Swedish Grand Prix Horse Dan Brown Passed Away

Dressage

Sweden

Swedish Grand Prix horse Dan Brown, who was competed internationally by three different riders, has passed away. He was 18 years old.

Dan Brown was a 2008 born Hanoverian by Dancier out of Helena (by Hohenstein x Grenadier). He was bred by Hans Hosp.

Trying Out Dan Brown in Verden

Closely related to Leonardo Tiozzo's Black Desert (by Desert Moon out of Helena) and Sergio Muniz Laverde's Dark Dancer (also by Dancier), the bay gelding Dan Brown built his sport career in Sweden.

He was purchased by Anna Birgitta Bråkenhielm of Skillinge Dressyr AB in Sweden at the Hanoverian Auction in Verden in 2011. Bråkenhielm and Jeanna Hogberg picked the bay based upon the recommendation of Jonny Hilberath and Johan Ifversson.

In 2024 Hogberg reminisced on finding Dan Brown in Verden and trying him out. "It was at the time when we were stupid enough to ride without helmet," said Jeanna. "Luckily Anna had brought a helmet and I borrowed it when I was going to try a horse that looked ”a bit wild”. When I rode it I actually felt that he was getting more relaxed and in the canter I lightened on the reins, he stumbled and we fell. I got a concussion, lost my mind for a while and went with ambulance to the hospital. I was mostly afraid of my earlier injured knee, but the knee was fine and the next day we bought Dan Brown."

Swedish Grand Prix Horse

He was first developed from young horse to FEI level by Jeanna Hogberg. She first began competing him as a 4-year old in 2012 and finished 7th in the 4-year old division of the Swedish Young Horse Championships. In 2013 he was 14th and in 2014 he won the title. Hogberg moved him up to small tour level in 2015 and they made their CDI debut in Malmo winning the Prix St Georges. He was proclaimed "Tomorrow's Horse" at the 2015 Swedish Riders Gala in Stockholm . Hogberg retained the ride through 2016.

As of 2017 Ida-Linn Lundholm began competing Dan Brown, first at small tour level and then up to Grand Prix. They debuted internationally in May 2019 in Uggerhalne in the big tour with 66%. A month later they also showed in Aarhus, followed by Falsterbo.

As of 2020 he became a schoolmaster for Swedish Under 25 rider Felicia Olofsson, who once competed him internationally at the 2021 Nordic Baltic championships in Ypaja, where they were 12th in the short Grand Prix.

Later in 2021 Rebecca Mauleon took over the ride and showed Dan Brown nationally at big tour level through 2022. His last rider was Anniko Palo who learnt from him and showed him a few times with their final competition in December 2024, placing second in a Prix St Georges. He was retired from sport.

Untimely Passing

Owner Skillinge Dressyr announced that Dan Brown has passed away.

"Our beloved Dan Brown has left us too soon. Our hearts are in a thousand pieces. There was no horse like Danni," they said. "Danni was infinitely kind, generous and safe. He loved people, his stable mates and showing off. He could shine in piaffe, passage and pirouettes and the next day carry a novice alone down to the sea. This was Danni. In recent years he got to enjoy life on Skillinge with sea trips, sea life and his best friends."

Dan Brown suffered a severe colic attack on 18 August 2026 and could not be saved. It was decided in the best interest of the horse to put him to sleep.