The highly talented rider, Princess Nathalie Zu Saeyn Wittgenstein, daughter of Princess Benedikte, usually rides dressage horses of the finest bloodlines. At the gala show at the Danish Warmblood stallion licensing in Herning 2005
the charming princess had the unusual experience to mount a real draught horse – the French horse ”Felous”.
At the occasion of the 200 anniversary of Danish poet H. C. Andersen this year’s gala show took its theme in Andersen’s magical fairy tales. As we recall the story of Simple Simon he rides his goat to the royal castle in order to propose to the princess. In the gala show Simple Simon, played by the French show rider Arnaud Gilette, showed his wooden goat in a number of grand prix dressage exercises, much to the amusement of the audience and not least to the princess.
Obviously, Simple Simon with his impressive skills conquered the heart of the princess – played by the real Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein von Berleburg - and, therefore, he was to take his Princess along. Within a split second he had her sitting “on the back seat” of the French draught horse ”Felous” which was also part of gala show.
"I must admit that it was quite a surprise for me to meet a real princess. I have never had the chance to meet one before and I am very pleased that she actually sat on my horse! It has also been of great importance to me to take part in a play of H. C. Andersen. I love the spirit in his fairy tales and I almost feel spiritually related to him as I am absolutely spellbound by the magic in his tales.”
Arnaud Gilettes continues, "Yesterday I happened to witness the Princess train her own dressage horse. She is a very elegant and skilful rider who treats her horse well."
Felous is a 14 years old French Comtois horse, a heavy and stocky breed of draught horse that has served the French people and artilleries for centuries. Felous and Arnaud have been partners for 11 years and during this period of time they have risen to stardom on the international scene of horse shows.
Despite his considerable size and weight Felous is capable of performing all the dressage exercises at highest level. Exercises that are normally performed by refined and elegant riding horses. In addition to the traditional dressage, he is also able to copy the white lippizaner horses from the Spanish riding school in performing the classical jumps like Capriole where the horses kick out while flying in the air. Felous is probably the only heavy working horse in the world that has learned the fine art of dancing which is normally exclusively reserved for the light and refined athletes.
After all it was a very particular horse on whose back Simple Simon led his princess away from the spotlight of Danish Warmblood’s gala show that Saturday night.