Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors St. Schufro Make CDI Debut with a Bam

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2019 CDIO Uggerhalne

Danish Nanna Skodborg Merrald and the Blue Hors stud owned licensed stallion St. Schufro made an international small tour debut with a bam at the 2019 CDIO Uggerhalne on 24 - 26 May 2019.

In a field of 14 riders, Merrald and the 8-year old Hanoverian stallion by St. Moritz Junior x Don Schufro posted a whopping 77.235% on the board for the victory in the Prix St Georges and leaving all competing miles behind her. German Andrea Timpe and her 9-year old Hanoverian Don Carismo (by Don Crusador x Carismo) were second with 71.382%.

To make the feat even more impressive, Merrald and her green St. Schufro made it look easy and went on to win the Intermediaire I with another banging score, 74.324%, ahead of countrymate Carine Nevermann Torup on the 9-year old Hanoverian Soda Pop (by Sir Donnerhall x Bonheur) with 71.176%.

"St Schufro feels amazing in the small tour even though we have only done it twice now. He is already really comfortable at that level," Merrald told Eurodressage. "I didn't expect a double win first time internationally, because he is still very young and inexperienced, but he just did an amazing job there. So relaxed in the stables, and not looking at anything when I'm riding."

In September 2018 Merrald began working at Blue Hors stud as an assistant trainer to head rider Daniel Bachmann Andersen after completing the bulkf of her studies for her Bachelor degree in molecular biology at Roskilde University last summer.

Blue Hors allocated five principle horses alongside some youngsters for her to train, ride and compete: stallions St. Schufro, Zalabaster, and Bentley, as well as Grand Prix schoolmaster Wasabi and the 7-year old gelding Blue Hors Zirrus (by Zack x Donnerhall).

St. Schufro is turning out to be her pocket rocket and the one to watch for the future. The pair made its national debut in November and scored 80.000% and has been developing fast from there. Nanna praises the horse's basic gaits and work ethic as his forté.

"He is always trying his very best in the training and always totally ready to do the job," she said. "His strengths are first of all his mind; he is a very fast learner and he is always focused at the riding. And then he has a lot of talent for the piaffe-passage. His canter is still a little big, which makes the canter tour a bit difficult, but it gets better and better, so I don't think it will be a problem for him in the end."

St. Schufro is one of many highly popular and sought after breeding stallions on the Blue Hors stud's stallion roster. Nanna keeps the stallion's show schedule light as he combines breeding with sport.

"it is a bit hard for his body to combine stud duties with sport, but in his mind he is still able to focus on the sport when I'm riding, and that is really nice," said Nanna. "We actually are going to stay home and slowly prepare for the next level. When I feel he is ready for that then I'll take him out for his debut. Hopefully in the end of this year, but we will see."