Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen Leaves Helgstrand Dressage

Dressage

Denmark

Professional dressage rider Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen has announced that she is leaving Helgstrand Dressage after seven years employment.

The 29-year old Strandby will finish her contract which runs till the end of the year.

Through the System

Strandby Hansen is a typical rider who progressed through the system and up the levels, starting on ponies.

SL Cuba (by Constantin x Bazar) was the FEI dressage pony that launched her dressage career. She finished fifth with him at the 2010 Danish Pony Championships and seventh in 2011. She made her international show debut on her pony and competed at CDI's in Pompadour and Stadl Paura.

In 2012 she switched to horses and national level showing. She rode Latoya and it was Stærebogårds Cargo (by Crelido x Come Back II) that took her to junior level. As of 2014 a string of horses followed: Graastengaards La Casino, B-Dreamcatcher, Solbakkens Commander, and Harrysmindes De Matcho. With the latter she moved to small tour level.

A three-year break from showing followed between 2015 and 2018.

Helgstrand

Strandby decided on a professional career in riding and got hired on the team at Helgstrand Dressage.

In 2018 she rode her first Grand Prix level tests on Aaro's Ghandi (by Don Romantic x Resident) and began campaigning a string of sales horses for Helgstrand. Her first show rides were Djamaica de Hus, Dreamgirl, Ferdades, Davinci, and her own Janus G.I.H.

In the Medals

Strandby's big competition break was aboard the schoolmaster Foco Loco W, who after being trained by Borja Carrascosa and owned Yvonne Losos de Muniz, was sent to Denmark to be sold.

Strandby made her CDI debut on him at the 2020 European Under 25 Championships, winning team bronze and Kur gold. They also won the 2020 Danish Under 25 Championships.

Her next big medal winning horses were Eternity (by Escolar x Sir Donnerhall), which she took over from Cathrine Dufour and rode to bronze at the 2021 World Young Horse Championships.

Aboard Valerie B (by Revolution x Zack) she won the 2022 Danish Young Horse Championships and twice finished fourth at the 2023 and 2024 World Young Horse Championships.

Anne-Mette also briefly competed breeding stallions Hesselhoj Donkey Boy and Janeiro Platinum.

New Phase

Strandby at the 2024 World YH Championships

Strandby announced her departure from Helgstrand on social media last night.

"After 7 incredible years at Helgstrand Dressage, a bunch of amazing horses, great results and a thousand unforgettable memories, my time has come to search for new adventures," she wrote. "I’m forever thankful for every ride, the experience I have gained, and for all the supportive horse owners and breeders I have met along the way."

Anne-Mette told Eurodressage that "it has been a hard decision." She has no new job lined up, but "I don't have any limitations" on where she wants to be.