The Damon Hill - Helen Langehanenberg partnership has officially come to an end. Although the stallion has moved away from Helen's barn already approximately a month ago, owner Christian Becks and Langehanenberg were unable to come to an agreement about the extension of their contract. A new buyer has not been found for the stallion.
Aboard Damon Hill (by Donnerhall x Rubinstein) Helen Langehanenberg was Germany's leading Grand Prix dressage rider for several years and sole duo able to put pressure on Olympic champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Langehanenberg's contract to ride the stallion came to end on 31 October 2014 but already during the summer it became clear that Becks' interest was to sell the stallion.
The 14-year old Westfalian stallion has been considered by several interested parties, including a former Olympic team rider, but a sale never came about. While the liver chestnut stallion was first rumoured to be for sale for an astronomical amount of money, he was more recently also offered for a pricey lease option.
On Monday 11 November 2014 Becks announced through his lawyer that Damon Hill has been pulled off the market and will remain with the family to stand at stud. Becks' lawyer Andreas Kleefisch released the news in which he mentioned that negotiations for an extension of the contract until Rio 2016 were unsuccessful.
"Our ideas about contract terms were too far apart," Becks stated about failed negotiations with Langehanenberg.
Damon Hill was the double Young Horse World Champion, under Langehanenberg as a 5-year old and under Ingrid Klimke as a 6-year old. Ingrid Klimke trained the stallion to Grand Prix level but in 2010 Helen Langehanenberg took over the ride and together they achieved international stardom.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Damon Hill Not For Sale According to Becks' Lawyer
Damon Hill Excused from First German WEG Trial at 2014 CDI Perl
Langehanenberg and Damon Hill Receive a Bye for 2014 German Championships
Ingrid Klimke and Damon Hill NRW No Longer a Combination
