Casper Cassoe Kruth Leaves Danish Warmblood for Global Equestrian Group

Breeding

Danish Warmblood

Casper Cassoe Kruth, managing director of the Danish warmblood society, has handed in his resignation on 31 January 2024.

He will move into the role of COO at Andreas Helgstrand's Global Equestrian Group as of 15 March 2024.

A Great Loss

"It is a great loss for Dansk Varmblod," said Jan Pedersen, chair of Danish warmblood and a strong supporter of Cassoe. "Casper Cassøe Krüth has been director of the association for almost 14 years and in that period Dansk Varmblod has undergone enormous development - both quantitatively and qualitatively."

Pedersen further stated, "Casper has established a strong team of committed employees at the secretariat in Vilhelmsborg, who work loyally for the association's management and members, and therefore I have confidence that the daily life of Dansk Warmblood can also function after 15 March."

As biggest accomplishments, Pedersen cites that the "business areas have been expanded to also oversee the operation of Vilhelmsborg and the running of the annual World Cup qualifier in Herning. During the same period, Danish Warmblood Stallion Testing has developed enormously and has become an absolutely essential part of the association's finances and marketing. Under Casper, the association's auctions have also developed into a valuable sales channel for the benefit of both the association and the individual grower."

Close Collaboration with Helgstrand

Casper Cassoe at the 2016 CDI Hagen
supporting wife Carina

Casper Cassoe Kruth (né Cassoe Jakobsen) has worked closely with Helgstrand under the Danish warmblood banner for years, as Helgstrand was the title sponsor of many of the shows and events organized in Denmark. They also co-hosting for instance the Nordic International Sales (NIS) in Uggerhalne, alongside other more independent DWB auctions. These NIS auctions came under fire in the Danish newspaper Nordjyske, exposing pre-arranged trade deals made in Helgstrand's advantage and at the expense of the actual breeder/owner of the horse.

In April 2023 Cassoe had to deal with a big turmoil within the Danish warmblood office as stallion licensing committee member Karina Christiansen suddenly got fired. Christiansen's departure caused three further members of the DWB dressage licensing committee to resign as well. According to various sources the stallion Movie Star was at the heart of it. Chair Jan Pedersen firmly supported Cassoe through this crisis.

Casper is husband to Danish team rider Carina Cassoe Kruth, a long-time student of Andreas Helgstrand. She expressed her support of Andreas on social media during the whole Operation X affair.

New Leading Role

Helgstrand Dressage announced on 30 January that "Global Equestrian Group strengthens the business with a new profile in management."

The press release stated, "Casper Cassøe Krüth takes on a new role as COO, where he, together with CCO Anders Bjørnstrup, will ensure the operations across the group's many companies. This includes, not least, the group's many international activities and the globally recognized sales and training center for elite dressage horses, Helgstrand Dressage."

Bjørnstrup CFO, Cassoe Kruth COO, Helgstrand CEO

Andreas Helgstrand personally said, "Casper is a huge capacity within the industry, and we are extremely proud to have him on board. With Casper and Anders at the helm of the core operations of our company, I can safely focus more of my time on buying and selling horses and the overall business strategy."

At the end of December Helgstrand Dressage published that the company made a 1 million euro profit in 2023 (15.9 million euro profit in 2022). In 2023 Global Equestrian Group Holding ApS recorded a loss of 21.7 million euro.

"Global Equestrian Group has experienced impressive growth with exciting expansion plans for the future. It's no secret that our industry has faced criticism. I look forward to being part of a market-leading company that will need to take the lead and set new standards in the industry, alongside some of the most talented professionals and riders in the field. A variety of initiatives have been introduced, which I look forward to driving and developing," Casper Cassøe Krüth stated in the official press release.