Helgstrand Dressage’s conquest of America ended in a pyrrhic victory. The US headquarters, Windsome Farm, is being sold and the company has returned to renting the property where it started in 2017, Eagle Tree Farm.
The takeover of the Wellington International show circuit by Helgstrand/Global Equestrian Group was only short-lived (2022-2024), and the real entry as a major sales stable did not go as planned.
Arguably the company’s best investment was the purchase of the Windsome Farm property for $17,450,000 in January 2020. They invested a six-figure sum in renovating the place and after a few years were able to sell half of the land at a large profit to an East Coast-based investor/show jumping family.
This buyer has also expressed interest in purchasing the actual farm, although Helgstrand has not confirmed that a contract has been signed.
The Danish company stated that it returned to Eagle Tree Farm on July 15, 2024.
“Lars Petersen and his wife, dressage rider Melissa Taylor, have managed the site since 2022. They will continue to do so and have relocated with their team to Eagle Tree Farm, where they will train the many horses already in their care and continue to serve a broad segment of Helgstrand’s American customers,” said Helgstrand. “The US is an important market for us and it is important that we maintain a presence here.”
“The sale of Windsome Farm is part of Global Equestrian Group’s new strategy to invest in horses, people and companies rather than real estate,” said COO Casper Cassøe Krüth.
Related links
Mark Bellissimo sues Helgstrand’s Global Equestrian Group over sale of Wellington Horse Show
Helgstrand Dressage buys Windsome Farm for $17.4 million
Helgstrand plans to purchase a permanent, year-round base in Wellington
Helgstrand Dressage selects 16 horses for the Atlantic crossing to be sold at Helgstrand USA
Helgstrand Dressage continues to flourish, making a profit of 10 million euros in 2018
Ulf Möller builds American sales stable for Helgstrand Dressage
Waterland and Helgstrand Dressage enter into partnership to become world leader in equestrian sport
