Even with a less than perfect performance, the Olympic champion and her horse Valegro still managed to top the field with a score of 86.120.

"We made three expensive mistakes and I thought 'Oh it's cost me the medal', so I knew after each one that I had to go for a bit more to try to catch up on what I had already lost," admitted Dujardin, who now holds the grand prix special title at Olympic, European and World Championship level.

"But he's such a fantastic horse, he's got a heart of gold.

"If I need to go for a bit more he tries to go for a bit more, he never says no I can't do it."

The silver and bronze medals both went to Germany, thanks to outstanding performances by Helen Langehanenberg on Damon Hill NRW, with a score of 84.468, and Kristina Sprehe on Desperados FRH, with 79.762, respectively.

"I won't give up [trying to beat Dujardin and Valegro]," Langehanenberg said afterwards.

"I believe in Dami and I'm very pleased with him today."

The dressage grand prix special medal winners (left to right) Helen Langehanenberg, Charlotte Dujardin and Kristina Sprehe celebrate on the podium ©FEI


Dujardin is now looking ahead to the freestyle competition on Friday (August 29) and she already has her eyes focused on the top podium spot.

"I love my music," she said.

"I've ridden it at the World Cup Final and in Aachen so I want to go out there and try and nail it, get it to my absolute maximum.

"I'm not going to give anything away, I'm going to ride for everything.

"That's the problem when you ride for everything, you can make mistakes but you know I'm going to risk it because there's only one chance of the gold."

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