Westfalian Licensed Stallion Tesla Returned to Europe

Dressage

The Netherlands

Tesla, an 11-year old Westfalan licensed stallion previously shown by Helen Langehanenberg, returned to The Netherlands a year ago, after having disappeared in the U.S.A.

Tesla is a 2015 born KWPN stallion by Vitalis out of Believe Me (by Johnson x Houston). He is bred by G.W. ten Pas.

German Start

Owned by Wilhelm Berning at the time, he was presented by Helen Langehanenberg at the 2017 Westfalian Stallion Licensing in Munster and named premium stallion. He was not offered for sale and stayed with Helen to be produced. The breeding rights belonged to Steffen Holtwiesche, according to the FN database.

He did his 14-day suitability test in Schlieckau in April 2018 and scored 7.71 for dressage and 7.35 for show jumping to finish on a total of 7.68 points. His first sport test was in February 2019 in Munster, where he scored 8.02 points, and his second sport test was a year later in February 2020, where he earned 7.52 points.

Tesla was first competed by Helen Langehanenberg in an A-level test in Ankum in November 2019, followed by two classes in Ankum in January 2020. Soon after, her assistant Sabrina Gessmann took over the ride and competed him at M-level at local shows in 2021 In 2022 it was Eva Niklova's turn in the saddle. Niklova, who is the girlfriend of Helen's second assistant, Manuel Dominguez, rode the stallion in two M-level tests in Nienberge and Mettinge in May and June. At the end of June he did his first S-level class in Munster.

Sold to the U.S.A.

Tesla sold to the U.S.A. and came in training with horse dealer Caroline Roffman but never competed. The name of the "buyer" was kept tightly under wraps.

Return to Europe

In the early spring of 2025 the liver chestnut returned to Europe and ended up in Holland. He had been sold to VDL stud and Saskia van Musscher's DWH stables.

The ride was allocated to Vai Bruntink, who debuted him at national small tour level n May 2025, scoring close to 68% in the Prix St. Georges. In January 2026 Bruntink piloted the horse in an Intermediaire II test.

Van Musscher, who is a breeder and horse dealer, has recently been riding the stallion herself.