June 28, 2016 – Uthopia, Carl Hester’s team gold medal partner at the 2012 London Olympic Games, will remain with Hester. The 15-year-old licensed KWPN stallion (Metall-Odelia, Inspekteur) was sold at live auction May 27 for £165,000, or just over $241,000. Hester said after the auction that he had been unable to secure the stallion with the help of his supporters, but was still “working on a positive outcome” and hoped to be able to keep Uthopia at home.
That positive outcome has come about, as Hester announced Tuesday that he has been successful in his goal of working out a solution to keep the stallion at his yard and ensure his consistent care.
“Apologies for the long wait, but it has been worth it,” Hester wrote on his Facebook page. “I can now confirm that Uthopia has been secured and will stay at home where he is much loved. Those involved wish to remain anonymous and I hope everyone will respect that, suffice to say I am enormously grateful to them.”
He thanked fans for their support, adding, “It has been overwhelming to know so many people care.”
As well as contributing to the British team’s gold medal in London, Hester and Uthopia were key members of the gold medal team at the 2011 European Championships, where they won two individual silver medals, and the bronze medal team at the 2013 European Championships. Charlotte Dujardin has also competed the stallion over the past few years and rode him in his most recent start, the Amsterdam CDI-W, Jan. 29-30, 2016.
Dujardin commented, “He is a very special horse and loved by all of us.”