One of Belgium's most successful Grand Prix combinations, Vicky Smits-Vanderhasselt and Daianira van de Helle, has come to an official end. The duo has not been seen in the show ring since mid 2012 and after a long legal battle the mare was returned to co-owner Paul Mais of stud farm de Helle a year ago.
Vicky Smits-Vanderhasselt and the Hanoverian mare Daianira van de Helle (by Dream of Glory x Ritual) had a stellar career. They were the second most successful Belgian combination ever at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden, finishing sixth in the 5-year old division in 2004. At the 2005 World Championships they were 13th.
The duo made its national Grand Prix debut in 2009, but after an injury in 2010, their big international Grand Prix level break through came in 2011 in Munster, Germany, where they won the Grand Prix with 72.213%. They continued their success tour with a 70.447% Grand Prix victory at the CDI Bremen, followed by a 70.532% earning victory at the CDI Braunschweig.
Unfortunately a recurring injury prevented Daianira van de Helle to be considered for Belgian team nomination for the 2011 European Championships. She returned to the ring at the 2011 CDI-W Mechelen in December (68.745%) and they tried for an Olympic berth in 2012 by competing at the CDI-W Amsterdam (67.468%), the Vidauban spring tour (69.851%) and CDIO Rotterdam (71.362%). Subsequent legal woes brought the successful partnership to an end.
The now 16-year old Daianira van de Helle was originally acquired by Paul Mais from breeder Dorit Kothe in Germany, but Mais later sold ownership shares to Vicky's dad Rudi Smits and a friend of Rudi's family, Mr. Van Kerckhoven. At the peak of her career a lot of interest from abroad arose to buy the mare and Mais was open to offers whereas the co-owners resisted. All parties ended up in court. The legal turmoil resulted in a court order that the mare was no longer allowed to compete.
After two years the legal fight still continues, now about the foal rights to the mare according to Smits. However Vicky and the 16-year old Daianira van de Helle are no longer a combination. The mare was returned to Stud farm van de Helle one year ago, where she is now spending her time.
Smits-Vanderhasselt, who was known for her beautiful riding style, especially as she had the lightest of contacts on Daianira, has refrained from going out to international shows since then.
"It is still very difficult for me to talk about this matter and I don't do it very often," Vicky told Eurodressage. "We fought for her until our last breath. It is a very complex matter, but it has scarred me for life and it really knocked me down mentally. Daianira was my baby." Smits-Vanderhasselt added that she still has several horses in training at home. "But I still haven't found a second Dana," she added.
Despite Eurodressage's several attempts to get in touch with Stud Farm van de Helle, they declined to comment on the matter.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Triumph for Belgium, Vicky Smits and Daianira van de Helle Finishing Sixth
Belgian Selectors Choose to Send Quality to the 2005 World Championships in Verden
Girl Power in the Six-year old Division
Vicky Smits and Daianira Make Successful Transition to Grand Prix
Photo Report: Smits-Vanderhasselt and Daianira van de Helle Supreme at 2011 CDN Munster
Vicky Smits-Vanderhasselt Continues String of Success with Another Victory at 2011 CDI Braunschweig