Blue Hors Riders to Return to Competition

Dressage

Denmark

Blue Hors has announced that its rider - Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Sophia Ludvigsen - will resume competition now that the Danish Equestrian Federation has launched its new guidelines for the ethical use of horses in sport.

On 10 March Blue Hors made the decision to temporarily suspend its participation in competitions. "This decision was driven by the serious and necessary debate surrounding horse welfare, training methods, and animal ethics and a desire for greater clarity and shared guidelines for the ethical use of horses in sport," Blue Hors stated.

Changes at Blue Hors

At the time photos of rider Nanna Merrald were being featured in mainstream publications in Sweden alleging blue tongues and the use of artificial productsto imitate foam.

With Blue Hors being owned by the Kirk Thinggaard family from the LEGO dynasty, the company decided to temporarily step away from the spotlight.

In September 2023 the stud announced a major downsize. It sold its facility in Randbol, relocated to Stutteri ASK in Fyn, sold the majority of its horse stock, including high profile horses Blue Hors Farrell, Blue Hors Veneziano, and Touch of Olympic L, and recently saw breeding director Martin Klavsen step away from his position.

Return to Competition

"The Danish Equestrian Federation has recently published its new Guidelines for the ethical use of horses ”Etiske retningslinjer for brug af heste”, and we are seeing a growing sense of shared understanding that we need to take action on this topic all across the horse industry," Blue Hors stated. "This represents an important step in the right direction, and on that basis, we have decided to resume Blue Hors’ competition activity."

Blue Hors continued, "being back at competitions doesnt mean that the conversation about horse welfare has now concluded. We remain committed to the development of a responsible, ambitious, and sustainable equestrian sport, where the welfare of the horse always comes first. We look forward to returning to the competition arena, and we support the implementation of the new guidelines from the federation."

What about Zepter?

Eurodressage inquired with Nanna Merrald about her return to competition, particularly with her number one horse Zepter, as rumours about his retirement were spreading.

"We haven’t decided yet if he has done his last show," Merrald told Eurodressage. "I have no plans for Zepter at the moment."

Merrald is focusing on Santiano as her rising Grand Prix horse.