Today, Team Helgstrand needed much more that excellent riding skills to get through the day. After the usual horse activities, the Event company PulsEvent had planned a challenging afternoon for the whole team. 6 teams competed in e.g. multi-tasking relay and different ball games - it turned out that several of the team members were not exactly gifted ball players!

However, all the teams were very enthusiastic and dedicated. In the end, team 4, alias: Alexander, Anna, Charlotte and Andreas obtained the most points and won the competition.

In order to celebrate Thomas' bronze medal for 6-year-olds at WCYH in Verden this year, he ended the afternoon with "a swim" in the lake at Møgelmosegaard; quite a good alternative to an ordinary water jump.

A fun and challenging day for everyone at Team Helgstrand. 

Pictures from Team building at Helgstrand Dressage

When the next round of the championships takes place in Middelfart in three weeks, numerous horses and riders will be representing Helgstrand Dressage in all three classes. A total of 29 horses have qualified, counting several horses in each age group. However, not all 29 horses will participate in Middelfart, as some of the horses have been sold by now, and four horses have qualified directly through their participation in the WCYH in Verden. During the summer period, Helgstrand Dressage has won a total of 12 qualification classes, and in addition, riders from Helgstrand Dressage have placed second or third in many classes. It is, therefore, fair to say that Helgstrand Dressage has left a significant mark on this year's championships so far, and the riders will do everything possible to continue this trend in the next round.

Right now, the following number of horses will compete to go on to the finals: ten 4-year-old horses, six 5-year-old horses and six 6-year-old horses. We look forward to presenting all the horses, and we wish good luck to all the horse owners.

Zonik and Andreas qualified for the next round with 9.66 points.

Mare grading in Hjallerup - 4 champion mares out of 4

Today, the annual mare grading in Danish Warmblood took place in Hjallerup. Helgstrand Dressage presented four 3-year-old mares and three 4-year-old mares during the day. In the first group, Logslund Pleasure won the title as champion mare, and she did really well in the riding test, obtaining e.g. 9.5 in rideability, Emma did a good job presenting Pleasure. Qinky Langholt placed right after as second, nicely presented by Sofia, both mares are on to the Elite show in 2 weeks.

The next group included the 4-year-old Delice Eden and her rider Emma. Helgstrand Dressage turned out to be superior in this group as well, with another champion mare. However, unfortunately, Delice Eden was not invited to the Elite show, as she is not registered in Danish Warmblood. The third group counted the two 3-year-old mares, Barbie Girl and Netstutteriets Brilliant. Sofia presented Barbie Girl, who earned the title champion mare and a ticket to the Elite show. Netstutteriets Brilliant, presented by Emma, placed second right after Barbie Girl.

The last group was another group of 4-year-old horses, and this group included Tørveslettens Quattro and Dunaway. Yet again, we won the champion mare title as well as the second place in this group. Tørveslettens Quattro, presented by Emma, won the title as champion mare, and she was the only mare today to obtain 9 for both type and overall impression, Quattro was, of course, also invited to the Elite show. Dunaway, presented by Sofia, placed second in this group. The last event was the nomination of the best mare of the day. Due to the fact that Helgstrand Dressage won the champion titles in all groups, Thomas was quite busy, as he showed all the mares. Fortunately, all the mares did really well once again. In the end, the winner of the title as the best mare of the day was the beautiful Tørveslettens Quattro. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL BREEDERS AND OWNERS OF THE 7 MARES, we look forward to presenting 4 of the mares again in two weeks at the Elite show at Vilhelmsborg.

Victory in classes for 4- and 5-year-olds in Nr. Hostrup

At the same time, in the southern part of Denmark, Mads and Andreas started the DSA qualifier in Nr. Hostrup. Mads competed with two horses in the qualifier for 4-year-olds. He finished 1st and 2nd in this class, scoring 8.74 points with Kragelunds Gribaldine, and 8.24 points with Damian. Andreas and the stallion Sir Caramello won the class for 5-year-old horses with a score of 8.48 points, and Mads and Cavalia finished third, scoring 8.0 points. Consequently, 4 additional horses are now ready for the next round in Middelfart in three weeks - an event anticipated with great excitement.

The 4 champion mares

This weekend at the championship in Billund, several riders from Helgstrand Dressage obtained great results. Saturday morning, Emma and Tørveslettens Quattro started the class for 4-year-olds and won the class with a score of 8.22 points. An impressive result, especially with 90 riders in the class. Later on, Mads and Laponio started the class for 6-year-olds, placing 2nd with a score of 8.44 points. Sunday, it was time for the 5-year-old horses, Anna and Bøgerdens Boney M won the class as they obtained 8.54 points. Andrea and Donna Von Wald placed 3rd with  a score of 8.18 points.

Next weekend, Danish Warmblood's mare grading takes place in Hjallerup.

