“We educate dressage horses of top quality and this makes demand on our supply of feed”

For many years we have had an amazing cooperation with our feed suppliers Krafft and Pavo. While we primarily use Pavo for the foals and the young ones at Helgstrand Youngsters, we have chosen to use Krafft for the riding horses. Both types of feeding fulfill the nutritional needs of the horses in order for them to grow and perform respectively. The well-being of the horses is an important parameter for us – and even though the quality of the feeding often can be seen in the fur of the horse – the most important for us is their well-being. They need to receive the correct level of minerals and vitamins, in order to stay fit for every training.

We continue the good cooperation with Krafft and Pavo, however we will now introduce and welcome a new supplier: DuVil. Through many years of experience with competition horses, we know, that the horses have different needs, and we meet these needs by welcoming a new supplier. We have tested the new feeding for some time and are certainly satisfied. The horses thrive, they look good, and they stay energetic and fit throughout the training, which is important to perform at a high level.

We cherish our suppliers and look forward to a long-term cooperation with yet another qualified supplier.

Picture: Helgstrand's veterinarian, Zenta Vinther. 

The outbreak of the EHV1 herpesvirus in Spain has already had very serious impacts throughout Europe resulting in FEI announcing a cancellation of all competitions until the 28th of March in light of this situation.

Here at Helgstrand Dressage we take this very seriously in order to avoid any cases of the virus, and therefore all our horses have been vaccinated regularly since 2019. Other than this, we do not let any horses on our property unless it can be documented that they have been vaccinated against the herpesvirus.

Since our business is focused on purchasing, training and selling dressage horses, we find it necessary to inform about this. If you have a horse you would like to showcase with a sales perspective or if you want your horse in training at Helgstrand Dressage, you are obliged to provide documentation that the horse is vaccinated against the herpesvirus.

This applies to all our five locations: Helgstrand Dressage, Helgstrand Youngsters, Helgstrand Academy, Helgstrand Germany and Helgstrand USA.

In case of questions, please contact:

Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+45 21 29 13 82

Picture: Foco Loco W and Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen (photo: Lily Furado)

The 16-year-old gelding Foco Loco W by Sierappel/Weingräfin has been sold to the Austrian young rider, Nicola Ahorner. Nicola had gained a lot of experience through her time as a Young Rider and Foco Loco is now ready to give her the best start to her coming U25 years.

Foco Loco has been a superior partner for the Danish Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen. Already after a short relationship, they were already, in August 2020, ready to attend the U25 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Here they performed absolutely outstanding and earned no less than 79,025% in the Kür, after which they could claim the title as European Champion. And this followed their great performance in the team competition, were they achieved a bronze medal together with the rest of the Danish national team.

-It is no secret, Foco meant a lot to me and have made all my biggest dreams come true. The Europeans Gold Medal is definitely my biggest memory, however obtaining the title as Danish Champion as well, just topped an amazing summer. I am absolutely grateful for the memories and I wish Nicola the best of luck with him, Anne-Mette tells.

We congratulate Nicola on her new amazing school master, Foco Loco!

Picture: Sultan des Paluds by Soliman/De Niro and previous rider Kirsten Brouwer.

The 11-year-old Sultan des Paluds by Soliman/De Niro is sold to the British rider, who has been a part of the national team, Annabella Pidgley. Sultan des Paluds has with his previous rider, Kirsten Brouwer, gathered several victories, including a silver medal at the prestigious World Championships for 7-year-old horses in 2017. Sultan has since then had great success in Grand Prix, where he has achieved several wins and placings with impressive scores.

Now the reins has been taken over by the young and talented, Anna Pidgley, whose mother is the 4-star dressage judge, Sarah Pidgley. The family Pidgley has previously acquired horses from Helgstrand Dressage, and once again, they have secured a successful horse. In their stable, you would also find the 7-year-old Espe by Escolar/Dimaggio, who achieved great results at the World Championships for Young Horses in 2019 with Eva Möller in the saddle as well as the German Championships same year. Since then, Cathrine has been in charge of the education and managed to qualify for the Danish Championships for Young Horses with impressive 94,2%. Moreover, the family also owns the 8-year-old Vamos Amigos by Vivaldi/Hotline, who already, with Cathrine, has had many wins in Grand Prix.

