What's Happening: May 2024 - Part II

American professional dressage rider Brandi Roenick married her long-time, German boyfriend Christoph Vonderhaar on 25 May 2024. They celebrated their union at their own home in Germany with an altar set up in the garden and a big party in a tent in an adjacent field. The couple for engaged on New Year's Eve, 31 December 2022. Roenick is originally from San Diego, California, but has been riding and working in Germany for the past five years. She currently works as a dressage rider under Isabel Freese at Paul Schockemöhle's stallion station in Mühlen. They have been together since 2019. 

Australian paralympian Amelia White has sold her number one, the 13-year old Dutch warmblood Genius (by Romanov x Don Schufro), to Hungary. The pair represented Australia at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Genius will know continue as a sport horse with Hungarian junior rider Janina Krisztina Rigo.

Rose Marie Bang Henriksen and her husband Lukas Hartmann Bonde are expecting their first child together. The couple, which got engaged in November 2020 and married in August 2022, seem to be expecting a baby boy as Rose shared the news on Instagram with a blue heart. "You, me, and our little love," she wrote. "Life with you is perfect, and I am so excited for our next chapter." Rose was 2017 Danish Young Rider champion on the gold medal Danish warmblood mare Donna Silver and is daughter of Danish stallion owner and breeder Lone Boegh Henriksen (owner of Furstenball, Vitalis and Total Hope).

Danish newspaper Nordjyske revealed yet another lawsuit concerning a horse deal gone wrong at Helgstrand Dressage.  Andreas Helgstrand is being sued by Swedish Sofie Ek, wife of Spotify founder and billionaire Daniel Ek, for allegedly selling Quarton with a hidden defect. Ek has filed a lawsuit with the court of Aalborg and "demands for the payment of a significant amount of millions." Nordjyske wrote that "sources in the industry Nordjyske has spoken say that Quarton has had a serious respiratory disorder for years." Nordjyske posted that Ek is also taking Helgstrand's in-house veterinarian, Højgård Hestehospital, to court. Quarton has changed hands through Helgstrand Dressage multiple times. He came from Sweden and sold to Helgstrand's client Anna Kasprzak, in 2019 he sold to their client Charlotte Jorst but he was returned in 2020. Alexander Helgstrand was allocated the ride until he sold again. The horse then sold to Sofia Ek, who also bought Belantis. (Photo © Ridehesten)

At the 2024 CDI Lier on 27 February - 3 March 2024 the Grand Prix horse Hip by Johnson of Spanish rider Lucia Gallardo was tested for doping and found positive to the controlled medication "meloxicam".  The FEI "fast track" was followed in the administrative proceeding for this positive medication offense and a fine has to be paid. Meloxicam is used to relieve inflammation and pain from acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Polish dressage rider Joanna Tragarz got married to her high school sweetheart, Franciszek Renaud, on 24 April 2024. "My best friend since 2013," Joanna wrote. "I owe you not only my life but the best life I could have ever dreamed of. You make me so proud. Love you hubs, forever and some." Tragarz represented Poland at the 2011 and 2012 European Pony Championships on Prometheus B and at the 2016 and 2017 European Young Riders Championships on Harvard K. In 2023 she rode Magically Painted Black at the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo.

U.S. national Grand Prix rider Jovanna Stepan and her life partner, Manny Garcia, got married on 4 May 2024. The couple got engaged in November 2023 and celebrated their wedding in Wellington, Florida, amongst close family and friends. 

Ridehesten reported that the 7-year old Danish warmblood licensed stallion Rock A Billy (by Revolution x Blue Hors Hertug has been sold to Czech investors for Czech Jan Zamec to ride. Bred by Jane and Erik Bech Jensen and owned by stallion station Hesselhoj, the bright bay finished 8th in the 4-year old consolation finals of the 2021 Danish Young Horse Championships under Anders Sjobeck Hoeck.