The Danish Equestrian Federation, in collaboration with Team Denmark, has selected six young dressage riders for the Salling Foundation's Talent Program, which will support the transition from talent to world-class athlete.
The program runs from 2025 to 2028 and supports the most promising athletes who are considered to have the potential to perform at the highest international level within a 5-year period.
The selected riders are:
- Alexander Helgstrand
- Cecilie Dybro Jensen
- Ida Bjorn
- Karoline Rohmann
- Sara Aagaard Hyrm
- Sophia Ludvigsen
"It has been an incredibly difficult task to select just six riders for the Salling Foundation's Talent Program, because we in Denmark are so privileged to have a large group of very talented and ambitious young riders. The selection has been made on the basis of a thorough and sports-professional assessment, and I am convinced that the selected riders have the potential to develop into the international top names of the future," said Anne-Mette Binder, head of elite sports at the Danish Equestrian Federation.
The selection has been made in close collaboration with U25 national coach Kenneth Damgaard based on the following criteria:
- The athlete must basically belong to the oldest youth group in equestrian sport or be in the process of transitioning to the senior elite at an international level.
- The athlete must be included in the Danish Equestrian Federation's coordinated talent or elite work.
- The athlete must have achieved significant international results and possess special physical, technical, tactical and mental abilities that make development into a world-class athlete likely in the period 2029-2032 or within five years.
- The athlete must have horse material that can perform at the highest international level.
An introductory meeting has been held with the riders, and the first major activity will be a start-up meeting at Vilhelmsborg on 8 - 9 April2025. The riders will receive instruction from senior expert trainer and technical advisor Wolfram Wittig, and Team Denmark's experts in physiotherapy and sports psychology will provide presentations and training.
Photo © Digishots
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