Danish Warmblood Breeder Henrik Hansen Passed Away

Breeding

Denmark

Henrik Hansen, a highly successful breeder of Danish warmblood horses, has passed away on 20 March 2025. He was 60 years old.

Hansen's horses won no less than four gold medals and two silver at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden and Ermelo.

Horse Owner Turned Successful Breeder

Henrik's name first started making headlines as the owner of the young stallion Solos Carex in the 1990s. He also owned the 2005 Danish Warmblood Show Jumping Licensing champion Linardo (by Linaro x Coronado) and the 2005 WCYH participant Chatel's Schurana (by Don Schufro x Rawage Quintus).

He became exceptionally successful with his breeding programme in both show jumping and dressage.

Fiontini and Fiontina

Together with his ex-wife Hanne Lund, Hansen bred the embryotransfer mares Fiontini and Fiontina (by Fassbinder out of Rapitala (by Romanov x Solos Carex)).

Fiontina won the 2014 and 2015 Danish Young Horse Championships and got silver at the 2015 World Young Horse Championships in Verden. Fiontina sustained an injury after the 2015 Danish Nationals and is now a broodmare.

Fiontini eclipsed her full sister with even more success. Under Spanish Severo Jurado Lopez she won gold at the 2015, 2016 and 2017 World Young Horse Championships. In 2016 Swedish Beata Soderberg bought her and in March 2018 she sold her back to Andreas Helgstrand and Stutteri EVO. Jurado rode her in her first Grand Prix tests, then Andreas Helgstrand tried to ride her on the Danish team for the Tokyo Olympics, but didn't make the cut. He sent her to Patrik Kittel, who briefly competed her before selling to American Anna Buffini. She did not compete her straight away due to an injury but debuted her in 2024 in an attempt to ride her on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics.

Hansen bred five offspring out of Fiontini and three out of Fiontina. Fiontini's daughter Souvenir (by Sezuan) became instrumental in his breeding programme herself and has six offspring. Sparkletini (by Springbank II x Franklin) became a DWB gold medal mare in 2022.

Multiple Successes

Fiontini and Fiontina were no flash in the pan. Hansen consistently bred top horses and strongly worked together with Helgstrand Dressage.

Jane Serup Jensen, foal Francetti and Henrik in 2019

From his dressage breeding programme came Global Player (by Grand Galaxy Win out of Chatel's Schurana), a licensed stallion won the 2022 World Young Horse Championships and 2024 European Junior Riders Championships.

He bred Faretti (by Franklin out of Don Dorissimo (by Don Frederico x Ibiskus), who was the 2017 Danish Foal Champion and Nordic International Sales foal auction price highlight alongside Francetti and Fellini. These auctions were organized by Helgstrand himself. Hansen's licensed stallion Franzé (by Franklin x Sezuan) sold to Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. Francisca (by Franklin x Romanov) became the 2-year old DWB Filly Champion in 2019.

He further bred WCYH participant Zardetto (by Zack x Romanov) and owned stallions Atterupgaards Sastre and Fassbinder,

In the show jumping department, Hansen garnered fame through his broodmare Chania (by Corrado I), which produced premium stallion Cassado II (by Casall), who sold to Ludger Beerbaum, as well as Danish young horse show jumping champion Cambodia (by Camargue), licensed stallion Cassado ASK (by Casall) and jumper Detroit (by Diamant de Revel).

Decorated

Hansen named 2023 Danish Warmblood Breeder
of the Year

Hansen was decorated for his successes.

In 2016 he received the "Princess Benedikte Cup" in Herning for his elite and silver medal winning DWB mare Rapitala, who produced Fiontini and Fiontina.

In 2023 the Danish warmblood society decorated Henrik Hansen with two major titles. He became "Breeder of the Year" and his jumper mare Chania was named "Jumping Broodmare of the Year.

In 2024 he was bestowed the "Lando's Cup" for his impact on jumping breeding.

Accident

Upon returning home in Solrød Strand from the 2025 Danish warmblood licensing in Herning, where he saw his dressage stallion Forecast (by Franzé x Charmeur x Romanov) licensed and named premium, Hansen got knocked over by the ramp of the lorry and sustained a severe head injury.

He was immediately transported to the hospital and went into the ICU where he stayed for ten days in a coma. Unfortunately, Hansen did not recover from his injuries and passed away on Thursday 20 March 2025.

Henrik leaves behind his mother Birgit, his partner Louise and their son Oscar.