Didou, New Grand Prix Hopeful in Helen Langehanenberg's Barn

Dressage

Germany

German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg has no lack of horses to ride with new talented equines filling up her boxes in a constant stream. The latest addition to her string is the 9-year old Oldenburg gelding Didou.

Didou is a 2013 born chestnut gelding by Dolany out of Wisby (by Munchhausen). He is bred by Heide Wahlen.

PSI Auction Horse

Didou was first competed by Leoni Retzlaff in 2017 in the riding horse tests as a 4-year old. In the spring of that year Andreas Nissen took over the ride.

Hof Kasselmann discovered the horse and bought him. He moved to Hagen where he was trained from novice to FEI level.

He was first competed in a Bundeschampionate qualifier in 2018 by Eva Niklova and in 2019 by Nicole Wego.

In 2018 the gelding sold via the PSI Auction to Taiwanese Connie Kang, who kept him in training at Hof Kasselmann as an investment project.

Under Belgian Dries van Dijck the horse made its international show debut in 2020 in the 7-year old young horse classes at the CDI Hagen. Van Dijck continued to compete Didou up to Prix St Georges level until the early spring of 2022.

Helen Langehanenberg

Almost three months ago Didou moved to Helen Langehanenberg's barn to be developed to Grand Prix level.

"He is owned by Hof Kasselmann and Connie Kang," François Kasselmann told Eurodressage. "Helen needed a few more horses and we think she is a good rider with a beautiful seat. She is able to develop a horse like him. We'll see how the future goes."

Dries van Dijck and Didou at the 2020 CDI Hagen
(Photo © Stefan Lafrentz)

Helen and Didou made their show debut last weekend at the national show in Oldenburg. The event, which has been a CDI for many years, came under new management in 2022 and was downscaled to a national show. The pair scored 70.278% to finish 6th in the Prix St Georges for 7 to 9-year olds.

"He has an incredible amount of talent for Grand Prix," said Helen after her first competition on Didou. "He did really well, but was still a bit impressed by the atmosphere in the EWE Arena. But I am super happy with our debut."