– He is an absolutely fantastic horse, and I am honored to have the opportunity to ride him, says Patrik Kittel in a press release published on Helgstrand dressage’s website.
If this means that the stallion can also be relevant as Kittel’s Olympic horse, the Swedish star does not want to comment when DN has contact with him.
“I’m riding, and trying to do my best, and we’ll see,” writes Patrik Kittel in a text message.
With the purchase of the stallion Jovian, Andreas Helgstrand began again to aim for championships. As he is suspended from the national team, however, the team is not relevant for the Olympics. Photo: Roland Thunholm/Bildbyrån
Danish TV2’s documentary about Andreas Helgstrand’s business “Secrets of the Horse Billionaire”, which was broadcast in November, has shaken up the world of equestrian sports.
Helgstrand is a major power factor in the dressage world, and the harsh and coercive training methods seen on the television images – filmed with a hidden camera – have had far-reaching effects.
Dressage in general has been criticized, and the Danish Equestrian Federation announced at the end of November that Andreas Helgstrand is suspended from the national team until January 1, 2025.
After concentrating more on the business part of the business for a few years – that is, selling horses – Helgstrand has in recent years invested more in his own riding career again. He and the stallion Jovian were part of the Danish team that took bronze in this summer’s EC.
But with the suspension, the former Olympic and World Cup medalist is no longer eligible for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, where he otherwise had the goal of competing with the stallion Jovian.
Beyond Jovian the stable’s other possible championship horse Queenparks Wendy has also got a new rider.
Queenpark’s Wendy who will be ridden by seven-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth of Germany.
Both Kittel and Werth have previously collaborated with Helgstrand’s dressage. Kittel’s company Outstanding Stables and Helgstrand’s dressage are owned by the same investment company.
– My company has a completely different concept from Helgstrand dressage. We have far fewer horses – 28 at the most – and that was also why the group bought us. They also want that type of company, Patrik Kittel told DN in connection with the scandal breaking.
Patrik Kittel, here together with the horse Touchdown, is currently ranked sixth in the world. Photo: Pi Frisk
Since the announcement from Helgstrand dressage that the two horses have received new riders, changes have also been made to the horses’ FEI passports.
In the ten-year-old stallion Jovian’s passport, Patrik Kittel is now part owner together with Helgstrand dressage. In the case of Queenpark’s Wendy, Isabell Werth’s longtime horse owner German Madeleine Winter-Schulze has been added as one of the owners.
These changes mean that both horses can formally represent Sweden and Germany respectively in this summer’s Olympics. In order for it to be allowed, the horses must be registered for the intended Olympic country by January 15 at the latest.
Both Kittel and Werth also have other horses that they match against Paris, but especially Jovian is a horse with great capacity and if Kittel’s collaboration with the stallion works, it could lead to something really good.
– I have been a fan of Jovian since Andreas bought him. He has qualities that are something out of the ordinary – when he trots, it’s like he’s trotting on clouds, says Patrik Kittel in the press release.
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2024-01-12 16:05:16
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