Kimi Nielsen Candidate to Take Over Position of Chair Danish Equestrian Federation

Dressage

Denmark

With a letter of motivation, former Danish elite sport chef Kimi Nielsen has put herself forward as a voluntary candidate for the position of chair of the Danish Equestrian Federation.

In April 2024 a brand new board of directors was elected at the Danish Equestrian Federation with Dan Boyter as chair. After a very tumultuous period in 2023 with the Helgstrand/Operation X documentary as the eye of the storm, president Ulf Helgsrand and vice-chair Jakob Ravnsbo stepped down.

New broom to sweep clean

The new board, headed by Boyter, was supposed to be the broom to sweep clean equestrian sport management in Denmark but in the first half year of its tenure, more problems have surfaced.

Amongst them are he Kruth whipping video and DRF money sent to the Organizing Committee of the CDI-W Herning. Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet even took an interest in the matter and brought it into the mainstream. Also troubles with Andreas Künnemann, chair of the Danish show jumping committee, have kept the board in murky water.

Ridehesten reported that Boyter and deputy chair Ditte Bach Sørensen have been sued before the Danish Sports Confederation's (DIF) Ethics Committee by four other board members, who believe that there have been violations of the board's rules of procedure, the articles of association and the principles of "good governance".

The internal disagreements within the board have led to HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark to step down from her role as patron of the federation; a role she held since 1992.

Extra ordinary general assembly

Four board members - Henrik Jørgensen, Linnea Ericsson-Carey, Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Charlotte Kjærgaard - have now stepped forward and asked for an extraordinary general assembly as they want to have a vote of no confidence in Boyter and appoint a new chair.

In a public statement, Boyter has accepted and agreed to this extraordinary meeting. He stated, "the right solution for DRF and equestrian sport in the deadlocked and unsustainable situation is to call an extraordinary board of representatives meeting. In the response of the four board members to my first statement, I miss a completely concrete answer as to why they do not want to take the consequences of the distrust they have expressed. I will therefore simply repeat the call for them to stand up to their responsibilities and let the board call an extraordinary meeting of the board of representatives so that the board of representatives can decide on the role of chairman."

Kimi Nielsen

Ridehesten has posted that Kimi Nielsen is a candidate for the position of chair in case Boyter would step aside.

In her motivational letter she stated, "equestrian sport is in perhaps the biggest crisis ever! From the sidelines, now for more than 1 year, I have looked at the derailment that the Danish Riding Association and thus the sport is on. As some may well know, I have been deeply frustrated with DRF's handling of the pending horse welfare cases, as well as the way in which DRF has handled the cooperation with clubs, districts, committees and various professional groups, where it all now culminates with a new chairman who have not succeeded in getting good board work under way. It is incredibly painful to see the sport that has been such a big part of my life continue its path towards an end."

She added, "I would like to be involved in securing the future of equestrian sport, but it requires that we within the sport are willing to rally around a change process where we do away with both the management and the culture of the Danish Riding Association. Where we are willing to collaborate and involve expertise and evidence. Where we honestly and genuinely want transparency and openness. Where having conversations about good horse welfare with both professional groups and interest organizations is a matter of course."

Read the full letter on Ridehesten.

Kimi Nielsen has worked for the Danish Equestrian Federation since 2008, first as team captain for dressage, then as elite and talent manager until 2017. In 2020 she returned to the federation to take up the role as elite manager for dressage, show jumping and eventing with the Danish Equestrian Federation. She retired in 2021 after having reached retirement age. She is the wife of dressage trainer Bjarne Nielsen.