Danish Grand Prix rider Maria Anita Andersen has been hired as manager of Helgstrand Academy, the student training department at Helgstrand Dressage.
The 38-year old Andersen was already hired in August but her duties have now increased as Soren Vallentin has resigned as manager on 1 October 2019. He only teaches a few days a week at Helgstrand Dressage anymore.
Andersen began as a professional rider working for stallion owner Anders Andersen and made name aboard Raimondo and Charmer.
In 2006 she was hired as a rider at Blue Hors stud and worked her way up the ladder to become the head rider at the yard. She realised her international break through in 2012 on horses such as Loxana, Rebelle, Karina Limskov and Leredo which she competed internationally at CDi's across Europe. In 2013 she rode three horses at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden (Katholt's Bossco, Svalegaards Hottie, Lohmanns Takitta).
In the autumn of 2014 Andersen left her job at Blue Hors as head Grand Prix rider to go independent. Blue Hors director at the time, Esben Möller, replaced her with Daniel Bachmann Andersen.
Andersen began her own business, House of Dressage, near Brædstrup, Denmark, with her partner at the time, rider Laila Aarrejarvi Bilstrup. Between 2016 and 2018 she rode at four CDi's, all in Denmar and at small tour level: in 2016 with Ludowitz, in 2017 on Placido Domingo, and in 2018 it was Praesteskovens Raquel.
In 2017 Maria began working for the Danish Equestrian Federation in Vilhelmsborg, teaching courses for riding instructors and rider training.
Maria now lives in Vodskov near Helgstrand Dressage with her partner, who works on the police force and 1-year old Nicoline.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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