FIVE years ago, Charlotte Dujardin came to do work experience for top international dressage rider Carl Hester at his Newent yard.

Now the master and pupil stand at the pinnacle of their sport, along with fellow Gloucestershire rider Laura Bechtolsheimer having won the team gold medal at the London Olympics.

"It's all so surreal," said Charlotte.

"It's the ultimate dream just to get here, to ride here, and now to get a gold medal."

Until this week, Britain had never won an Olympic dressage medal, while Germany had not been beaten by any other nation in the Olympics since 1972.

Going into the second stage of the Olympic team competition, the Grand Prix Special, Britain held a narrow lead over Germany.

On Tuesday, they extended that margin with another top scoring performance from Charlotte and a tremendous effort from Carl and his horse Uthopia, the third highest scorers on the day. Along with Laura and her horse Mistral Hojris, the British trio wowed the 20,000 crowd at Greenwich Park to deliver a golden display under dark clouds and extreme pressure.

Charlotte, 26, who recently bought a house in Upleadon, now has the equestrian world at her feet.

Not bad for someone who came to the Forest for lessons and never went home.