Andreas Helgstrand, Danish dressage rider
Andreas Helgstrand, born on 2 October 1977, has been the Danish national dressage champion and a World Equestrian Games silver medalist.
He began riding as a child, but did not start his professional career until years later when his father bought some horses.
The first discipline Andreas competed in was showjumping, when he rode at the European young rider jumping championships.
It was only after working towards equestrian qualifications at …lborg with S ¸ren Valentin that he developed a passion for dressage.
After completing his exams, Andreas trained with Danish dressage rider Anna van Olst in Holland, before taking a job in Norway for 18 months where he trained junior and young riders.
In 2001, Andreas was asked to work at Blue Hors Stud as their top rider. He remained there until 2008, when he left to concentrate on his own business – Helgstrand Dressage.
Andreas represented Denmark at the 2004 Olympics and later that year went on to win the FEI World Cup Western European league qualifier, in Stockholm’s Globen Arena, with Blue Hors Cavan.
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In 2006, he claimed silver and bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, on the famous grand prix mare Blue Hors Matine.
Andreas won his fourth national grand prix title in 2008 at the Danish dressage championships in Broholm and took team bronze for Denmark at the Hong Kong Olympics.
The dressage rider is married and has two children.
Major achievements:
• Andreas was the Danish national dressage champion in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
• 2008 – Andreas was part of the Olympic bronze winning team on the stallion Blue Hors Don Schufro
• 2006 – Individual silver and bronze medal-winner at the World Equestrian Games
• 2005 – Finished fifth in the World Cup (Blue Hors Cavan)
• 2004 – Represented Denmark in the Athens Olympic Games
