Andreas Helgstrand

Andreas Helgstrand
Medal record
Competitor for  Denmark
Equestrian
Olympic Games
Bronze 2008 Beijing Team dressage
World Championships
Silver 2006 Aachen Freestyle dressage
Bronze 2006 Aachen Special dressage

Andreas Helgstrand (born October 2, 1977[1]) is a Danish dressage rider.

Helgstrand's father Ulf was president of the Danish Equestrian Federation.[2] Andreas started equestrianism aged 7 or 8, competing initially in showjumping.[3] He started training as a riding master in 1994 at the Sport Riding Club in Aalborg, passing the final exams in 2000.[4] He has since worked as a horse trainer, riding instructor, and horse trader; first in the Netherlands with Anne van Olst, then in Kongsberg in Norway, before replacing Lars Petersen at the Blue Hors stud in Randboel, Denmark.[3][4]

At the 2004 Olympics, riding Cavan, Helgstrand came ninth in the individual and fifth in the team.[1] He finished fourth in the 2004 poll for Danish sportsperson of the year.[2]

At the 2006 World Equestrian Games, riding the mare Matiné, Helgstrand came second in the Individual freestyle and third in the individual special. Eurodressage's report of the tournament called him "the favourite of the crowd" and said he "seemed to have redefined piaffe and passage".[5]

Helgstrand withdrew from the 2007 Dressage World Cup finals in Las Vegas when Matiné twisted her left front pastern on arrival.[6] She was retired from competition then, and euthanised after breaking a leg in 2010.[7]

In 2008, Helgstrand won his fourth consecutive Danish dressage championship, on his fourth different horse (Don Schufro, after Cavan, Matiné and Casmir).[8] At the 2008 Olympics, riding Don Schufro, he came eleventh in the individual and third in the team.[1] At the end of 2008 he left the Blue Hors stud to start his own Helgstrand Dressage business,[9] at Møgelmosegård near Aalborg.[10]

In 2010 Helgstrand rode Uno Donna Unique to victory in the 6-year old class at the 2010 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses.[11]

In 2013 Helgstrand became embroiled in a dispute regarding the sale of Uno Donna Unique.[12] In the same year, he came under extensive media fire regarding controversial photographs taken of him riding his horse in the disputed rollkur technique.[13]

Helgstrand was shortlisted for the Danish dressage team for the 2012 Olympics,[14] but was not selected.[15]

Andreas Helgstrand is currently under scrutiny (again) for his alleged harsh, illegal and cruel training methods. The Danish animal protection service has summoned him for a meeting. Several of the big Danish newspapers are running stories with pictures from a recent event where Foldagers Akeem is bleeding and have a blue tongue. [16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Andreas Helgstrand Biography and Olympic Results". Olympics. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Andreas Helgstrand Fourth in Voting for Danish Sport Talent of the Year 2004". eurodressage. 12 January 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hector, Chris (5 December 2005). "Andreas Helgstrand, Shooting Star from Denmark". Horse Magazine. Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Andreas". Team Helgstrand. Helgstrand Dressage. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Anky van Grunsven Finds Her Golden Lining". 2006 World Equestrian Games. eurodressage. 27 August 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Matine Withdraw". eurodressage. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Blue Hors Matine Died Unexpectedly". eurodressage. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Fourth Danish Title for Andreas Helgstrand at 2008 Danish Championships". eurodressage. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Andreas Helgstrand to Leave Blue Hors Stud". eurodressage. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Mikado Engvang Sold to Anette Ejlersgaard at Helgstrand Dressage". eurodressage. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Golden Glory for UNO Donna Unique at 2010 World Young Horse Championships". eurodressage. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "How 900,000 Euro went missing in sale of Uno Donna Unique". horsesinternational. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Do We Need Blood?". starstone. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Names of Riders Set on Final 2012 Danish Olympic Short List". eurodressage. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Danish Team Selected for 2012 Olympic Games". eurodressage. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "Danish olympic dressage rider in facebook storm after heartbreaking pictures". BT. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.

External links