This weekends trainer team the married couple Helle Wibe and Søren Christensen with Sparaday and Anna Raben - private photo.
Clear hattrick for the Danish combination 8 yr old Sparaday by Tørveslettens Spartacus / Don Frederic / Sandro Hit and 18 yr old Anna Teibel Raben at last weeks international event in Tolbert. Sparaday is bred and owned by Helle Wibe and together with her husband Søren Christensen they were as usual at the sideline training Sparaday and Anna towards the success.
A special set-up with a unique breeder and owner
With just 8 yr of age the impressive Danish Warmblood gelding Sparaday kicked off his international journey starting last year in June at international junior level together with Anna Raben in the saddle. One month later (with about 4 month partnership) they were part of the Danish European Team silver medals in Opglabbeek with individual 2nd place in the team competition. Later in 2024 they finished as no 4 in the 7 yr old Young Horse finals. This year they entered Young Rider level in February in Lier with two victories and one 4th place.
On daily basic either Helle or Søren is at the sideline training Sparaday and Anna, and most recently professional master rider Jørgen Hvenegaard has been weekly part of the training in order to add even more details and experience towards this years big goal the European Championship in Kronberg.
History
12 years ago Helle and Søren went to HANN auction in order to buy a colt, as they already purchased one colt and therefore wanted to buy a friend. Sitting at the auction optaining the final bid, a nearby person said if they were aware of that the gender was not a colt as the catalog said but a filly. Kind of big surprice but Helle and Søren were still happy new owner of now a filly instead of a colt. The same year they purchased additionally 5 foals, so the “friend issue” was easily solved.
Daytona Beach by Don Frederic / Blue Hors Hotline / Sandro Hit
Daytona Beach was a filly not a colt.
After having Daytona Beach under saddle Helle and Søren wanted to try to put her in foal, and at that time all eyes were the super mare line from Danish breeders Pernille and Steen Rugaard, Stutteri Tørvesletten. Back then Tørveslettens Spartacus by Sezuan was approved for Danish Warmblood. He was out of Tørveslettens Quattro (by Quaterback), later on all lips with Anna Blomgren in saddle at international GP level, and this combination made Sparaday. Only a total of 4 offspring are registered by Tørveslettens Spartacus as later was gelded and sold.
Currently Helle and Søren has 6 offsprings from Daytona Beach:
5 yr old by Bøgegaardens Santiago Bernabeu
4 yr old by Vainqueur
3 yr old by Donkey Boss
2 yr old by Donkey Boss
1 yr old by Skyline to B
Daytona is currently not pregnant for 2025, but is recently inseminated with Double Up by Donkey Boy / Tailormade Lancelot.
Amateur/professionel trainer team
As a 6 yr old Sparaday has been educated by Søren Christensen (husband of breeder and owner Helle Wibe) and was at that time showing secure flying changes and of course with great basic qualities.
As kind of coincidence young Anna Raben a local horse girl (former successful at pony level) got a test ride on one of the other horses from Helle and Søren and soon they saw Anna as a potential rider also for Sparaday. Helle and Søren has been focused all the way looking into a solid educational development, firstly for the young horse classes and then with junior level as a target. Last week with hattrick at the international event in Tolbert, Holland at Young Rider level.
From the beginning it has been mandatory that both Helle and Søren has been a part of this journey and therefore also important that they would be able to be close to their heart horse Sparaday in the everyday.
On site warm up
At the competition warm-up arena Søren is kind of start-up “head coach” for Sparaday and Anna and where Helle takes over for the final preparation getting them ready entering the competition arena.
As Helle tells: “Our main goal has been building up a system with about 30 minutes warm up for Sparaday and Anna, with focus on suppleness, only doing a few check up exercises.” At the same time Helle and Søren tells that Anna is super gifted in order to respond and reflect on advises during each training session.
The trainer job was definitely not in the cards for Helle and Søren at the big international competition where they now stand along side international top trainers and Grand Prix riders.
Shining together
Both Helle and Søren feel very privileged as owner, breeder and trainer team with a horse like Sparaday without any weeknesses for this level, and being able to guide a combination where both horse and rider actually is able to develop from day to day. It is definitely an easier journey with a top horse as a rider, and a gift to have tried to get the right feeling when your horse is able to respond and execute what´s been asking for.
Next event for Sparaday, Anna and the trainer team is planned to be at Danish national Championship end of May.