Danish Grand Prix rider Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig Lehn has said goodbye to her one and only international Grand Prix horse Esprit.
Born in 1990 at Bodil and Erik Jorgensen's yard in Denmark, Esprit was by Schwadroneur out of a Polish dam line.
As a youngster the horse was originally sold to the U.S.A but because one horse in the barn had a virus, the stable was put into quarantine and none of the horses were able to leave for weeks. Esprit ended up staying in Denmark.
In 1994 Esprit was ridden by judge Jytte Lemkow and spotted by trainer Hans Jorgen Norgaard for his then 15-year old student Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig Lehn.
In 1996 the pair was in the finals at the European Junior Riders Championships, won the Nordic Baltic Championship for juniors, and finished with silver at the Danish Young Horse Championships. At the 2000 European Young Riders Championships they were 8th in the individual final. They competed at the European JR/YR Championships from 1996 till 2000, every year qualifying for the Final with a fourth place in 1997 as best result. He earned nine medals at the Nordic championships in the period 1996-2000 including 6 gold medals, 2 silver and 1 bronze.
In 2002 they moved to Grand Prix level and competed at that level for four years of which two internationally. They competed at the 2004 World Cup Finals in Dusseldorf and finished 16th. 2004 was the last year Esprit was shown internationally, and he did his last national Grand Prix test in 2005.
The gelding spent his retirement with Nicole. He was 28 years old.
"He was my heart and soul," Nicole told Eurodressage. "And gave me some tremendous experiences beyond my dreams. Especially taking into consideration that I am an amateur rider."
Photo © Ridehesten
Related Links
Scores: 2004 World Cup Finals
Scores: 2004 Danish Dressage Championships
Scores: 2000 European Young Riders Championships
Schwadroneur Died Unexpectedly