Wahlkamp-Nilsson and Bergsjöholm's Valbonne's Winning Premier at 2023 CDI Lier

Shows

2023 CDI Lier

German based Swede Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson made a winning premier on Bergsjöholm's Valbonne at the 2023 CDI Lier in Belgium on 3 - 4 March 2023.

The 10-year old stallion had only two international competitions down his belt before making his international big tour debut.

Bergsjöholm's Valbonne

Bergsjöholm's Valbonne is a 10-year old Swedish warmblood stallion by Blue Hors Zack out of Via Veneto (by Epson x Favorit x Astronaut). He is bred by Marita Strauch.

The stallion was licensed for breeding with the Swedish warmblood society after he did his performance test in 2018, scoring 8 for walk, 7.5 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 8.5 for rideability under the test riders. He has six registered offspring in Sweden.

Emilie Brolin

Brolin and Valbonne at the 2018 WCYH in Ermelo

The stallion was first trained and competed in Sweden by Emelie Brolin, making his show debut in May 2017 in the 4-year old young horse classes. They were 10th at the 2017 Swedish Young Horse Championships.

The pair finished finished 18th in the consolation finals for 5-year olds at the 2018 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo. At the 2018 Swedish Young Horse Championships they were fifth.

They continued to compete in Sweden through May 2019.

Kittel and Kosaka

In the winter of 2019 Patrik Kittel bought Valbonne together with his Japanese client Masahiro Kosaka.

Kittel qualified him for the 2020 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, but they were cancelled due to covid. Patrik rode the stallion at one CDI, the 2021 CDI Hagen, in the small tour, placing second twice. The horse did its first Inter II at the CDN Ankun in October 2021. At the 2021 Swedish Riders' Gala, Valbonne was proclaimed "Tomorrow's Horse".

Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson

Kittel's assistant of 13 years, Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson, took over the ride in 2022 and first showed him at Grand Prix level in October 2022 at the CDN Ankum. She competed him in Appelhulsen and Munster before heading to the CDI Lier, where they posted a winning 71.500% in the Grand Prix and placed second with 71.341% in the Special in the 3* tour.

"It's incredibly motivating, you just want to go home and train and then go out again," Malin commented after the show. "He is incredibly elegant and has a great trot and passage. He has everything really, and is fun to ride and compete."