There is a lot of commotion going on in Denmark with an unbelievable job carousel taking place of riders leaving, getting fired, hired and switching barns. No less than eight riders have changed employers in the past few months.
The most striking departure is Maria Anita Andersen leaving her job as the number one Grand Prix horse rider at Blue Hors Stud in Randbol, Denmark. The 33-year old Andersen, who campained horses such as Loxana, Rebelle and Lereado for Blue Hors, has decided to go independent together with her life partner and rider Laila Aarrejarvi Bilstrup. They have set up shop at a yard located near Brædstrup, Denmark.
Instead the 24-year old Daniel Bachmann Andersen has been hired as a rider at Blue Hors Stud. Previously a bereiter at Rudolf Zeilinger's and Andreas Helgstrand's yard, Bachmann will now return to Blue Hors where he did an internship as a 15-year old back in 2006.
Blue Hors had to deal with quite a few departures. Besides Maria Anita Andersen, young mare rider (and Danish Paralympic team trainer) David Amager has left the stud as well as stallion rider Maik Kohlschmidt, who has gone to work for Andreas Helgstrand.
Spanish Grand Prix rider Severo Jurado Lopez has left Andreas Helgstrand to return back to his former employer Anne van Olst in The Netherlands. Danish Grand Prix rider Betina Jæger will join Team Helgstrand as of 1 November 2014. Two months ago Helgstrand started to employ Ditte Mikkelsen and Stine Døssing.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Severo Jurado Lopez to Denmark, Anna Blomgren to The Netherlands
What's Happening: August 2014 - Part 1
Maria Anita Andersen and Loxana Rise to the Top at 2013 CDI Bremen
Merrald, Bachmann, Husenbeth Top Three in the Under 25 at the 2013 European Dressage Championships
What's Happening: January 2012 - Part 2