Veronica Pawluk's Medal Winning Pony D'Artagnan Returns to Denmark

Dressage

Poland

Polish pony rider Veronica Pawluk said goodbye to her medal and title winning FEI pony D'Artagnan. The liver chestnut has been sold to Denmark as Veronica has reached the age limit and moves into the junior ranks.

D'Artagnan is a 15-year old Weser Ems bred gelding by FS Don't Worry out of Chansonnette (by Viktoria's Colano x Constantin). He is bred by Schartmann and Litmeyer.

Danish Team Pony

The liver chestnut was licensed as a breeding stallion at the 2010 Weser Ems Stallion Licensing in Vechta and started his sport career in Germany in 2011, shown once by Juliane Kraus. He was owned by Heiko Scharf at the time.

The pony was gelded to be focused on sport and sold to Denmark for Kristian Würtz Green to ride. They made their international show debut at the 2016 CDI Stadl Paura in Austria but Wurtz was selected on the Danish team with his other pony, Lilo L, for the 2016 European Pony Championships in Vilhelmsborg. He continued competing D'Artagnan internationally in 2017 but again chose Lilo L for the 2017 Europeans.

With Liva Addy Guldager at the 2020 Europeans

He continued to compete and score well on D'Artagnan in 2017, showing at the internationals in Aalborg, Uggerhalne and Hagen, but again it was Lilo L who took the honour of going to the Europeans.

D'Artagnan sold to Danish Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen in the autumn of 2017 and the pony finally rose to prominence. They were fifth at 2018 Danish Pony Championships. In 2019 they were selected on the Danish team for the 2019 European Pony Championships in Strzegom, Poland, where they won a historic team gold medal and two silver medals in the individual test and kur to music. They also won the 2019 Danish Pony Championships. At the 2020 Europeans in Pilisjaszfalu (HUN), they were fifth individually.

Veronica Pawluk

In September 2020 D'Artagnan sold to the Dusseldorf based Pawluk family for 13-year old Veronica to ride.

In January 2021 Pawluk declared for Poland and wrote history in FEI pony sport for her country. They made their CDI debut at the 2021 CDI Zakrzow in Poland and placed in the top three. From there they went to Mariakalnok, Compiegne and Samorin, winning four times. At the 2021 European Pony Championships they were 8th in the Kur to Music Finals.

The highlight in their partnership was in 2022. After a successful spring season with two international wins they returned to the 2022 European Pony Championships in Strzegom, where they were third and got bronze in the Kur to Music finals. In their last year together, they won seven international classes at CDI's in Sint-Truiden, Le Mans, Olomouc, Geestern, and Jardy. At the 2023 European Championships in Le Mans, they were 9th in the Kur to Music Finals.

The pair became triple Polish Pony Champion.

Return to Denmark

As Pawluk has reached the age limit, she will move onto horses in 2024. D'Artagnan has been sold to Denmark and will continue his career under 14-year Danish pony team rider Rikke Schoubye Johansen.

"With a heavy heart and tears in my eyes, Danny and my journey has come to an end," Pawluk took to Instagram. "You are my best friend and forever once in a lifetime pony. I want to thank you for all the incredible memories, you are so special. We have come so far gaining so much experience, together we faced some challenges and we celebrated many successes. You carried me to my first international competition, first Polish Champion Titel and first European championship medal. I had so much fun on every adventure together with you! You are the coolest and sweetest pony. Words can not describe how much I love you."

Johansen won team silver at the 2023 Europeans aboard Lykkesholms Cyperb (by Lukas x Maior Domus). They were 7th in the Kur finals.

"I am so excited to finally announce that D’artagnan has joined the family," said Rikke. "I am so thankful for this opportunity, and that Veronica has trusted me with this amazing pony."