President of the WBFSH since 1999 and chairman of Danish Warmblood since 1994, Mr. Jan Pedersen was decorated Knight of the Dannebrog order back in 2004, appointed by HRH Princess Benedikte for his vast endeavours for Danish horse breeding.

Monday 29 April 2019 he was awarded a higher rank, Knight of 1st degree of the Dannebrog order, which was presented to him at an event at HRH Princess Benedikte’s private quarters at the royal castle of Amalienborg in Copenhagen.

– It has been a great day. I feel proud and very honoured, said 64-year old Jan Pedersen who has commenced his 26th year as chairman for Danish Warmblood just as well as he has been president of the WBFSH for 20 years this year.

Jan Pedersen has grown up with horses as his father was a breeder of Danish Oldenburg horses and had his own licensed stallion. At a young age Jan Pedersen bred a licensed Oldenburg stallion which became an international showjumper. His small-scale breeding programme partly has roots in his father’s old dam line and a Danish Warmblood mare which he purchased in 1989. This mare originated from the old Danish breed, Frederiksborg, and has made a great foundation for Jan Pedersen’s breeding which includes successful dressage horses up to Grand Prix level, a gold medal mare and an approved stallion.

Knight of 1st degree - For "God and the King"

The Order of Dannebrog was instituted in 1671 by King Christian V, and by that time it only had one degree called White Knight.

The statutes have since been amended slightly. Today, the Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life or for those working for Danish interests.