Exciting changes in Per Sandgaard's life. The Danish Olympic team rider has decided to change nationality and has also got the ride on a new Grand Prix horse. Sandgaard, who has been living in Sweden with his partner Peter Markne for four years
, has decided to apply for Swedish citizenship.
"I have a Swedish sponsor now and they bought me a new Grand Prix horse. They are doing this for Swedish Dressage. Also, I have been here for four years and live here," Sandgaard commented.
The Swedish-American Leni Söderberg has become Per's new sponsor and acquired the 11-year old Rhinelander stallion Memphis (by Larome) from Kebie van der Heijden and Craig Rawlins for Per.
Per went to Holland in February to try out the stallion and liked him right away. "First of all his size and looks are great. He's a "here I come" horse with a super walk, a very good trot and a super piaffe passage which is relaxed and with lots of expression," Sandgaard explained.
Memphis was member of the Dutch Grand Prix B-team under Kebie van der Heijden and he was well on his way becoming an A-team horse. "Memphis was not really for sale. We would only sell him if we got an offer we couldn't refuse and that's exactly what happened," Craig Rawlins told Eurodressage. He added, "we sold him because of a combination of many good things. The money was good, the people were good and the time was right. Per and Peter are such nice guys and that was a plus for us. Kebie was not happy, but selling the horse to them was a good motivation."
With a new confirmed Grand Prix horse at his disposal, Per's future has turned bright again. After the sale of his top horse Zancor to Nadine Capellmann, Sandgaard fell into a void with no real stars in training. Fortunately times have changed and Per currently has three horses at his disposal.
Sandgaard presented the Danish licensed breeding stallion Zardin Firfoed (by Gribaldi x Schwadroneur) to the public for the first time at the Danish Warmblood stallion licensing in Herning last weekend. "The public was crazy about him and they were all waiting to see him come out again," said Sandgaard. He also has another 6-year old Gribaldi offspring coming along. His new Grand Prix horse Memphis is leaving The Netherlands tomorrow and will be at his barn in Katrinsholm, Sweden, by the end of the week.
By Astrid Appels - text and photo copyrighted
Related Links
Heart to Heart with Per Sandgaard
Per Sandgaard's Zancor Sold to Nadine Capellmann
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