FEI press release - Sold-out Scandinavium stadium will be sizzling with excitement

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Demand for tickets for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ and Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals has been so incredibly high that the show organisers are providing a big-screen experience for those who can’t access a seat in the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg (SWE) on the deciding days. “The tickets have long been sold out and we have been working for a long time to come up with a solution that makes it possible for more people to take part in this year's horse party!” Gothenburg Horse Show Project Manager, Patrik Fredriksson said today. So, in co-operation with EuroHorse, all visitors can watch Saturday and Sunday’s thrilling Final action live on-screen in the the adjoining Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre which hosts a hugely popular equestrian fair.

The excitement is already palpable with five days to go before the doors are opened to so many of the best horse-and-rider combinations in the world next Wednesday, 3 April. For Germany’s Isabell Werth it’s a matter of taking on all challengers in her bid to add a a fifth Dressage title to the extraordinary list of achievements that has confirmed her status as the most successful equestrian athlete of all time. 

Stalking her every inch of the way will be America’s Laura Graves who, partnering the now 17-year-old Verdades, has come dangerously close to ousting the German star over the last few seasons. They were runners-up at the Finals in 2017 and 2018, and, at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon, USA last September where they helped clinch team silver, only Werth and Bella Rose stood between them and individual gold. 

Graves has to be hungry to go that one step further which would see her become only the third American FEI Dressage World Cup™ title-holder in the 34 editions of the series.

It was in Gothenburg in 2003 that Debbie McDonald claimed the USA’s first victory partnering Brentina, and Steffen Peters steered Ravel into pole position in Las Vegas six years later.

Look at the line-up though and there are many other hopes and dreams to be realised. Could Patrik Kittel and Delauney OLD become only the second-ever Swedish champions? It’s 21 years since Louise Nathorst and LRF Walk on Top triumphed on home soil in Gothenburg, pipping the legendary duo of The Netherlands Anky Van Grunsven and Bonfire, while Isabell Werth and Anthony FRH finished third. 

Can Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen produce the same level of expertise that saw him win the final leg of the Western European League at ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) two weeks ago with the one-eyed stallion Blue Hors Zack? What an amazing story that would be, only one other Dane has ever done it and that was Anne-Grethe Jensen with Marzog who pinned Great Britain’s Christopher Bartle, now one of the world’s most celebrated coaches, into second place with Wily Trout while Switzerland’s Christine Stuckelberger finished third with Rubelit von Unkelruf. That was at the inaugural FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final staged in ’s-Hertogenbosch in 1986 -  all of 33 years ago but, like all great sporting moments, embedded into the memory of those who witnessed it.

And then of course there’s Ireland’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K, a horse purchased for the price of a second-hand car who has broken Irish records like it’s going out of style in recent years and who, at 17 years of age, is better and fresher than ever. This pair have a big fanbase - Reynolds has achieved every little girl’s dream in finding a horse to take her to the top of the sport, and the diminutive and super-talented rider has been consistently threatening for a podium placing at majors over the last few seasons. Gothenburg holds good memories for them because they finished eighth at their first FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final there in 2016 before moving right up to fourth in Omaha (USA) the following year. They’ve been achieving personal-best scores in quick succession over the last few months and their “Riverdance” themed floorplan and music will get the toes tapping and the hands clapping for sure - the Gothenburg crowd are guaranteed to fall in love with them. Could they completely break the mould and become the very first Irish winners? What a story that would be…

Gothenburg is Sweden's second largest city, located on the west coast of the country with a stunning archipelago just around the corner. It’s a great city to visit and it’s already starting to fill up with fans wanting to get a glimpse of their favourite equestrian stars and waiting for the action to kick off with warm-up classes and national events on 3 April. The first competition in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, the Grand Prix, will take place at 13.00 on Thursday 4 April and the deciding Freestyle will hold centre stage on Saturday 6 at 16.00. It’s going to be a week of spectacular sport, and for Dressage fans the biggest question is - can anyone beat Isabell? We’ll have to wait and see.

Don’t miss a piaffe or a pirouette….it’s going to be awesome!