Annabella has already achieved great success on the international dressage court throughout her pony-years. Her record already includes three-times participation in the European Championships with the British national team, 10 international victories and 33 top-three placings in international competitions. With lots of experience, despite her young age, she is now ready for the coming challenges as a junior/ young rider, where Sultan, and the other horses, will be a part of her journey:

-I was convinced from the beginning. He caught both Cathrine’s and my attention right away and he could certainly confirm our excitement with his powerful and overwhelming gaits as well as the twinkle in his eye. He is honest and really sweet, so I am absolutely thrilled about having him as a part of the team, Annabella tells about Sultan and continues:

-I hope to compete in the junior competitions and I am also aiming for the Europeans for juniors this year – and with his talent, I am certain that I have a Grand Prix horse for my coming years, both as a Young Rider and U25 rider.

Annabella and her family has for 5 years had a close cooperation with Helgstrand’s partner Cathrine Dufour, and the family is very happy about it:

- Cathrine is an amazing trainer, she has been super supportive and especially under the pandemic she also assisted with virtual training. My family and I are very happy with her and appreciate her work a lot. She has previously helped us find top horses at Helgstrand, which is always a great experience. Helgstrand offers very professional service and has a massive collection of horses, Annabella finishes.

We are excited to follow Annabella on the international dressage court the coming years, and congratulate her on the acquisition of another great horse.

Image: Darling's Dream with Helgstrand rider Michael Grønne.

Last year in November at the auction related to the Westphalia licensing, Helgstrand Dressage acquired the reserve champion Darling’s Dream by Diamond Deluxe/Lissaro.

The auction price was 600.000,00 EUR.

Many breeders might have wondered, why the stallion did not take part in Helgstrand’s online stallion show, which was livestreamed at ClipMyHorse on February 27th, 2021. The reason is very unfortunate, however we have decided to inform directly and right away, in order to avoid any misunderstandings and false rumours:

In January 2021, we received the results from the compulsory drug tests of the stallion from the day of the licensing.

It turned out, that the stallion was affected by a drug, which, at the time of the licensing as well as the auction, was stated on the FEI list over prohibited substances.

We have experienced it before, that a horse acquired at an auction, was positive in a drug test.

We have therefore decided to claim a cancellation of the purchase from both the auctioneer and the breeding federation Westphalia, since our basis for purchasing obviously has been false.

As of now, the federation has, on behalf of themselves and the seller, decided to reject our cancellation request and maintained the licensing.

“As a responsible value-driven organization dealing with breeding, development as well as buying and selling at highest level, Helgstrand Dressage cannot accept the fact that prohibited substances keep appearing at these high sports levels, stallions gradings nor in our turnover, says Andreas Helgstrand, CEO and founder of Helgstrand Dressage.

He continues: The stallion, Darling’s Dream has not shown his true face at the licensing nor the following auction.

The stallion will therefore not be offered for our breeders.

We do simply not understand that the federation in Westphalia, who was also the auctioneer, will not take responsibility and accept the return of the horse."

Link to stallion show, which starts at 2:00 pm on February 27th:

ClipMyHorse (or below)

ZibraSport (you have to register)

You can watch the stallion show for free and the videos will afterwards be available on our homepages on Monday March 1st.

Picture: Straight Horse Don Zuan by Zack/Don Schufro and Cathrine Dufour.

The 7-year-old Straight Horse Don Zuan by Zack/Don Schufro has been with our collaborator, the successful Danish Grand Prix rider, Cathrine Dufour in order to get a very well education. Now the German Sophie Reef will take over the reins of this promising gelding.

Sophie Reef has an impressive resume of top results and with the acquisition of the 7-year-old gelding, she has now secured a very promising horse for her future U25 years.

- He is an amazing horse, and he overwhelmed me from the first moment I sat on him. He is really powerful, and as his results indicate, he has loads of potential for top-sport. Cathrine has made an impressive work with him, and I am super proud to take over the reins after her, Sophie Reef tells.

- Don Zuan is a true gentleman, and he has been loved by everyone in the stable because of his calm mind. He definitely has a special place in my heart, as he was one of the first horses, I got to educate in my collaboration with Helgstrand. It is no secret, that I easily get attached to all my horses, and even though I am aware, that I eventually have to say goodbye, I still find it very sad, Cathrine says.

Straight Horse Don Zuan has definitely drawn attention to himself on the show grounds. At the Danish young horse championships, he finished on a 4th place with 92% as a 5-year-old in 2019 and the year after, he qualified to the finals by winning the qualification with no less than 93%. Moreover, he was also selected to represent Denmark at the prestigious Young Horse World Championships, which unfortunately got cancelled due to COVID-19.

