Hester describes his horse Liebling as quirky and very intelligent

Carl Hester has admitted that he has got his enthusiasm for riding back ahead of the European Dressage Championships on home soil at Windsor.

The 42-year-old re-started competing in the the big time in 2008 and rides Liebling as the GB team hope to shine.

"I've had a few years off and I've come back rejuvenated now," Hester told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I've been competitive again for the last year internationally and I'm really looking forward to it."

The event at Windsor begins on August 25 and it is the first time the European Championships have been held in Britain since Hickstead hosted them in 2003.

We will be riding for the gold. Carl Hester

The Netherlands are hot favourites to win the team title, but Hester refuses to write off the chances of the British team which also contains Laura Bechtolsheimer and Emma Hindle.

"I missed out on the last European Championships they had here, I was a reserve that year for the team so I was quite disappointed.

"We would be very happy with the bronze, but of course we always have to aim higher and we will be riding for the gold."

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