Check out all the details here 

Gothenburg Horse Show website here 

Excellent Dressage Sales with huge collection but without any top stars

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47 horses for the auction taking place 30 March

A huge range from youngsters to schooling Grand Prix horses are offered for sale. But the qualities are unfortunately not shown from the video presentations.

And from the huge amount of not ridden horses, it would have been much more interesting if they where shown by lunging.

Here you find the entire collection.

The auction will be available via live stream at Clipmyhorse 30 March at 16:00.

The best of the educated horses from H2R point of view:

Remember Blue Hors stallion show Saturday 30 March at 14.00 - live stream via Clipmyhorse

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Blue Hors is ready to welcome clients and other interested for their Spring Stallion Show Saturday afternoon at Stud Blue Hors in Denmark.

The stallion show will be available at Clipmyhorse with Danish, English and German commentators.

The preliminary program for the stallion show:

  • Blue Hors Livius

  • Blue Hors Fifty Cent and offspring

  • Jumping stallions

  • Blue Hors Farrell and offspring

  • Blue Hors breeder of the year 2018

  • Mini clinic with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio and Daniel Bachmann Andersen

  • Honoring of breeders

  • Jumping stallions

  • Blue Hors Kingston (video of first foal)

  • Blue Hors Zack (video from World Cup in s´Hertogenbosch)

  • Blue Hors Zackerey and offsprings

  • Blue Hors St. Schufro

VIDEOS - Successful stallion presentation for Van Olst Horses at Exloo Friday evening

Nespresso with Anne van Olst during the stallion show in Exloo

Nespresso with Anne van Olst during the stallion show in Exloo

Busy Friday at Exloo

Van Olst Horses was ready to show some of their stallions for the audience last Friday at the stallion show at Exloo.

World Champion Glamourdale, U25 Grand Prix winner Everdale, stallion performance winner Kjento, preferent international Grand Prix stallion Painted Black, the raw diamond Jayson and Grand Prix stallion Nespresso were presented for the audience.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

FEI press release - German legend must hold back a rising tide of top talent

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She may be the only rider to have qualified two horses for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2019, but Germany’s Isabell Werth has an army of opponents hoping to snatch the crown from her head when the action gets underway at the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg (SWE) next week.

A total of 18 combinations from 12 countries are now confirmed for this 34th annual contest, with representatives from Belarus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and USA, as well as two of her own compatriots, all ready to take on the undisputed queen of their sport.

The most medalled athlete in equestrian history will need to be on her toes, but if ever there was a lady who knows a thing or two about rising to the occasion and upping her game when it’s really needed, then that is the doyenne of dressage whose massive medal haul includes six Olympic and eight World Championship golds.

It seems a lifetime ago since she first held the FEI Dressage World Cup™ trophy aloft after a brilliant performance with Fabienne in Gothenburg back in 1992. How nice it would be to do it all again in the same Swedish city 27 years later, especially since another victory would also secure a three-in-a-row hat-trick after proving unbeatable with Weihegold in both 2017 and again last year. 

The only other rider to have secured three consecutive titles is The Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven who was unbeaten with the great Bonfire between 1995 and 1997, and whose spectacular total of nine wins over a 13-year period is unlikely ever to be challenged. 

With a superb series of results on the Western European League circuit Werth has qualified both Weihegold and Emilio this time around, but Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen threw a shot across the bows of all his rivals when coming out on top at the last leg of the series in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) 10 days ago. Werth and Emilio had to settle for third that day behind fellow-countrywoman Helen Langehanenberg who produced a personal-best from Damsey FRH. Bachmann-Andersen was last to go and swept them all aside however when laying it all on the line with the extraordinary one-eyed stallion Blue Hors Zack.

The complete line-up from the Western European League includes Bachmann-Andersen, Langehanenberg and fellow-German Benjamin Werndl (Daily Mirror), Sweden’s Patrik Kittel (Delauney OLD) and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (Don Auriello), The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud (Dream Boy NOP), Portugal’s Maria Caetano (Coroado), Morgan Barbancon (Sir Donnerhall) from France and Ireland’s Judy Reynolds (Vancouver K). 

