CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN admitted to being ‘a little rusty’ but still romped to success in her first competition of 2015, the Reem Acra FEI dressage grand prix at Jumping Amsterdam on Friday.

Charlotte endured a couple of wobbles, most notably when Valegro anticipated the halt at X when he was supposed to piaffe, but still posted a score of 86.14% which was almost eight points clear of runner-up Danielle Heijkoop and Siro NOP from the Netherlands.

It was the first outing for Charlotte and the brilliant Valegro since they broke both the grand prix and freestyle world records at Olympia in December.

While Charlotte has been holidaying in New Zealand, her trainer and mentor Carl Hester has been in charge of Valegro’s preparation at their Newent, Gloucestershire base.

“I wouldn’t be here without Carl’s help, he has been keeping Valegro ticking over while I have been away,” said Charlotte.

“Valegro was fantastic as always and I was very, very proud of him. But I felt a little rusty myself.”

Charlotte enjoys total dominance in the sport of dressage being the reigning Olympic, World and European individual champion.