Lyndal Oatley's Diva Sold to Swedish Hedda Thunberg

Dressage

Australia

Australian Olympian Lyndal Oatley has sold her third Grand Prix horse, Diva, to Swedish young rider Hedda Thunberg.

Diva is a 13-year old Swedish warmblood mare by Richfield out of Patrik Kittel's former Olympic ride Deja (by Silvano N). She is bred by Marie Haward.

WCYH Participant

Originally owned by Sofie Freden, Diva made her international show debut as a youngster, representing Sweden at the 2013 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, where she finished seventh in the consolation finals.

The duo also competed three years in a row at the Swedish Young Horse Championships. In 2011 they were 9th, in 2012 they were third, and in 2013 they finished fourth overall.

GP Hopeful for Oatley

In December 2013 Diva sold to German based Australian Lyndal Oatley as a future successor for her 2012 Olympic horse Sandro Boy.

The pair made its international show debut in 2015 at small tour level at the CDI Hagen, followed by a start at the CDI Compiegne two months later, where they posted their first 70% in the Intermediaire I. This show was also their last international in their career together.

Svanberg and Diva at the 2013 World
Young Horse Championships

Diva struggled with a viral infection on her lungs in 2016, but returned to full health and was trained to Grand Prix level although the long-backed mare found the piaffe difficult.

She made her Intermediaire II level debut in January 2018 at a national show in Ankum. In November 2018 Lyndal's husband Patrik Kittel showed her once in Ankum, after which Lyndal rode her in five more national Inter II - Short Grand Prix classes in 2019 in Germany (Ankum and Bielefeld). The pair's last show start was an Inter II class in Ankum on 6 February 2020.

Sold to Sweden

With Lyndal's new Grand Prix horses Elvive and Eros taking centre stage and receiving international high scores, a new career was found for Diva. Lyndal decided that she would match up perfectly as a schoolmaster and the mare found a new home in Sweden with 18-year old young rider Hedda Thunberg.

"It was in one way one of the hardest decisions I have made but also one of the easiest in the end as Diva has found a wonderful new family where she can shine and be the star and teacher in someone’s life," Lyndal commented.

Thunberg's international show career began on ponies in 2017. She competed the Swedish riding pony Brave Heart (by Henfynyw Tywysog x Isaksbo Jeronimo) at CDI's in Ypaja, Hammaro, and Drammen for two years. In 2019 Brave Heart moved on to Swedish pony rider Tindra Holmertz.

Hedda continued competing at national level with the internationally shown Capo Knight (by Crelido x Akinos), who was previously shown by Ludwig Wilken. Thunberg is turning 19 in 2021 and is now a Young Rider. Diva is her hope for the future.

Lyndal explained, "when I heard Hedda singing in the car after her first ride on Diva I knew it was right! Hedda’s lovely family reminds me a lot of mine and their love of horses was very clear. I knew she would be loved and be a part of a family! "