Valegro, the Olympic dressage champion, and his rider, Charlotte Dujardin CBE, made a rare appearence in Newent town centre today, Monday, November 27th to mark the launch of a fundraising campaign to create a lasting tribute to the talented horse.

Crowds of local people, and Valegro’s fans from further afield, thronged the market place to welcome the talented pair. The gentle horse waited patiently, in the freezing cold, while dozens of local residents took ’selfies’ and the opportunity to pat him.

The Newent Initiative Trust is working to raise the funds needed to commission a life-sized bronze statue of Valegro, who is called the Dancing Horse, in order to attract more visitors to the town.

Chair of the Newent Initiative Trust, Keith Urch said that originally a plaque was planned but they hope that the statue will be a popular visitor attraction.