Sune Hansen, Lucky to Ride for Blue Hors Stud

Interviews

Young Guns in Dressage

Sune Hansen has big shoes to fill taking over the job of head rider at Blue Hors Stud from Andreas Helgstrand. But this 34-year old young gun stays incredibly level-headed and takes it one day at the time to build a true relationship with his horses.

It's been four months since Hansen shortened the stirrups of Helgstrand's saddles to take place himself on a plethora of power house dressage horses at the famous stallion station in Randboel, Denmark. Hansen has made his first public appearances this winter at some selected stallions shows in Germany and rode the big shot sires at the Blue Hors' open house day, where viewers could get a taste of what's in store.

"It has been an interesting and a busy first few months at Blue Hors," Hansen told Eurodressage. "I had quite a few stallion shows to do, which was new for me, but it has been a good way to get to know the horses better. I'm really enjoying my job and being back in Denmark."

Danish born Sune Hansen has worked for fifteen years in Germany at the stables of Palle Thomsen, Allan Gaihede, Alexander Moksel, and Helmut Freiherr von Fircks. Before his return home, he was briefly based at stallion station De Ijzeren Man in Weert, The Netherlands, to join his current girlfriend, international Grand Prix rider Emily Ward. The couple met at the CDI Achleiten and briefly lived together in Germany before settling down in Holland, Ward's country of preference. Hansen got the Blue Hors job offer in November 2008 and accepted it immediately after passing a try-out session on the horses.

Especially in Denmark Hansen has been the centre of attention being scrutinized as a worthy successor to Helgstrand. For the first time in history, the Danish dressage team was able to capture a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. Dressage in Denmark is at a high and everyone involved does not want to give up that strong position.

"I feel there is a big focus on Blue Hors and on me personally but I don't feel it as pressure," Hansen admitted. "I think most people are really fair and know it takes time to build a team."

Though Hansen has been spending quality time on the acclaimed Grand Prix horses Blue Hors Romanov, Blue Hors Don Schufro and Grestedgardens Casmir as well as on many younger horses, he has not buddied up with one particular horse. "I can't really say that I have a favourite horse," Hansen confessed. "I can only say that I feel really really lucky having so many special ones."

Hansen has been training with Danish team coach Rudolf Zeilinger and Danish trainer Rune Willum drives to Blue Hors to assist Hansen on a weekly basis. Zeilinger knows the Blue horses through and through and is closely involved in the training of each one of the top stallions. Sune discloses that Zeilinger is essential in the conditioning and schooling of the horses.

"He is such a big support for me and he knows the horses very well," Hansen said. "I really feel that we are making huge progress every time we have been training. But it is also great to have somebody like Rune on the ground to help me. We've been training twice now doing a lot of basic work which is really paying off."

Although enthusiasts are eager to see Hansen in the show ring, Sune has entered uncharted waters and has confirmed that he'll take it slow and easy on the competitions before hitting the big league.

"We have planned to do some national shows in Germany at the end of the month and beginning of May with Gredstedgårds Casmir, Blue Hors Romanov and Blue Hors Leredo so I can get some more experience in the ring and then we'll see."

Hansen's future goal and dream is about to come to fruition as a Blue Hors rider. "My first goal is to get on the Danish A-team and that's also one of my dreams," said Hansen. With Casmir and Don Schufro confirmed at 70 percent and rising stars Romanov and Leredo knocking at the door there is no doubt that Hansen is on the right track.

Finally the question many dressage fans want to see answered: what about Blue Hors Matine? "She's doing aqua-training in Germany and will hopefully be back in training soon," Hansen concluded.

Text by Astrid Appels
Photos copyrighted: Ridehesten.com