Thinggaard's JoJo AZ Slows Down a Gear, to Become Schoolmaster

Dressage

Denmark

Danish Olympic team rider Agnete Kirk Thinggaard has decided to slow down a gear with her number one Grand Prix horse, Jojo AZ.

Jojo AZ is a 15-year old Hungarian sport horse by Damhus Hoek's Ginus out of Oromhir (by Justboy).

He was discovered by German horse dealer Jochen Arl who put the gelding in training with Finnish Henri Ruoste. In 2013 the pair competed on the Finnish team at the European Championships in Herning.

Jojo AZ sold to Agnete Kirk Thinggaard early 2014 and became a horse instrumental for her international Grand Prix career. They showed at the 2015 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas and 2016 World Cup Finals in Gothenburg. They represented Denmark at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg.

The combination's last international was in December 2017 in Salzburg, where they finished fifth in the Grand Prix and Freestyle.

Thinggaard has now decided to refocus her riding on Atterupgaards Orthilia.

"I have not yet decided on a permanent retirement from international competitions for Jojo AZ, but at this moment in time, I have a very strong focus on Atterupgaard's Orthilia, and some other upcoming horses, and I want to focus all my energy on that journey now," Thinggaard told Eurodressage.. "As I also feel that Jojo and I have had a wonderful career together and that I have achieved everything I hoped for with that amazing horse, and then some, I felt that it was time he could be a schoolmaster for someone else as he has been for me."

Jojo AZ can go on as a schoolmaster for her husband Claus Thinggaard.

"He is a great horse, and I am very happy to see that he also likes to be a schoolmaster for my husband," Agnete explained. "What the plans are for them, as far as competitions, is not yet decided. Time will show. I will also not guarantee that I don't ride him anymore - but luckily my husband and I can share."