Andreas Helgstrand

Who is Andreas Helgstrand?

Andreas Helgstrand is a Danish dressage rider.

Helgstrand's father Ulf was president of the Danish Equestrian Federation. Andreas started equestrianism aged 7 or 8, competing initially in showjumping. He started training as a riding master in 1994 at the Sport Riding Club in Aalborg, passing the final exams in 2000. He has since worked as a horse trainer, riding instructor, and horse trader; first in the Netherlands with Anne van Olst, then in Kongsberg in Norway, before replacing Lars Petersen at the Blue Hors stud in Randboel, Denmark.

At the 2004 Olympics, riding Cavan, Helgstrand came ninth in the individual and fifth in the team. He finished fourth in the 2004 poll for Danish sportsperson of the year.

At the 2006 World Equestrian Games, riding the mare Matiné, Helgstrand came second in the Individual freestyle and third in the individual special. Eurodressage's report of the tournament called him "the favourite of the crowd" and said he "seemed to have redefined piaffe and passage".

Helgstrand withdrew from the 2007 Dressage World Cup finals in Las Vegas when Matiné twisted her left front pastern on arrival.