Central Europe will be represented by Russia’s Regina Isachkina (Sun of May Life) and Olga Safronova (Sandro D’Amour) from Belarus while Yvonne Losos de Muniz (Aquamarijn) will fly the flag of the Dominican Republic. The FEI Extra Starting places have gone to German-based South African Tanya Seymour (Ramoneur), America’s Adrienne Lyle (Salvino) and The Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens (Apache) but one of the biggest threats to Werth’s supremacy may well come from Laura Graves (Verdades) who, along with Kasey Perry-Glass (Goerklintgaards Dublet), has qualified through the North American League.

Don’t miss a piaffe or a pirouette….

Confirmed Dressage entries list here   

Successful 4 month in USA for Helgstrand Dressage riders Anne-Marie and Kenneth

Anne-Marie Hosbond Berthelsen and Kenneth Damgaard

Anne-Marie Hosbond Berthelsen and Kenneth Damgaard

4 month adventure comes to an end

“It has been a super cool experience in many ways. This is the first time we've been in the US and the first time we've experienced Wellington, which is the answer of Disney World for horses. We've got many new relations from all over the world, it's really great to expand our network. There are many different ways of equestrian sport here, polo, hunting, western and rodeo - all new to us, and a great way of enjoying your time together with your horses and horse friends.

It has been a huge success for Helgstrand Dressage this year, we have sold many horses, and we can see horses coming from Helgstrand are doing very well at the competitions with their new owners.

Back in January Helgstrand Dressage held an Open House where about 600 people attended. One of my personal highlights were riding at the masterclass for Isabell Werth at the huge dressage stadium fully sold out and with so many excited spectators.

Its definitely been a busy time combined with a great new experience and adventure for both Kenneth and myself,” tells Anne-Marie.

Kenneth Damgaard with Nexolia Feodoro and happy owner Vicky Lavoie. (private photo)

Kenneth Damgaard with Nexolia Feodoro and happy owner Vicky Lavoie. (private photo)

Success at competitions

Both Anne-Marie and Kenneth has been out competing customers' horses (previously purchased at Helgstrand Dressage) with great success.

Anne-Marie and the 7 year old mare Nexolia Fiesta Danza OLD by Fürstenball / Weltmeyer has been undefeated during the season in Wellington, and lately Kenneth was showing the 8 year old Nexolia Feodoro by Fürstenball / Rosario, both horses owned by Vicky Lavoie.

“Feodoro and Kenneth just scored an incredible 82.838% today 💪💪👏👏👏🎉🎉

I was entered to show him myself but got a stomach bug this morning and asked Kenneth to show him instead. As feodoro is my favourite and personal horse, I don’t usually let other people on him 😁 So Kenneth had only ridden him once for 10 minutes in the past. This test is an incredible testament to his riding skills. True art.”

Jacob Nørby Sørensen successful with Danish Warmblood horses at international event in Finland

Ellegaardens San Droneur & Jacob Nørby Sørensen

Ellegaardens San Droneur & Jacob Nørby Sørensen

Ypäjä CDI3 with Danish Warmblood success

Friday Jacob and the 8 year old Danish Warmblood gelding Ellegaardens San Droneur by San Amour / De Noir bred by Stine Imhoff Testrup took the 2nd place in Prix Sct. Georg with 69,235%, and today they won the Intermediaire I with 70,235%.

Saturday Jacob made his debut at international Grand Prix and came 2nd with 70,696% with another Danish Warmblood, the 9 year old gelding Møgelbjergs Romeo by Blue Hors Rush Hour / Blue Hors Don Romantic, bred by Jytte & Hans Knudsen.

It was of course a very pleased Jacob Nørby Sørensen after his successful weekend in Finland. “I’m very happy with both my horses, they’ve both developed very well, and for Romeo it was his first ever Grand Prix, and he did such a great job, he just need to become an adult and getting more strength, he does not have any weaknesses for this level, and we’ve been working solid the last year for this debut, as I’ve also shown him successfully at national Inter II level last year” tells a very happy Jacob.

