We have been waiting anxiously for the first foal by Sezuan. On March 1, his first foal was born. Below, you will see a few pictures.

One of the biggest events of the year is approaching within a few days; Danish Warmblood's Stallion Licensing in Herning. We are obviously quite busy with the last preparations before heading towards Herning on Wednesday. Among other things, pictures and videos of some of the stallions elected for the licensing have been prepared. We hope you will take a few minutes to enjoy the pictures of Sezuan, Tørveslettens Fifty-fifty, Eclectisch, Peterborgs Qasanova, Floricello and Vincent Marinello. 

More than a year ago, the mare Donna Unique was sold through Helgstrand Dressage A/S to Arlette and Edwin Kohl, Gestüt Peterhof, Germany.

As many people will remember, the mare won the world championship for 6-year-old horses with Andreas at the WCYH in Verden in 2010 scoring e.g. 10 for trot.

Lately, a number of articles regarding the contents of the agreement and the circumstances in connection with the transaction have been published in various Danish and international medias. These articles are based on an article in a Dutch internet media.

In order to summarise comments to the article, Helgstrand Dressage A/S and Andreas Helgstrand have made the following statement to the Dutch media and other medias asking for interviews or statements in regards to the article:

"Helgstrand Dressage A/S deals with a lot of domestic and international riders, horse breeders and horse owners on high level every day. 

We take pride in treating our business partners to the best of our ability and in absolute commercial confidentiality.

This also applies in the case of Donna Unique, which was a horse that I actually did not want to sell because she was my personal ace as dressage star for the future.

Every aspect of the eventual transaction was covered by written agreements negotiated between parties all represented by their own lawyers. 

Helgstrand Dressage A/S respects and fulfills these agreements.

Andreas Helgstrand"

We are very upset to learn that information from a specific and confidential commercial agreement regarding a very special horse has ended up in public, in this way and without the knowledge of any of the parties involved in the transaction.

It is very important for us to emphasise that the parties entered the agreement with legal assistance on all sides, and all aspects of the agreement have been fully met.

We sincerely hope that all parties in this transaction are satisfied and that Donna Unique will obtain the success in future, which this mare's special talent deserves.

Helgstrand Dressage has managed to acquire a part in the superior champion stallion from the Dutch KWPN society. Nico Witte, Leida Collins-Strijk and Helgstrand Dressage, therefore, own the stallion now. The stallion, now named Franklin, is by Ampere with Ferro as damsire. Franklin will arrive at Møgelmosegaard on February 26 and will be presented at Danish Warmblood's stallion show in Herning in March. After the stallion show, semen from Franklin will be available to breeders and the stallion will continue its training at Helgstrand Dressage.

Another stallion, which was also licensed in KWPN at the same time as Franklin, is Fennovanck PP by Uphill with Münchausen as damsire. Fennovanck PP was acquired by Helgstrand Dressage last autumn together with Stall Poppelaars, and it has just arrived at Møgelmosegaard. Fennovanck will also be presented at the Danish Warmblood licensing in March.

The black beauty Danciano, which is the same age as Franklin and Fennovanck, will also be presented at the Danish Warmblood licensing in Herning. Danciano by Dancier and with Rotspon as damsire was licensed in the German Hannoveranian society last autumn and was later on acquired at an auction together with Schockemöhle. 

We will present a total of six 3-year-old stallions at this year's stallion show in Herning. Besides the three stallions mentioned above, we have the German bred stallion Bambolero by Bordeaux with Tin Rocco as damsire, the two Danish bred stallions Tørveslettens Fifty-Fifty by Fürstenball with Stedinger as damsire and Vincent Marnello by Blue Hors Zack and with Romancier as damsire. In addition, we will also present the 4-year-old Danish bred stallion Peterborg Qasanova by Quaterback and with Calypso II as damsire. 

We are extremely proud to have a collection of high-quality young stallions and we are looking forward to presenting them at the licensing in Denmark. 

Franklin at the licensing in Holland

At the national show in Herning this weekend, some of the riders from Helgstrand Dressage participated in the two highest classes. Swedish Caroline Bonde, who has been training full time with her horses at Helgstrand Dressage since August 2012, made great performances both days, and she was also the rider on top of the podium after both classes. Saturday, in Intermediare II, Caroline and Deela Mae obtained 69.64%. Thomas and Cardeur finished third with a score of 67.63%, and Philine and Artemis finished fourth with 67.01%. Sunday, in the Grand Prix class, Caroline and Deela Mae obtained an impressive score of 71.63% and won the class, and once again, Thomas and Cardeur finished third with 68.51%, Andrea and Don Lorean placed fourth with 65.24%.

Helgstrand Dresage started the show on Friday with three victories out of three. The impressive style continued Saturday and Sunday.

