HE might be more used to gold as a triple Olympic champion, but ‘Valegro the Dancing Horse’ is set to be immortalised in bronze in his home town.

Dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin and her mount were the star attractions in Newent town centre when around 200 people attended the £160,000 statue appeal launch last week.

Valegro and his rider were mobbed on all sides, posing for photos with enthusiastic fans.

And Charlotte, 32, who took team and individual gold with him in London 2012 and team silver and individual gold in Rio last year, said: “This is an exciting project for Valegro, myself and Carl Hester, Valegro’s owner.

“We can’t wait to see the finished sculpture which will transform the centre of Newent, commemorating Valegro’s achievements forever.”

The horse will be immortalised in a life-size bronze sculpture, created by a specialist artist and cast in a Gloucestershire foundry, with the aim of helping to regenerate Newent by providing a unique attraction in Market Square to draw in the champion horse’s fans from all over the world.

The statue launch on Monday, November 27, coincided with the opening of a crowdfunding campaign which aims to raise £80,000 from private donations, representing around half the total funding needed for the project.

Speeches were made by Keith Urch, chair of the Newent Initiative Trust, who is leading the project, and Andrew Stonyer, a local sculptor who is acting as artistic consultant.

Newent mayor Cllr June Davies also presented London 2012 and Rio 2016 star Charlotte with a bouquet of flowers.

It’s been a busy few weeks for Charlotte, who revealed the honour for Valegro after she was presented with an honorary doctorate of philosophy at the University of Gloucestershire last month.

The rider, who started out as a teenage groom at Carl Hester’s Oaklebrook Mill yard just down the road in Malswick, told the graduation ceremony in Gloucester: “If only Valegro could have been here today and been a part of it.

“He does truly deserve to be here, but unfortunately I think he is happier at home in his stable. But he is actually getting a statue in Newent, so he is getting his recognition.”

Receiving the award, Charlotte added: “I feel very honoured and humbled to be receiving this honorary doctorate, and for my sport to have this recognition.”

Forest of Dean district councillor Julia Gooch (Ind, Newent Central) said of the statue: “It is an exciting project for the town and we are just so proud of Charlotte and Valegro for participating.”

Fifteen-year-old Valegro, who retired from competition last year, also won two world and five European titles, plus two World Cup crowns, in a glittering career.

He has been a regular sight exercising around Newent, ridden by former Olympian Tricia Gardiner, who celebrated her 81st birthday the day after the horse and Charlotte retained their Olympic title last year.

It is hoped that the statue unveiling will take place towards the end of 2018, accompanied by a community arts programme involving local schools.

Donations can be made at www.crowdfunder.

co.uk/valegro-the-

dancing-horse with a range of exclusive benefits on offer for any donation of more than £50.

The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire has already donated £2,000 to the project and it is hoped that half the funding needed will come from applications to local trusts and other organisations such as Arts Council England.

For further information on the Valegro the Dancing Horse statue project, see www.charlottedujardin.co.uk/valegro-the-sculpture