Our 3-year-old stallion Vincent Maranello, who became premium stallion at the national stallion show in Herning, has just started his 35-day stallion performance test in Danish Warmblood. The tests will end on November 6, and we hope that he will finish with a good result, so that he will be able to obtain the final licensing at Danish Warmblood's stallion show in 2014.

This weekend, at the qualification round for the DRF championship for young horses, Helgstrand Dressage was represented in the class for 4- and 5-year-old horses. Saturday in the class for 5-year-old horses, Daniel and Didando obtained 8.48 points and finished second in this huge class; Daniel actually had the same score as the winner of the class. Daniel also placed fifth with Zidane, scoring 8.26 points. Both horses are on to the finals in Odense.

In the class for 4-year-old horses, Sezuan once again met the high expectations and won the class with an impressive score of 9.66 points, scoring e.g. 10 for canter and capacity. Fürstenstein, which was sold to Anna Kasprzak in August, placed second with a score of 9.52 points. Eclectisch and Thomas placed 5th with 8.80 points. Emma and Zgander placed 6th with 8.70 points, and Marianne and Fohlenprämie finished 7th with 8.68 points. Consequently, all four horses are on to the finals in Odense. In addition, Emma has qualified Eastpoint and Zardetto for the finals with scores of 8.46 and 8.42 points, respectively. 

After almost 5 years' employment at Helgstrand Dressage, Anna has chosen new challenges as a rider in Holland. We have been extremely happy to have Anna as part of our team. We look forward to continuing our great co-operation in future. Anna has played an important role in Helgstrand Dressage's success throughout the past years. Congratulations and good luck on the new job.

From October 1 2013, Severo Jurado Lopez will be employed as a rider on our team. Severo has previously worked as 1. rider at Van Olst Horses in Holland. Severo is originally from Spain and is 25 years old. He has experience with presentation of young horses, and he has competed in Grand Prix at international level. Recently, Severo won the class for 4-year-old horses in PAVO Cup in Holland, and he started Grand Prix at the huge international show in Aachen this sommer. We look forward to welcoming Severo on our team.

At the award of medals on Sunday, Z Lavie, Zalina and Landini all received a breeder's medal in bronze. Finess was awarded a breeder's medal in silver. Today, all four mares were shown under rider in front of the judges by Emma.

Congratulation to breeders and owners on these impressive medals.

In addition to the Elite show, a national dressage show also took place during the weekend. In the Prix St. George on Saturday, Anna and N.O.H's Daijoubo placed fourth, scoring 69.38%, Jens and Uno placed right after Anna as fifth with a score of 67.76%. In the Prix St. George on Sunday, Jens and Uno placed sixth, scoring 67.93%.

At the Danish Warmblood's Elite Show at Vilhelmsborg, a competition was held Saturday to elect the best mare and stallion foals of the year. Sezuan had one mare foal and two stallion foals in the competition, which counted a total of 28 foals. Three mare foals and three stallion foals were selected for the final, and all three Sezuan offspring went on to the exciting final. Unfortunately, none of the foals, despite fantastic gaits, succeeded in winning the title as foal of the year; however, an extremely great result achieved by Sezuan's first group of foals.

This weekend several young horses started the Championships for 4-, 5- and 6-year-old horses in Billund. Yesterday, Emma and Kyros won the class for 4-year-old horses. The class had a total of 90 equipages, and Emma obtained 8.66 points, Anna and Tirana placed third with 8.48 points.

Today, Daniel and Didando started the class for 5-year-old horses, they finished first with impressive 8.90 points. Daniel also placed 7th with Zidane with 8.02 points. 

In addition, another four horses from Helgstrand Dressage qualified to the next round taking place in Middelfart in three weeks.

Denmark takes 4th place

Thursday was the last day of the team competition in dressage at the European Championship. Germany, Holland and the UK received gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively, and the national team from Denmark finished fourth. 

Friday, Andreas and Akeem started the Grand Prix Special, unfortunately, some expensive mistakes occurred, and consequently their score was not high enough to start the Grand Prix Kür final on Sunday. 

Daniel and Donna Silver placed 2nd again 

In the U25 Grand Prix, Daniel and Donna Silver once again made a very nice and almost flawless performance, resulting in 71.62% and an impressive second place.

EM-bronze to Line and Laponio

On Friday, Line Kongensgaard and Laponio received a bronze medal in the Para-dressage Championship. After a great performance, the equipage obtained a score of 70.02%, which earned them the bronze medal in the championship. Line and her family bought Laponio from Helgstrand Dressage about two years ago, and we are so happy and proud that they are doing so well. Congratulations to Line and her family on the impressive result and bronze medal; we wish them all the best of luck for the future.

Wednesday night at the FEI EC in Herning a U25 class in Intermediare II also took place. Daniel and Donna Silver were among the competing equipages, and an almost flawless performance earned them a great score of 71.18% and they finished second in the class. On Friday, they are back in the arena again.

Andreas and Akeem were the second Danish equipage starting in the first part of the team competition on Wednesday. They made a great performance with several highlights, but unfortunately a few mistakes occurred. They obtained 72.72% and were the best Danish equipage and third, individually, before the second part of the team competition on Thursday.

The impressive arena in Herning

In connection with the European Championship in Herning, the organisers of the event has started the project "EC against mines" in co-operation with the Danish Refugee Council and Lauritz.com. South Sudan has been severely affected by civil wars for several years, but after the country gained independence in 2011, clearance of mines has been given high priority, and demining is considered an important step towards rebuilding the country. However, only a minor part of the country has been demined at the moment, and it may have fatal consequences for a family if a family member is mutilated or their only livestock is killed. The funds raised from this co-operation will be directed at mine risk education, clearance of unexploded ordnance and mines, ensuring that the land can be farmed again and enabling people and animals to move around securely. 

Helgstrand Dressage has donated Andreas' first dressage tail-coat and hat. The auction runs all week during the EC and ends on Monday, August 26 at 2.45 p.m. We hope for some good bids in support of the demining work in South Sudan.

Link to the auction can be found here

This weekend, Brønderslev Rideklub held a regional show. Daniel and De Chirico participated in Intermediare I and Prix St. George, and they finished first in both classes with 71.57% and 71.71%, respectively. Jens and Uno started Prix St. George, and finished third, scoring 68.42%. Marianne and Daylie started the MB0 and MB3. The first day, they started MB0, they placed third with a score of 67.05% and Sunday in MB3, they scored 68.87% and placed second.