Daniel and Donna Silver outright winner of Grand Prix

The first class on Saturday was MB2, Anna and Star Agent did really well in this class and finished second with a score of 71.05%. In Grand Prix, Daniel and Donna Silver won with superiority, scoring 72.27%. Caroline Bonde and Deela Mae placed third with 69.07%. Andrea and Don Lorean placed fifth with 65.60%. The last class Saturday was MA2. Once again, the riders from Helgstrand Dressage were among the placed riders. Thomas and Sir Donnerhall II finished on a shared second place, scoring 70.87%, Daniel and Delaunay placed fourth with 70.52%, Marianne and Sitana placed fifth with 69.21% and Anna and N.O.H's Daijoubo placed sixth with 68.86%.

Thomas and Sir Donnerhall II won Prix St. George with 76.84%

Sunday was another great day with fantastic results. Anna and Star Agent made a great performance again and finished second with 72.08% in MB3. In Grand Prix Special, Daniel and Donna Silver were totally superior, winning the class with impressive 74.65%. Caroline Bonde and Deela Mae placed third with 69.30%. The last class at the show was Prix St. George, Helgstrand Dressage had three 7-year-old horses in the class, and they all obtained placings. Thomas and Sir Donnerhall II made a spectacular performance and received a fantastic score: 76.84%, and won the class. Marianne and Sitana obtained a shared third place, scoring 71.57%, Daniel and Delaunay was right behind with 71.22%. Anna and N.O.H's Daijoubo placed sixth with 70.00%.

All in all a terrific weekend with numerous impressive rides.

The riders from Helgstrand Dressage obtained fantastic results on the first day of the national show in Hjallerup. The first class today was MB1. Andrea and the 7-year-old Byoux Sent won the class with the absolute highest score today: 73.33%. Anna and the 7-year-old Star Agent placed second with a score of 69.82%.

In MA1, Helgstrand Dressage was once again on top of the podium, this time Marianne and Sitana won the class with an impressive score of 71.75%. Thomas and Sir Donnerhall II placed third with 70.27%, Anna and N.O.H´s Daijoubo placed sixth with 68.51%, and finally Daniel and Delaunay placed seventh with a score of 67.59%.

In the last class, Intermediare II, Helgstrand Dressage emphasised their superiority today. Thomas and Nintendo won the class, scoring 68.59%. Karoline Bonde and Deela Mae placed second with 67.71%, and finally Andrea and Don Lorean placed third with a score of 66.05%.

A really great start at this national show with superb results. We hope for more good results the next couple of days.

The happy winners: Marianne on top of the podium, then Thomas, Anna and Daniel.

At the pre-selection at Vilhelmsborg today, three stallions from Helgstrand Dressage were selected for Danish Warmblood's National Stallion Show in Herning in March. The three stallions are: the 3-year-old stallion Tørveslettens Fifty-Fifty by Fürstenball and with Stedinger as dam sire, the 3-year-old stallion Vincent Maranello by Blue Hors Zack and with Blue Hors Future Cup as dam sire, and the 4-year-old stallion Peterborg's Qasanova by Quaterback and with Calypso II as dam sire. We are looking forward to presenting the stallions at the stallion show in March, and in addition to these three stallions we will also present some really great German approved young stallions.

It is almost Christmas now and the end of the year 2012 is approaching. We are able to look back at a very satisfying year, both in terms of the results obtained and as regards business. 

We send the best and warmest Christmas wishes to all our customers, co-operation partners, colleagues, sponsors, business relations and friends. Thank you for the year 2012, we wish you all a great and prosperous New Year.

The picture below is from Friday, the last work day for many of the employees at Helgstrand Dressage. After a great Christmas atmosphere all day, both in the stable and the riding hall, we finished the day in the lounge with Danish doughnuts and glögg.

Merry Christmas

It was with mixed feelings that we said goodbye to one of the most talented young horses last Wednesday; the Danish bred and approved stallion Zonik. We are very proud and also pleased that we have sold Zonik to two of the absolute top riders in the world Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal. At the same time, it is sad to let go off such a talented stallion. We have obviously had very high expectations to Zonik, and so far he has fully met all our expectations. Andreas had particular great hopes and expectations for Zonik in connection with the World Championships for 5-year-old and 6-year-old horses. We are now looking very much forward to following Zonik under his new rider and wish them all the best for the future. In addition to Zonik, Glock Horse Performance Center also purchased another horse from Helgstrand Dressage, the 10-year-old Dutch bred gelding Versace, who has now changed name to Valentino. Valentino is fully trained, but it does not have a lot of experience from competitions yet.

Both horses have now arrived at their new stable at Glock Horse Performance Center in Harskamp in Holland, and they will now need some time to get used to the new surroundings.