Therese Nilshagen Takes Over Ride on For Romance

Dressage

Swedish Dressage News

Swedish Grand Prix team bronze medal winner Therese Nilshagen has received the ride on the 8-year old Oldenburg licensing champion For Romance. Nilshagen hopes to take the stallion to Grand Prix level.

For Romance (by Furst Romancier x Sandro Hit) is bred by Paul Schockemohle and sold to the Dressage Performance Centre Lodbergen at the Oldenburg stallion licensing in 2011.

For Romance was started under saddle as a youngster by Kira Wulferding who took him all the way up to small tour level. The pair finished 9th at the 2016 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals for German Developing Prix St Georges Horses in Frankfurt.

For Romance' (and Lodbergen's) owner, the Swiss Wespe family, have now decided that Nilshagen should continue the stallion's road to Grand Prix.

"I wasn't working in Lodbergen at the time For Romance was bought. I started six months later. Mr Schweizer (the yard manager) had promised Kira that she could ride him and she was riding him from the beginning. For me it was never a problem," Nilshagen told Eurodressage. "I was always happy with the horses I had and never tried to get the ride on this horse. Now the owner wants me to ride him as they appreciate my work and I'm always there in Lodbergen."

Nilshagen took over the ride on For Romance at the end of September 2017 and she will slowly prepare him for Grand Prix level together with her coach Klaus Balkenhol.

"Klaus usually comes to Lodbergen once a week to train us, if it works out with his schedule," Nilshagen explained. "He also likes the horse and we'll see."

The tremendous successes Therese accomplished with Dante Weltino this year have fuelled the owner's belief that the Swedish rider could take For Romance hopefully on a similar path.

"Now we try to get to know each other and one big goal would be if we can go to Intermediaire 2 next year, but I might start competing in the Prix St Georges," she said. "I enjoy riding him and I think he has the possibilities to be a good Grand Prix horse, but you know it's a long way. We have to try our best and we'll have to see."