After securing bronze in the team dressage event yesterday with teammates Carl Hester, Michael Eilberg and Gareth Hughes, the double Olympic champion claimed top spot in the individual competition after recovering from a mistake early on during her special test to eventually get a score of 85.699 per cent from the judges, a European record.

That was enough to see the 28-year-old finish ahead of Germany's Helen Langehanenberg and defending European champion Adelinde Cornelissen of the Netherlands.

"I can't believe it, I'm very emotional," said Dujardin, who set a world record in the team dressage event with a score of 85.942 per cent.

"I had an amazing ride from Valegro.

"I made an error, of course, so I wasn't sure if it was going to cost me the gold.

"I'm just delighted.

"I can't moan about him [Valegro] today - he puts up with me riding like a muppet.

"It was a case of pat the horse, slap the rider."

Charlotte Dujardin and her horse Valegro competing at the European Chamnpionships