American WEG team shortlisted rider Caroline Roffman has sold her top Grand Prix horse Her Highness O to Signe and Thomas Kirk Kristiansen from Denmark. The Danish couple was in Florida on holiday when Signe tried out the 12-year old Hanoverian mare (by Hohenstein x Weltmeyer x Matcho AA) and decided to buy her.
"It is a bittersweet day as I announce the official sale of the mighty little mare Her Highness O," Roffman stated. "Not only did she make my dreams come true, but she took my on some of the best adventures of my life. I wish the new owners the best of luck as I know you will love her as much as I do."
Signe is married to Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, son of Danish LEGO mogul Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, who owns Blue Hors Stud. Signe and Thomas have a brood farm of Arabian horses in Denmark and both are riders.
Roffmann runs her own training and sales yard, Lionshare Farm, in Wellington, Florida, and is dependent of selling horses for her income.
"It wasn't a decision to sell as much as an opportunity I could not pass up to sell her to someone who not only rode her so well but is kind and loves her as much as I do," Roffman told Eurodressage. "It is part of the business and the sport that is hard as I do not have financial sponsors and I need to make decisions that secure my future."
Her Highness O is bred by Matthias Ohmen. She was acquired by American Jennifer Lind as a foal and only served as broodmare with several foals on the ground. Roffman started riding "Hanna" in 2010.
Her Highness O originally came into Caroline's barn as a sales horse, but after a deal fell through Caroline ended up buying the mare herself. The pair became 2012 U.S. Developing Prix St Georges Horse Champions. The small but talented black made her Grand Prix debut in 2014.
Roffman and Her Highness O were quite the shooting stars on the American dressage scene because after six months competing at Grand Prix they were seriously in the running to become selected on the U.S. team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. However, the duo performed below par in the Grand Prix Special at the 2014 CDIO Aachen, which made team trainer Robert Dover pick a more experienced rider in the end. The selection of the 2014 U.S. WEG team was quite controversial because of that decision.
With no other Grand Prix horse in her barn, Roffmann will have to take a step back from high performance. However, she has several talented 6-year olds and a few small tour horses in the pipeline.
"I am looking for partners to develop horses with and sell in the future," Roffman explained. "I have a few horses; two of Anne Schmidt's I believe have quality enough for the future: Etoine (KWPN Licensing champion) and Shiatsu TF."
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Her Highness O
American Team Selected for 2014 World Equestrian Games
Caroline Roffman's Her Highness O Withdrawn from 2013 CDIO Aachen
Roffman and Her Highness O Are Regal in inter I Kur at 2013 CDI Wellington
Roffman and Her Highness O Win 2012 U.S. Developing PSG Horse Championship