Agnete Kirk Thinggaard Takes Over Ride on Blue Hors Veneziano, Louisdor Prize Champion

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Agnete Kirk Thinggaard riding Blue Hors Veneziano with coaching from Lars Petersen. © 2019 Blue Hors

RANDBØL, Denmark, April 10, 2019–Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, an Olymic rider for Denmark, has taken over the ride on Blue Hors Veneziano, the nine-year-old stallion that was the 2018 Louisdor Prize developing Grand Prix champion ridden by Daniel Bachmann Andersen.

Agnete, the 35-year-old daughter of Blue Hors stud founder Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen and who will officially ride for the Blue Hors team, competed Jojo AZ at the 2016 Rio Games.

Veneziano, an Oldenburg stallion (Vivaldi x Donnerhall), was ridden by Daniel to capture the Lousidor Prize, the German developing Grand Prix championship, last December. He was the first Danish rider to do so.

“It feels very safe to take over Veneziano in this way,” Agnete said. “It is something completely different from, for example, getting a new horse from abroad, which you have only tried once or twice. Veneziano I already have a good knowledge of, and I have full support from the Blue Hors team.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen on Blue Hors Veneziano celebrating the Louisdor Prize victory at Frankfurt. © 2018 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

“He’s a fantastic horse. He is so nice and good in the head that I can ride in the woods on a long rein, and then he is super hard-working and would like to make his rider happy. He is uncomplicated and super educated and in a way ‘easy’ to take over.

“I feel very lucky and privileged to be able to take over such a horse–and at the same time have Daniel in the back, who has ridden him since he was four years old.”

Agnete switched to train with Lars Petersen last year at the monthly visits from his Florida base to coach Blue Hors riders Daniel and Nanna Merrald, and via Skype in between.