Intermédiaire I - Sunday

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Dufour Club arrangement i Taps Rideklub i Christiansfeld på mandag

Pressemeddelelse

Taps Rideklub & Cathrine Dufours klub - Dufour Club - inviterer indenfor til en aften i stævnets tegn. Aftenens program kommer omkring alt fra forberedelse op mod de store stævner, mentaltræning før man rider på banen til opfølgning på gode og mindre gode ture!

Sidste mandag i marts byder Cathrine sine trofaste følgere ind bag kulisserne, når hun åbner op for hemmeligheden bag sin success rundt om til verdens dressurstævner.

Efter et fantastisk comeback på Cassidy i Herning og en clinic der fik mange fine ord med på vejen er Cathrine Dufour nu klar med endnu et event til det dressur-elskende folk. Ord Cathrine fik med på vejen var blandt andet:

Pia Hansen skriver på Facebook: ​Super clinic og massere af tips til daglig træning, tusind tak!

Carina Jensen skriver ligeledes: ​Nøj hvor var det en mega inspirerende aften. Min datter på 13 skrev og skrev. Og tantastroppen er indkøbt. Jeg elsker den positive tilgang. Ros ros og atter ros. At hesten ikke knækkes ned. Respekt herfra.

Men i Dufour Club er det ikke kun Cathrine der deler guldkorn ud. Medlemmerne i Dufour Club er i høj grad frontløbere når det handler om at dele viden og revolutionere ridesporten. Målet er at ALLE der har viljen og arbejdslysten har mulighed for at nå helt til toppen - præcis ligesom Cathrine Dufour selv har gjort det.

Klubben er derfor i høj grad et opgør med den manglende vidensdeling i sporten, hvor mange oftest holder kortene tæt ind til kroppen.

“​Jeg er helt flyvende efter den fede oplevelse i Herning! Kan næsten ikke vente til at møde de mange seje mennesker til min næste klubaften og forhåbentlig bliver vi allesammen klogere!”​ udtaler Cathrine Dufour.

Det er anden gang Cathrine gæster Taps Rideklub, hvor første gang var til arrangementet “Fra Pony til Pro” som blev holdt i efteråret 2018.

“​Taps Rideklub gjorde det bare så godt sidst, så vi var naturligvis nødt til at komme tilbage! Det engagement og den store passion for sporten er vildt fed at mærke, så jeg glæder mig meget til at komme tilbage​!” siger Cathrine med et stort smil.

Aftenens program byder både på en mini clinic v. udvalgt rytter (navn offentliggøres senere) samt oplæg omkring hvad der skal til for at få en god oplevelse til stævnet.

Cathrine Dufour har redet og vundet adskillige Danmarks og Europamesterskaber i dressur. I 2016 red hun OL for første gang og har netop gjort comeback i Herning på stjerne-hesten Atterupgaards Cassidy.

Arrangementet afholdes Taps Rideklub, Åstorpvej 86, 6070 Christiansfeld og det officielle program starter kl. 18.00 - 21.00. Det fulde program og billetter til arrangementet kan findes her:


2019 season for the prestigious Nürnberger Burg-Pokal is ready

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Top competition for 7-9 year old horses at Prix St. Georg level

This is a competition where you will see the best young horses at small tour level reaching the final in December.

Only the winner combination from each place will get a ticket for the final, and during the years there has been many very attractive horses going through this Nürnberger Burg-Pokal tournament. Ex Vitalis with Isabel Freese in 2016 and Weihegold OLD with Beatrice Buchwald in 2013.

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Germany also ready with selections days for WCYH in Ermelo

World Champion 6 year old horses in 2018 D´avie with Severo Jurado Lopez - photo credit. H2R

World Champion 6 year old horses in 2018 D´avie with Severo Jurado Lopez - photo credit. H2R

The first German observation for 2019 WCYH in Ermelo start 18 June with free training, the following day 19 June they must show the FEI preliminary test for 5 year old, 6 year old or 7 year old. At the end of the day the disicion is made which combinations are ready for the final selection. The selection is based on the impressions from both the training and performance of the test.

