opinion of him at all (that was not the intention btw)! I promise I am not a crazy stalker but he just seems so natural & I love the way he looks after his horses.

I remember one episode when his childhood frieind from Sark came to visit him & they were reminiscing, they told a story of Carl's first horse, a donkey who they used to carry up & down a cliff face to the beach to give pony rides in the summer. Sounds just lovely.
 
My instructor met him a few weeks back- he was sitting behind her in a hotel whilst her and her husband were having dinner. He was with an owner, probably talking business but happily chatted to my instructor and signed her napkin and put on it 'good luck for the regionals' etc.

I saw him at the nationals last year, he rode directly past me with Uti (I could touch them, they were literally a foot away) and I smiled and he nodded and smiled at me.

He just seems so genuinely lovely.
 
I've just remembered a funny story about Carl.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine who isn't really into dressage was visiting a local yard as she was buying some tack etc from one of the liveries.

One livery in particular was a good friend of Carl's and that particular day turned up at the yard with a 'very nice man' (according to my friend) in his car.

My friend was chatting away to this 'nice man' about his puppy which he had with him.

After saying their goodbyes, my friend happened to mention it to her daughter. Daughter asked her to describe him and then found a magazine with an aticle about Carl in. "Mum, was THIS the man?!"

Friend had been chatting away to Carl, but hadn't recognised him in the flesh!!! She was so embarrassed!! :D
 
PoppyAnderson said:
I used to work at Gleneagles and I'd stand and watch him giving lessons there. There was never anyone else around - just Carl, the person having the lesson and me hanging over the gate post! He seemed lovely. Always used to smile at me and say hello, even tho he probably thought I was a right stalker!
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Ooh- when? I am also a Gleneagles ex-pat!
 
Mahoganybay - that episode you mentioned i watched too ,when i was off sick one day, i leapt off the sofa when i realised the 'childhood friend' was actually Danny who was staying at the yard i worked at 20 odd years ago . I've often wondered about him ,we used to have a laugh. If anyone knows Daniel Hammond get in touch please !
 
I had a lesson with him many years ago at Gleneagles. He was absolutely lovely and took me on a tour of the stables and horses after the lesson. I had never had a proper lesson before and he basically said all great but be more dynamic. I have never forgotten how important a lesson it was :)
 
My non-horsey boss went to photograph him for an interview on the one day I wasn't in the country. D: He is lovely apparently.
 
Pigeon said:
My non-horsey boss went to photograph him for an interview on the one day I wasn't in the country. D: He is lovely apparently.
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I always think he seems lovely. I have quite a crush on him (yes, I know he isn't likely to be interested in me LOL!). I'd like to keep him in a box at my house, then he could just ride my horse when I let him out ;D
 
Not personally my YO/Instructor trains with him.
She also sent her stallion to him to keep him going when she had an accident.

From the stories he sounds very down to earth. :)
 
ah your so lucky- I would love a lesson with Carl.....Hes my favourite horse person. Love the way he cares for his horses and his whole demeanor. Seems like a lovely man :)

oops meant to quote your post GG!
 
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