Danish Dressage Squads for 2025 Announced

Dressage

Denmark

The Danish equestrian federation has announced the updated dressage squads going into the new year, 2025.

Team captain Anne-Mette Binder and "expert trainer" and technical advisor Wolfram Wittig worked together on the new squads following a team workshop during the Ecco Cup final in collaboration with the youth department.

Master Plan 2025

For the senior riders a "Master Plan 2025" has been drafted that includes the input of the squad listed riders.

In a press release, the Danish federation stated that, "horse welfare is at the top of the agenda of the entire equestrian world – and of course also at the Danish Equestrian Federation. In light of some individual, unacceptable cases that have been highlighted in the media, it is more important than ever to emphasize the importance of prioritizing horse welfare at all levels."

The sports plans in all three Olympic disciplines have therefore been updated with an introductory section that clarifies expectations when it comes to horse welfare.

Grand Prix Squad

The year 2025 with the senior European Championships in Crozet will serve as a strategic orientation year towards the 2026 World Championships in Aachen.

The senior Grand Prix squad has undergone a few interesting changes. Andreas Helgstrand, whose suspension ends at the start of January 2025, is not included in the updated squad, whereas Carina Cassoe Kruth, whose suspension ended in November, has been listed.

After alleged animal abuse videos of Kruth and her coach Helgstrand shook up Denmark and the larger dressage world, the boat continued to be rocked when Kruth competed team trainer Wolfram Wittig's Flaconi W at the first show since her suspension ended in Harlev on 30 November 2024, where team captain Anne-Mette Binder was slated to be judging. In the end Binder was removed from the panel. Flaconi was previously shown by Brigitte Wittig and Kira Wulferding but as of March 2024 has been showing in Denmark with Kruth where the mare is for sale.

Daniel Bachmann last competed Marshall Bell successfully at the CDI Salzburg a few weeks ago, but his reunion with the chestnut was short-lived as owner Nicola Ahorner decided to keep the gelding in Austria for the winter. Bachmann also saw Grand Prix ride Vayron leave for Germany. He still has Grand Prix mare Shirley (by Sezuan x Solos Carex) to compete.

The Grand Prix squads for 2025 include:

A-squad

Anna Toosbuy Rasch (Kasprzak)
Anna Zibrandtsen
Carina Cassøe Krüth
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour
Daniel Bachmann Andersen
Lone Bang Zindorff
Nadja Aaboe Sloth
Nanna Skodborg Merrald

B-squad

Joachim Thomsen
Karoline Rohmann
Kenneth Damgaard
Rikke Dupont

Perspective Squad

Anne Sofie Aaen
Cecilie Dybro Jensen
Karoline Louise Skøt
Mathilde Koefoed-Nielsen
Susanne Barnow