Nilshagen and Dante Weltino Return to the Top at 2017 CDI Aalborg

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2017 CDI Aalborg

Swedish Therese Nilshagen and Dressage Performance Centre Lodbergen's Dante Weltino OLD returned to the show ring in a winning way after a period of injury that kept them from competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After nine months, Nilshagen and Dante Weltino are back in action and bagged the 2017 CDI Aalborg Grand Prix and Special victory in Denmark with 73.900% and 75.059% personal best scores.

Nilshagen and the 10-year old Oldenburg stallion Dante Weltino (by Danone I x Welt Hit II) traveled to Rio to represent Sweden at the 2016 Olympic Games, but the black stallion failed the horse inspection and had to be replaced by the team's alternate. Initially the vets thought it was a hoof problem, but the issue turned out to be more serious because of a strained muscle in the hip/pelvic area. After a long autumn break, Dante Weltino OLD want back into training in the 2017 and was slowly prepared for his come back.

At the 2017 CDI Aalborg, hosted at Finstrupgaard equestrian centre, the 33-year old Nilshagen scored a whopping victory in the Grand Prix , unanimously placing first with all five judges. The pair kept the runners-up, Italian Pia Laus-Schneider on Shadow (by Sancisco x Lagoheider G) far at bay, with their 70.780% score.

Swedish chef d'equipe Bo Jena was euphoric about Nilshagen's come back in Aalborg. He told Ridsport that he is "so happy to see Dante basically jog around the arena and do everything with great ease. He looks better in his balance, form and stronger than before. It's wonderful to see that."

Also Nilshagen sighs with relief that the come back was so successful. "It feels great, but with a stallion you never know how they are after having been away for a while, but Dante really enjoyed going again. I knew he was in good shape, but wasn't sure how he would be in the arena. Everything work except for a little miscommunication in the pirouette."

Nilshagen, who trains with Klaus Balkenhol, went on to ace the Grand Prix Special on Friday with another best score of 75.059%. The pair has planned the CDI Roosendaal in June as their next show.