When you're doing well and you're successful, part of being successful is that you get interviewed. But it ruins the moment.
— Charlotte Dujardin
I turned the Gloucester Christmas lights on and our local Newent lights on, so everyone recognises me now. It is a completely different life for me.
I have walked into several pubs, and guys in there have said to me, 'My God, you are the girl off the dancing horse.' They have got no idea about dressage, and they said, 'I can't work out whether you make the horse do that or the horse does it itself - we just couldn't tell - but it brought tears to our eyes.'
I want to get up and ride my horses, do what I love doing. I don't want to be recognised.
So many horses get stage fright when they enter the arena, and that's it - the performance is over.
I have come from a background where I haven't had lots of money to put me on the map. I've had to work very hard for what I've got.
I remember some people after the Olympics that had no idea about horses would ask, 'Do you do that with the horse, or does the horse do it by itself?' I think the fact that you can make it look like you are doing nothing is a real talent. And it is such a massive reward at the end of it.
It is probably like an artist. They see in their head what they want to draw, and they draw it. It is like I have a feeling inside me that I want to create on a horse, and that is what I do.
I was frightened. I hadn't really had any experience, and then all of a sudden I was thrown straight into doing interviews. Most people have build-up. I had none.
It isn't called dressage any more - it is called 'dancing horses.'
Every horse I get on I can adapt to. It's like a jigsaw puzzle.
I don't ever want to be famous. I never want to live that life. I genuinely hate the fact that I would be stopped for a picture or an autograph all the time.
My mum used to ride, and when she was mucking out, I always wanted to sit on a horse. And if she took me off, I'd scream my head off.
People tell me I'm their idol and a huge inspiration - that's really surreal.
It's tough, but I have to remember that this is my passion and what I love, and that's how I keep the nerves from kicking in.
I literally worked from the bottom up to where I am now.
It is very rare that he makes a mistake, and I feel just privileged to have done what I have with him. There will never be another Valegro.
The fan mail I get every day is incredible. It piles through the door from not just Britain but everywhere. It is so great to have that support behind me - everyone says I am an inspiration. It is great.
I got asked to do loads of TV series, all sorts of things that weren't me.
The sport is about finding the horses. But to find another Valegro is impossible.
I literally got a private invite for lunch with the Queen. There was just 10 of us. And I was absolutely petrified because you can't take anyone with you, and no other sportspeople were there. There was the head of the military, and then the Queen sat next to me.
People recognise me now. I've got so much fan mail.
You need to believe in yourself.