The final selection day is 2 July, here they must ones again show the test (FEI final test) for 5 year old, 6 year old or 7 year old horses.

De første skridt mod VM for ungheste i dressur rides under Equitour DM

Fiontini & Severo Jurado Lopez - foto: H2R

Fiontini & Severo Jurado Lopez - foto: H2R

Del af nyhed på dm.equitour.dk i dag

Udtagelsen finder sted på den nyanlagte Pavo & Back on Track Arena, hvor der er mulighed for at følge ekvipagerne fra siddepladser på tilhørende tribune. Arenaen samt omgivelserne til Equitour DM giver dommerne bedre mulighed for at bedømme de unge hestes reaktioner i store rammer, som de også vil møde til UVM i Ermelo.

De unge heste vil blive bedømt af dommerne Gunilla Nyman Faurby og Birthe Lyder Nielsen samt berider Dennis Fisker.

På førstedagen lørdag den 8. juni 2019 rides det alderssvarende Indledende FEI-program. Anden dagen søndag den 9. juni 2019 rides det alderssvarende Finale FEI-program, hvorefter der udtages 8 ekvipager pr. årgang til den endelige udtagelse på Vilhelmsborg den 2. juli 2019.
Udtagelsesklasserne til UVM i Ermelo er kun åbne for DV- og TAF-registrerede heste. Umiddelbart efter afvikling af anden dagens ridt, vil det blive annonceret, hvilke ekvipager der inviteres til den endelige udtagelse.

Tilmelding til udtagelsesstævnet under Equitour DM:

Tilmelding via boksbestilling sker gennem DRF Go. Der skal altså bestilles boks for at deltage i udtagelsen. Boksleje kr. 1.600,- for alle dage, alt inkl.
Alle skal desuden fremsende udfyldt tilmeldingsskema, som kan findes på de avlsforbund DV og TAF’s hjemmesider. Her oplyses blandt andet hestens livsnummer samt kontaktinfo på rytter/ejer, således at relevant info kan tilgå ejere/ekvipager.


Tilmeldingsskema skal fremsendes senest den 19. maj 2019 til Ane Marie Jensen: anemarietoft9@gmail.com.

I øvrigt opfordres til at man melder til i god tid – og senest den 19. maj 2019.
Efteranmeldinger kan ikke påregne at få plads, men vil blive sat på en venteliste.

UVM-udvalget 2019:

Spørgsmål mv. bedes rettet til:
Ane Marie Jensen anemarietoft9@gmail.com
Suzi Fischer Sørensen suzi.fischer@mail.dk

Andreas Helgstrand planning comeback at the international Grand Prix scene

World Champion 5 year old horses Revolution and Andreas Helgstrand 2018 - photocredit: Lily Forado

World Champion 5 year old horses Revolution and Andreas Helgstrand 2018 - photocredit: Lily Forado

Back in January Andreas Helgstrand purchased three top horses from Sylvain Massa the founder of the French Lusitano stud Massa Horses, one of them Addict de Massa by San Amour / LUS dam line. Over the years the combination of Warmblood & Lusitano has been successfully developed from Massa Horses, and of course this fact also caught the attention from Andreas Helgstrand.

With 10 year anniversary for Helgstrand Dressage coming up, it is now time for Helgstrand himself getting back at Grand Prix level. Over the past years Andreas and Helgstrand Dressage has been very successful at the World Championship for Young Horses, and now Andreas is ready for a comeback at the Grand Prix scene. This weekend he will enter a national show in Denmark, Vejle at the Intermediaire II.

Andreas tells about the 9 year old stallion Addict de Massa: ”It is a horse with the entire package including top qualities for piaffe and passage, and he really wants to work and do his best every time, so I’m really excited about getting back competing at Grand Prix level, and hopefully I will be back for the big arenas in the near future”, says a big smiling Andreas Helgstrand.

Below you can watch Addict De Massa with Andreas Helgstrand during Danish Warmblood Gala Show, including Ulf Helgstrand senior and Alexander Helgstrand junior.

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