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Spain (by Jean Llewellyn) Breeding News greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet with Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark, a passionate breeder of sport horses, during her recent visit to the World Equestrian Games in Jerez. It was so refreshing to meet a breeder with such infectious enthusiasm, who speaks so knowledgeably, whose passion for horses has survived since she was a young girl, and who still finds time to ride every day.
Throughout history royal families have naturally been involved with the world of carriage horses and many have also been great aficionados of thoroughbred racing; Princess Benedikte is, therefore, perhaps, leading a modern day equestrian revolution with her affiliation to sport horse breeding and, in particular, the Danish Warmblood. Very much a hands-on breeder, the Princess has also involved herself with studbook duties in her homeland, as well as becoming patron of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, currently presided over by her fellow countryman, Jan Pedersen.
Q When did you decide to involve yourself with breeding, and sport horses in particular?
It was actually around ten years ago when a riding instructor who had been working in a stud before said one day ‘you have an extremely nice mare (Øxenholm Pamina: Sandro - Øxenholm Parieuse x Deadly Nightshade xx), have you ever thought of breeding’, and I thought ‘well why not’. Then, of course, I spoke to my daughter (Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein, who competed in the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, her first major championship, with Fantast S (Frisbee – Fantasie x Furioso’s Sohn)) and my husband about it and they said ‘why not’. Then of course we had to find a stallion.
First of all, the criterion was a dressage stallion. We had to find one that was suitable and that would suit a Danish mare. Not all of the stallions that we had selected were able to because they weren’t approved in Denmark, but Donnerhall was one of them. Which is how we came to choose Donnerhall. Of course he was well-known then, but not to the same extent that he is today. We had the good luck and had been told by other breeders and people that certainly not all mares go well together with him. We were lucky that my mare has quite a lot of thoroughbred in her so at that point we chose him.
We’ve had actually three foals. The first was a mare that stood on three legs. I don’t want my horses to suffer; it was a big sad moment for the whole family. She was six, so that’s the missing link for my daughter. Then we have another who’s a gelding, and a stallion that was approved at the Danish stallion show in March in Herning, and Nathalie is now riding him. He’s five now.
So we’ve had three foals by Donnerhall, then two with Master. He’s the Swedish Warmblood that Kyra Kyrklund was riding. The first was a stallion who was approved in Herning and will do this 70-day test. Not this year, but next year because we wanted him to develop a bit more. He’s doing extremely well, a very sweet stallion … a beautiful horse with very good gaits and a lovely temperament. One always has high hopes for ones horses and the dressage riders and some Danes have said very nice things about him, which always makes one, feel proud.
Q How many horses do you have now altogether as your breeding enterprise?
Two mares who have had several foals, and now a three year old. With the other mare I have [Racine] (Rubinstein - Rosienne x Rossi xx, with Matador’s sire, May Sherif as her maternal great-grandfather), also Danish Warmblood, we’ve had a beautiful foal this year – Fabienne, by Future Cup. My husband said the other day ‘isn’t she the best foal we’ve ever had’. Now one always likes to think that, but I do believe she’s one of the best – with a bit of luck because without it, as we all know, things don’t always work out.
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