The circle is complete. Helen Langehanenberg and the Westfalian licensed stallion Damon Hill NRW have been reunited as a combination. Melanie Becks, owner of the liver chestnut stallion, confirmed to Eurodressage that she decided to give the ride back to Langehanenberg, who guided the stallion to his first international success.
The triumvirate of Damon Hill, Helen Langehanenberg and Ingrid Klimke has existed ever since the stallion became professionally trained in dressage. Damon Hill (by Donnerhall x Rubinstein) started his dressage career with Klimke, but six weeks before the 2005 World Young Horse Championships the dressage and eventing rider broke her shoulder and offered the ride to her student, Helen Langehanenberg.
The 23-year old Langehanenberg won the World Championships in the 5-year old division and gave credit to her trainer for the good education of this suave stallion. One year later, Klimke herself captured the 6-year old title at the 2006 World Championships in Verden and she continued to train the stallion up to Grand Prix level. The duo competed in the Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals and in the Medien Cup in 2009. The pair made it on the German Grand Prix B-team.
Two weeks ago the partnership between Klimke and Damon Hill NRW was ended as the owner and Klimke could not agree on the right combination of the stallion's competition and breeding career.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Ingrid Klimke and Damon Hill NRW No Longer a Combination
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Damon Hill and Florencio Win 2005 World Championships in Verden