British Olympic Champion Carl Hester Gets Biopic Treatment (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Alex Ritman Carl Hester, the famed British dressage rider, trainer and owner who is set to make history this summer when he competes in Paris 2024, is getting the biopic treatment.

Veteran U.K. producers Drew Curtis (“Ironclad,” “The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson”) and Richard Conway (“The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson,” “Sexy Beast”) have teamed up with Hester to produce “Stride,” a feature set to tell the story of his remarkable rise from humble beginnings on the tiny channel island of Sark to triumph at the London 2012 Olympics.

In front of a record-breaking London crowd, Hester, competing on his horse Uthopia, alongside his legendary horse Valegro, ridden by Charlotte Dujardin (both trained by Hester at his yard in Gloucestershire) won team gold in dressage for the first time ever.

As per the film’s description, “Stride” will follow Hester’s career, “from growing up in a single parent family on Sark, a tiny channel island with no cars, through his formative years of hard work and dedication with the guidance of great mentors to becoming arguably the greatest dressage rider, trainer and owner of all time.” “Carl has proven time and time again that he is both an exceptional athlete and, by partnering his legendary horse, Valegro, with Charlotte Dujardin for their Olympic Games debut in 2012, an incredible manager,” said Curtis. “Carl Hester’s journey has done for dressage what ‘Billy Elliot’ did for ballet.” Added Conway: “It’s ‘King Richard and ‘International Velvet’ rolled into one. ‘Stride’ is not just a film for equestrians.