Some long and tough days at the WCYH in Verden ended with a great result as Sir Donnerhall II and Thomas finished third in the finals, winning bronze for 6-year-old horses. On Friday, the equipage qualified for the finals, as they placed 9th in the preliminary round with a score of 8.42 points. Today, their top-notch performance was rewarded 8.78 points, which resulted in bronze. In addition, Sir Donnerhall II was the best-placed stallion in the finals.

This morning at 5 a.m., the five horses qualified for the WCYH in Verden left for Germany in the new Helgstrand truck. Later on today, the 5-year-old Schakiro Pilekær has to go through the vet check and tomorrow, Thursday, Marianne and Schakiro will participate in the preliminary class for 5-year-old horses. Tomorrow afternoon, the three 6-year-old horses: Sir Donnerhall II, Højersminde Rolex and N.O.H's Daijoubo have vet check. Friday morning, Andrea and Thomas will ride the preliminary round for 6-year-old horses. Emma also starts Friday morning in the Championship for Hanoverians with the 4-year-old mare Donna Eden. We are crossing our fingers for good results for all the riders.

The new truck off to Verden this morning.

This weekend the selection show for the World Championship for Young Horses in Verden took place in Middelfart. Two 5-year-old horses and two 6-year-old horses participated from Helgstrand dressage. The 5-year-old Schakiro Pilekær and Marianne, as well as the two 6-year-old horses Højersminde Rolex and N.O.H's Daijoubo with Andrea and Thomas, respectively, were among the 8 equipages selected to represent Denmark at the WCYH in Verden 2012. We are obviously very proud that four of our horses have been selected for the WCYH this year.   

Schakiro Pilekær and Marianne.

Yesterday, the Championships for 5- and 6-year-old horses took place at the show in Aalborg. Andrea and Wilkinson participated in the class for 5-year-olds, placing 2nd with a nice score of 8.77 points. After fierce competition in the class for 6-year-olds, Anette Ejlersgaard and Deep Love took first place, obtaining an impressive score of 9.28. The highest score this year in all classes for 6-year-old horses. Andreas and Don Primeur placed 2nd right after Anette, scoring 9.24 points, and Mads and Dark Knight placed 4th with a score of 8.77 points. 

A very satisfactory weekend, as all the championship horses went on the last qualification show before the finals. So far, the riders from Helgstrand Dressage have participated in 8 championship classes this year, placing first in seven of these classes and 2nd in one class. A total of 19 horses from Helgstrand Dressage have been started in the championship classes this year, and all 19 horses are on to this year's qualification show! 

Zonik

Today, the Championship for 4-year-old horses took place in Aalborg Sportsrideklub, and Helgstrand Dressage was once again dominating the show. Zonik was in a class of his own. Zonik and Andreas won the class with superiority, scoring 9.66 points; they received e.g. a well-deserved 10 for trot! Simone and the stallion Shiraz Majlund placed 2nd with a score of 8.82 points. Right after Simone, came Mads and the gelding Zig-Zag, placing 3rd with a score of 8.74 points. Andrea and the stallion Dimmagio placed 5th with the same score as Emma and the mare Donna Eden, they both scored 8.54 points. Mads and the stallion Zidane placed 7th, scoring 8.50 points. Emma and the stallion San World scored 8.40 points and placed 9th. Last but not least, Sofia and the mare Delicius placed 12th, scoring 8.14 points.

Helgstrand Dressage was also on the top of the podium in two more classes today. The first class at the show was a MB0, and Mads and Dark Knight made an impressive performance and were rewarded with 73.85%, placing 1st in the class. Marianne and the mare Daylie were also in this class and placed 8th, scoring 64.87%. In MA1, Marianne and the mare Sitana obtained 70.83% and won the class.

From the left: Andreas and Zonik, Emma, Sofia, Mads and Zig-Zag, Andrea, Simone and Donna Eden.

The last two days, Sir Donnerhall II and Thomas have been in the German town Warendorf, for the German selection trial for the World Championship for young horses in Verden. Tuesday, the riders showed daily training for the selectors and Wednesday, the riders performed the finals test for 6-year-olds. Sir Donnerhall II has done really well both days. After performing the test this afternoon, the team was selected, and Sir Donnerhall II and Thomas are on the team set to represent Germany in Verden in August. It is a great and also pretty unusual accomplishment for a Danish rider to qualify for WCYH in Verden for Germany.

This weekend, Helgstrand Dressage is represented with five horses at the final WCYH selection show in Middelfart. The two 5-year-old horses are Møllegårdens Pas Partout and Schakiro Pilekær, and the three 6-year-old horses are N.O.H's Daijoubo, Højersminde Rolex and Vemmetofte Roscoe. We are obviously crossing our fingers that Helgstrand Dressage also will represent Denmark at this year's WCYH in Verden.

Sir Donnerhall II