Sang Real Secured as 2028 L.A. Olympic Hopeful for Lars Petersen

Dressage

U.S.A.

Sang Real, a 14-year old Grand Prix mare, has been secured by Ken and Denise Steele as a 2028 L.A. Olympic hopeful for Lars Petersen.

Sang Real is a 2012 born Hanoverian mare by Sir Donnerhall out of Laurissa (by Lauries Crusador xx x World Cup I). She is bred by Martin Kaling.

From Germany to Sweden

Discovered at the 2012 Hanoverian Foal auction in Verden, Sang Real sold to Camilla Törsell and Carsten Johansen of the Swedish sales stable 2M2 Horses i Båstad AB.

The ride on the mare was allocated to Anna Svanberg who competed her between 2017 and 2019 in the young horse classes in Sweden.

From Denmark to the U.S.A.

A 50% ownership share in Sang Real sold to Helgstrand Dressage in Denmark. The mare moved her to Patrik Kittel's yard in Germany and sold to Andreas' American client Jessica Howington.

Jessica debuted Sang Real at national third level in Ocala, Florida, in August 2021. She competed her through the spring of 2022 up to small tour level.

She was then returned to the Helgstrand U.S.A. branch in Wellington, Florida, and came in the care and training programme of Lars Petersen. In November 2024 the mare sold to Colorado based Kim Aikens who kept Sang Real with Lars.

The 60-year old Petersen first represented Denmark on Utopia at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in the Hague, and then rode Uffe Korshojgaard at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he placed 12th individually. He took Blue Hors Cavan to the 1999 and 2001 Europeans, winning team bronze, and the 1998 and 2002 World Equestrian Games. He competed in five World Cup Finals between 1994 and 2015). His last team horse was Mariett which he rode at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen. Lars is married to American Grand Prix rider Melissa Taylor. The couple runs Legacy Farm.

Lars Petersen

Petersen began riding the mare more intensively and felt the quality in "Sangria" blossoming.

"Kim was riding her at first and doing quite well with her but life intervened as her daughter had a baby and she was away in Colorado for a fairly long time," Melissa told Eurodressage. "Then life got in the way again as Kim injured her shoulder and couldn’t ride. Kim wanted Sangria to get a little show experience so he took her out Inter II. She was super in the ring getting 77.500% in their second show."

The duo debuted at national Intermediaire II level in October 2025. This year he first showed her at Grand Prix level at three national shows during the 2026 Global Dressage Festival, before making their CDI debut in the 3* in Wellington mid March, scoring 63.652% and 66.553%. Lars and Sang Real gained mileage at further CDI's in Myakka City, and Ocala, posting a best score of 70.127% in the Special at TerraNova in April.

"The show ring learning curve is still in the making but many people came to us saying give this combination some time and wow," said Taylor. "The more that we brought her fully into our training program the more she impressed us with her talent and her work ethic. She really is lovely to work with. Then Kim decided to sell her farm in White Fences and move closer to her family. We really thought a great deal of Sangria’s potential and hated to lose her so we asked Kim if she would sell Sangria and she said yes!"

L.A. Olympic Hopeful

Ken and Denise Steele, close friends of Lars and Melissa, have purchased Sang Real from Aikens as an L.A. Olympic hopeful for Lars.

"We have become to believe that Sangria might have real international potential. She has the biggest heart and we really believe in her," Lars added. "I have been training both Ken and Denise in Wellington and off season fly to teach clinics at their beautiful farm in North Carolina."

The friendship between the Steeles and Lars & Melissa grew more deeply after a funny incident with a faulty air-conditioning system in Steele's house, which renaissance woman Melissa fixed with her toolbox. A deep friendship grew.

"Ken and Denise indicated that they were interested in being part of the ownership group and had a horse in training with us that Kim tried a few times and really liked," Taylor explained. "Next thing I know is I got a text from Denise saying we have deal with Kim and had secured the horse. So now Lars has Sang Real to ride and compete and explore what is hopefully a great future."

Denise Steele told Eurodressage that "it’s been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. Lars and Melissa are such great people, they deserve a chance to try and make the team."

The plan is to continue to train and do some small local shows this summer. Dressage at Devon will be their first CDI with the new partnership.

"Lars and I are extremely grateful to Kim for parting with her lovely mare and Denise and Ken for stepping up and literally getting this all completed when they were on the supposed to be “ non horse” vacation" in Ireland," said Melissa. "The best unexpected text I received in a long time."