Nanna Merrald Skips 2024 Danish Championships, Zepter Entered for CDI Hagen

Dressage

Denmark

Nanna Skodborg Merrald, the winner of GP Special silver and team bronze at the 2023 European Championships, will not be competing in the first Danish Olympic team selection trial upcoming weekend.

The 2024 Danish Dressage Championships in Vallensbaek on 24 - 26 May 2024 will serve as first of two team observation and selection trials and, in principle, participation is mandatory for Danish team contenders.

Wedding Clash

Nanna's sister Sandra Skodborg Merrald, who used to be a competitive dressage rider in 2010s but quit showing in 2017, is getting married on the weekend of the Nationals.

Originally the Danish Championships were scheduled to be held at Andreas Helgstrand's facility in Uggerhalne but his one-year team expulsion has led the Championships to relocate to Vallensbaek and be rescheduled to a different date, which collided with Sandra's wedding.

First 2024 Show for Zepter in Hagen

Nanna will, therefore, compete her number one Blue Hors Zepter at the CDI Hagen on 6 June 2024, where the entire U.S. Olympic short list will be competing

The 16-year old Oldenburg competed only once since Riesenbeck (CDI Stockholm in December 2023) and has been side-lined with an injury since. He was originally declared for the CDIO Compiegne at the start of May but replaced by St. Schufro and Znickers. In Hagen it will be the first time in 2024 that he proves fitness in competition and remain for consideration for Danish team selection.

Twenty-Eight in Vallensbaek

Twenty-eight GP combinations are entered for the 2024 Danish Championships: Dufour will ride Freestyle and Vividus, Bachmann is showing the younger Shirley instead of Vayron (whom he competed in Compiegne). Also on the list are Heiline's Danciera; Thranegaardens Rosto, Favour Gersdorf, and Quel Filou, amongst others.