Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte, patron of WBFSH and Danish Warmblood, turned 75 years on April 29. At a celebration of the Princess' birthday in Denmark the pride of her career as a horse breeder as well as her being the patron of the former royal castle, now museum, 22-year old Digby was the surprise of the show
On April 29th our patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte was celebrated in Copenhagen, Denmark at a birthday dinner party hosted by her eldest sister, Her Majesty the Queen at the royal castle. The Princess' 75th birthday was celebrated on the equestrian scene on Saturday, April 27th by a magnificent horse show staged on the courtyard of Koldinghus where HRH Princess Benedikte, on the same day, opened a new exhibition about her life.
The horse show was composed and organised by Danish Warmblood to pay tribute to their patron, HRH Princess Benedikte, and master of ceremonies was Casper Cassøe Krüth, director of Danish Warmblood. The show included various aspects of horse sport, not least dressage where the Danish Olympians Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Cathrine Dufour rode a Pas de Deux to music on two of their upcoming horses.
Surprise of the day was the closing act. Princess Benedikte had been concerned about her youngest daughter, Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein being caught in traffic and therefore late for the show - but it appeared that traffic was not the real reason. It was a very moving moment for Princess Benedikte when Nathalie entered the arena aboard her former Olympian mount, Digby by Donnerhall, a horse born and raised at Berleburg castle and bred by Princess Benedikte.
The 22-year old, retired gelding showed himself fit, healthy and proud to be back in the spotlight performing picture perfect one-tempis and piaffe. At the 2008 Olympics Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby were part of the bronze winning Danish team.