Laurence Vanommeslaghe Retires Grand Prix Horses Edison and Havalon

Dressage

France

French Grand Prix rider Laurence Vanommeslaghe has retired her two top Grand Prix horses Edison and Havalon.

Edison

Edison is a 16-year old KWPN gelding by Johnson out of Mutile (by Balzflug). He is bred by the Swanenberg family.

The liver chestnut was owned as a youngster by Dirk and Linda van Woudenberg and shown by Michelle Vacquier in 2016. In 2017 they sold a share to horse dealer Dirk Fiechter and Yvonne van den Brink-Fiechter began competing the bay at national level in Holland. Jeanine Fiechter trained him to Grand Prix level and in 2019 her student Anne Meulendijks took over the ride. At the 2019 Dutch Championships they scored 70.783% in the Grand Prix and made their CDI Debut in Kronenberg in June. Their last show was a regional show in Uden in November, where they earned 71.41%.

In the winter of 2019-2020, the Paris based Vanommeslaghe purchased Edison. A 2014 WEG team member for Belgium, Vanommeslaghe made her international show debut on Edison at the CDI Opglabbeek in April 2021, scoring 68.326% in the Grand Prix. They went to Grote-Brogel (70.935%) and Compiegne next.

With Edison at the 2023 CDI Grote Brogel

The pair began 2022 with a bang in Wellington, Florida, where they took the Global Dressage Festival by storm. They competed in just two CDI's but clocked 70.609% and 69.457% in the Grand Prix. Their memorable rides came under floodlights in the Kur to Music as they brought the crowds to their feet with their bold heavy metal-themed soundtrack. They scored a personal best of 79.115%, followed by a new PB two weeks later of 79.430% again as crowd favourites. Upon their return home they made their experience count and posted 72.500% in the Grand Prix at the CDI Hagen, followed by a 71.261% in Wiesbaden, 68.652% in Aachen, and 72.630% in Kronberg. Remarkably the pair declined to ride on the Belgian team for the 2022 World Championships in Herning. They finished the year with World Cup starts in Lyon and Madrid.

Vanommeslaghe declared for France in 2023, the country she has been living in for the past two decades. It also explained why she didnt compete in Herning. Her target were the Paris Olympics for France. She returned to the arena after a 7 month break with Edison at the 2023 CDI Hagen in June, again to a good score of 72.348%. However at the next two CDI's in Grote-Brogel and Deauville the scores dropped and they were not considered for the French team for the Europeans in Riesenbeck.

Vanommeslaghe returned to Wellington in 2024 but only rode one CDI with Edison at the start of January. They scored 66.761% in the Grand Prix and withdrew from the Special. It was their last competition.

Havalon

Havalon is an 18-year old Hanoverian gelding by Hotline out of Wölckchen (by Wolkentanz II x Rubinstein). He is bred by Heinz Lenter.

Initially owned by Malte-Maximilian Dust, Havalon was first competed in Germany up to M-level under Christoph Dust. They did a few riding horse tests and three dressage horse classes up to M-level. His last show was in June 2013. Havalon sold to Vanommeslaghe in January 2017.

Laurence and the pretty Havalon premiered at the CDI Crozet in August 2017. Almost a year later they rode at the 2018 Aachen Dressage Days and then a three-year break followed for the horse. He returned to the CDI ring in Opglabbeek 2021 to score 69.978% in the Grand Prix. He joined Edison in Compiegne and Rotterdam before going along to Wellington in 2022.

Havalon followed the same trajectory as Edison, showing at the same competitions with very solid scores usually around 70%. While Edison did his last show in Wellington at the start of 2024, Laurence continued to campaign Havalon in Ocala and Wellington. The gelding's last show was in Wellington on 15 March 2025.

Retirement

Vanommeslaghe confirmed to Eurodressage that both boys have been retired from competition sport. The 18-year old Havalon had a full show career and is ready for retirement, while Edison struggled with health issues which made Laurence decide to choose for his welfare and give him an easier life away from sport.

She is currently bringing on her two younger Grand Prix horses, the 10-year old Kadanz (by Bordeaux x Vivaldi) and the 11-year old Dante Fürst ANW (by Dante Weltino x Furst Heinrich).