- Cathrine has again done, what she does best: educating a young horse with immense success. With such a talented horse, it means a lot for us, that he continues his impressive path with a new ambitious rider as Sophie Reef, who has a lot of support, Andreas Helgstrand says.

Don Zuan is bred by Straight Horse, who is also the breeder of plenty of successful offspring, including Don Zuan's three full brothers and sisters; the three-times World Champion Sezuan, the silver-medal-mare Straight Horse Ascenzione, who has won international small tour with Helen Langehanenberg and, who was also sold from Helgstrand as well as the gold-medal-mare Straight Horse Sezuanna. 

Watch video of Sophie Reef and Straight Horse Don Zuan:

Picture: David Kunath and Maik Kanitzky's daughter together with Virazzo by Vivaldi/Ragazzo.

Just as we published the news about Maik Kanitzky, the breeder of the successful Sir Donnerhall I and II, acquiring the 2019 winner of the Danish Warmblood 35-day test, Atterupgaards Barcelo, we can now also announce that this was not the only superstar he has secured for his new stable. The other addition to his team of horses is the extremely well-moving 5-year-old stallion, Virazzo by Vivaldi/Ragazzo.

After many years of successful breeding, including Sir Donnerhall I, who is offered in the exclusive Helgstrand-Schockemöhle stallion collection and Sir Donnerhall II, who has been trained at Helgstrand Dressage and now performs at international Grand Prix level with Morgan Barbançon, Maik is now fully focusing on the dressage sport.

The new team consists of the master riders Sarah Backhaus and David Kunath, as well as other riders, with whom Maik has entered into partnerships, including Tessa Frank, who will be the responsible educator of Atterupgaards Barcelo.

They have visited Helgstrand Dressage to look for top horses that can help them in their future endeavours and to reach their sports goals – and here they also received some good tips in the training with Andreas.

- It’s hard to ask for more. With Virazzo we really get the complete horse, both type-wise as well as with his movements. In the training with Andreas, he also showed that he has a positive attitude and therefore I am certain that he will be a pleasure to further educate, master rider at Gestüt Heidehof, David Kunath tells – he considers both Virazzo and Barcelo as very prominent for the future.

After having acquired Barcelo and Virazzo I can, without hesitation, conclude that this wasn’t the last time we visited Helgstrand. With Maik’s visions, we definitely need to invest in some of the best horses – and they are found at Andreas’ place, without a doubt, David tells. He is grateful that there are people, who gladly invest in the sport, where riders just like himself, get the opportunity to further educate horses of the absolute first quality.

Picture: Atterupgaards Barcelo by Bon Coeur/Caprimond E.H. with his new rider Tessa Frank.

Maik Kanitzky from Gestüt Heidehof in Leipzig is the name behind the successful Sir Donnerhal I and his full brother Sir Donnerhall II (Sandro Hit/Donnerhall). Both of them has very impressive resumes. Sir Donnerhall I is offered at the exclusive Helgstrand-Schockemöhle stallion collection and Sir Donnerhall II has been in training at Helgstrand Dressage and is now successful in international Grand Prix classes with Morgan Barbançon. Maik Kanitzky har pivoted a bit and is now focusing on the dressage-league, where he has now secured the 2019 winner of the Danish Warmblood 35-day test, Atterupgaards Barcelo by Bon Coeur/Caprimond E.H.

At this moment, Maik Kanitzky is establishing a team at Gestüt Heidehof, who is responsible for the education of the horses. Master rider David Kunath is at the head of the team – he has during the past 11 years been self-employed and developed several horses to compete at S-level. Moreover, he has allied with some om the best young horse-riders, for example, Tessa Frank, who will now be in charge of the education of Barcelo.

- I tested several horses at Andreas’ place, but the very first round on Barcelo confirmed that he was the one. He has a great attitude, incredible rideability and three outstanding gaits that create a solid foundation for a future career in top sport, Tessa Frank expresses. Tessa has qualified several horses to the prestigious World Championships for young horses and also the German Bundeschampionat.

- With Maik’s high ambitions it is crucial to invest in the best possible horses, and they are undoubtedly to be found at Helgstrand. I am so impressed by the place as well as the fact that they could present so many horses that matched our requirements. Moreover, I am deeply thankful for the help I was provided since Andreas helped a lot through his teaching and training. Such a unique possibility, Tessa adds. She also expresses her gratitude to Maik for getting this outstanding possibility.

