Danish Olympic team dressage rider Anna Kasprzak has passed on the ride on her second Grand Prix horse Honnerups Driver to her assistent trainer, Josefine Hoffmann. The new duo made its show debut at the national show in Vejle on Easter weekend 2017.
The 13-year old Honnerups Driver (by Romanov x Don Schufro) was acquired by Hanni Toosbuy Kasprzak in 2010 after Andreas Helgstrand won the 2009 World Young Horse Championships on the liver chestnut gelding. In 2010 Andreas and Driver finished 12th in the finals at the World Championships.
Under Anna Kasprzak, Driver won the 2014 Danish Under 25 Championships in Broholm in June and made his international Grand Prix debut in October 2014. He only competed in one CDI in 2015 and two in 2016. The tall gelding has been struggling with recurring injuries and is also not the best traveller. Anna and Driver did their last CDI in March 2016.
The Kasprzak family has decided to release the pressure on the horse by taking him back down a few levels, while at the same time giving their assistant trainer, the 19-year old Josefine Hoffmann, the opportunity to gain mileage and show experience on the Grand Prix horse. Hoffmann began working at Kasprzak's yard on 1 June 2016.
At the 2017 CDN Vejle on 15 - 17 April 2017, Hoffmann and Driver made their show debut at M-level and won the class with 75.128% ahead of Maja Borup Marcussen on Frida Gold (by Fidertanz x De Niro) with 70.962%.
Josefine told Danish equestrian magazine Ridehesten that she had a fantastic ride on Driver.
"He was with me the whole test and you could see that he enjoyed it as much as I did," said Josefine. "I feel very privileged that Anna has given me such an opportunity. I'm ecstatic and deeply grateful. I enjoy every ride on him, he's the perfect teacher and a fantastic friend."
Photo © Astrid Appels
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