Lars Petersen, Olympic, World Championship Rider, to Take Charge of Helgstrand USA
3 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Lars Petersen, Olympic, World Championship Rider, to Take Charge of Helgstrand USA
Jan. 21, 2022
Lars Petersen, an Olympic and world championship rider for Denmark, will take charge of Helgstrand USA based in Wellington, Florida, Andreas Helgstrand, owner and founder of Helgstrand Dressage, announced Friday.
“We are very proud to welcome Lars to Helgstrand Dressage,” said Andreas who described Lars as “one of the dressage sport’s biggest profiles of all time.” Lars, based in Wellington, now rides under the American flag.
“Lars has an in-depth knowledge of the USA and has built up a large network over the past many years. But it has not yet fully dawned on me, that he has said, ‘yes.’ It is really big for us.”
Waterland Private Equity bought into Helgstrand and last year the partnership called Global Equestrian Group signed an agreement to buy Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Lars 56, and his wife, Melissa Taylor, 51, have built a successful equestrian business in Wellington over the past two decades. They have been based at a training center where they have built a significant sales and training business that will now be phased out.
Lars and Andreas have had a business relationship for many years.
Lars relocated from Denmark to West Grove, Pennsylvania more than 30 years ago before returning to Denmark to ride for Blue Hors stud. He was there for almost a decade and competed horses such as Uffe Korshøjgaard, Mid-West Ibi-Light, Blue Hors Cavan and others. Andreas succeeded him at Blue Hors when Lars decided to return to the U.S.
For many years, he has held riding clinics throughout North America and was also coach of Blue Hors riders and horses until the coronavirus pandemic curtailed travel to Denmark.
“It takes time to make a name for yourself in the U.S.,” said Andreas, “but we are well on our way. Lars is respected worldwide for his achievements as both rider and trainer, and it has great value for us in the desire to expand our activities in the U.S., where we see a huge unfulfilled potential.”
Lars will have overall responsibility of the American operation with help from Melissa.
“I have enormous respect for what Andreas has built up, and I look forward to being a part of the further journey,” said Lars. “I will do my utmost to make Helgstrand USA an even greater success and continue the amazing work that Dr. Ulf Möller and his team have started, in collaboration with them.
“It’s a dream come true for us. We are very overwhelmed by this opportunity. For who does not want to be a part of something so big–we will at least do our part to make Helgstrand even more successful here in Wellington and contribute to many more riders getting their dream come true.”
Lars and Melissa will take up their new positions at Helgstrand Dressage USA on April 1, 2022. Dr. Ulf Möller will continue to lead Helgstrand Germany and be part of Helgstrand USA during the competition season.