Atterupgaards Barcelo has left Helgstrand and is now located in Hamburg at Tessa’s place, where she will be in charge of the future education of this promising young horse.

Atterupgaards Barcelo is one among many successful offspring from Stutteri Atterupgaard. Barcelo’s dam, Atterupgaards Dicte, is the full sister to the legendary Olympics horse, Atterupgaards Cassidy. With Cathrine Dufuor in the saddle, Cassidy has won numerous medals for Denmark. Dicte is moreover the dam to two licensed stallions: Fassbinder and Atterupgaards Botticello. Fassbinder is the sire of the two successful ET-full sisters, Fiontina and the triple-world champion Fiontini, who is a part of the Danish initial squad with Andreas Helgstrand. Botticello, who also has been in the Helgstrand stables as a breeding stallion, is now prominently developing towards Grand Prix level with the Danish-born American rider, Charlotte Jorst.

Picture: Atterupgaards Barcelo by Bon Coeur/Caprimond E.H. with his new rider Tessa Frank.

Picture: Revolution by Rockey Lee/Rouletto and Andreas.

We had indeed looked forward to inviting you all to the stallion shows here in Denmark and abroad during the spring, to really get the new breeding season going, but unfortunately, the situation does not look all too bright. Instead, we have decorated the indoor arena, just as we do when hosting the stallions shows and is preparing to film the whole collection of stallions 2021, so that you will get the chance to experience both the new stallions, but also get an update on the older stallions, who have had a fantastic development.

You can look forward to experiencing the stallion collection 2021 already Friday the 19th of February at 14:00, where our website will be updated with the new presentation videos of the stallions.

However, we are still working on hosting our live stallion shows during the spring, both at Helgstrand Germany in Syke and in Denmark. However, due to the corona pandemic, the situation is still uncertain. We know how much the live presentation of the stallions means to the breeders, and therefore we will do everything to complete our stallion shows if the situation allows it.

Last year’s presentations videos of the stallions were very popular, and we therefore knew that we should repeat the success, which we announced at the end of 2020. The thousands of views around the world has led many new breeders to Helgstrand and has also functioned as an important tool for our loyal breeders. We have experienced that many breeders find the comments from Andreas, about which mares that is suitable for each stallion, very useful. Therefore, you can not only look forward to this year’s stallion collection but also hear the good advice Andreas shares.

This year we have again added several Champion and Premium stallions to the collection, like Forever Love by Fair Game/Destano, who was selected as Premium Stallion at the Westfalen Licensing, and the Oldenburg Premium Stallion Fortunate by Foundation/Quaterback, who is an ultra-modern stallion and can, with his movements and type, bring the breeding a step further. Very importantly we must not forget the 4 Premium Stallions from Hannover; Zoom In by Zoom/Waterland, Salissimo by Secret/Bellisimo M, Bonjour by Bon Coeur/Fürst Nymphenburg and Be Sure by Benicio/Scuderia.

Unfortunately, there is not a long list of results from 2020, but luckily our stallions participated at the prestigious German Bundeschampionate, where Fynch Hatton (Formel Eins/Sir Donnerhall I), Global Player (Kastel's Grand Galaxy Win/Don Schufro) and Rockabye S (Revolution/Belstaff) achieved amazing results. Even though many shows where cancelled, we are still very proud that our stallions qualified to both danish and foreign Championships and also to the recognized Young Horse World Championship. These breeding stallions have really developed, and we look forward to show Revolution (Rockey Lee/Rouletto), Jovian (Apache/Tango), Springbank II VH (Skovens Rafael/De Niro), Franklin (Ampére/Ferro), just like we look forward to show the upcoming stars such as So Perfect (Sezuan/Sir Donnerhall I), My Vitality (Vivaldi/D-Day), Iron (Asgard’s Ibiza/Hohenstein) and the newly arrived Hesselhøj Downtown (Hesselhøj Donkey Boy/Zack).

Put a mark in the calendar Friday, February 19th and visit Helgstrand’s website to see the new stallion presentation!

Our breeding experts are ready to help you both by phone and e-mail, so please don’t hesitate to contact them:

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘁 - German and English
Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +49 171 77 47 646

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗻 - German
Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +49 170 43 11 761

𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗴 - German and English
Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +45 20 66 51 80

𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗲 - English
Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +45 22 57 44 11