Michaela Navrsted Jensen was acquitted by the Glostrup District Court on April 16, 2026 in civil proceedings brought by Anders Hoeck.

Hoeck had filed a defamation suit against her on the basis of § 269 of the Danish Penal Code after she had testified as a witness in an earlier trial.

In the course of the acquittal, the judge had advised Anders Hoeck to draw a line under the matter and start afresh. Michaela Navrsted Jensen had hoped that the case would be closed with the acquittal.

Background: The incident in August 2023

The entire case stems from a much-discussed incident at a Danish Warmblood Association (Dansk Varmblod) mare performance test on August 19, 2023. At the time, Anders Sjöbeck Hoeck was disqualified from the event because, in the opinion of Technical Delegate Birgitte Yvonne Tribler, he had behaved roughly and violently towards his horse in the warm-up arena and had not moderated his actions despite being asked to do so. Tribler then reported him to the Danish Equestrian Federation.

Michaela Navrsted Jensen, who took part in the competition herself and rode her mare directly after Anders Hoeck, was there as a witness. She was on foot in the middle of the arena before it was her turn and later testified in the proceedings in Aarhus in which Anders Hoeck had filed a lawsuit against Dansk Varmblod. This case was also decided in favor of the Warmblood Association.

Suspension by the Danish Equestrian Federation

As EQUI PAGES has already reported, the Danish Equestrian Federation (DRF) decided in January 2026 to ban Anders Hoeck from all sporting and breeding events in Denmark for the entire year 2026 as a consequence of his behavior and its consequences. The DRF justified the decision by stating that Hoeck’s actions were not compatible with the association’s values and ethical guidelines and that the welfare of the horse must have top priority in equestrian sport. The ban will be reviewed again at the end of the year.

The German FN also agreed with the decision of the Danish federation. Pursuant to Section 65 Clauses 1.3 and 1.4 LPO, a rider banned by the FEI or a national FN may not participate in PLS in Germany, unless the German FN decides otherwise. Pursuant to Section 20(1) LPO, the annual show license may also be refused or withdrawn. This means that Anders Sjöbeck Hoeck will probably also be ineligible to compete at German shows in 2026 – for example at the Trakehner Bundesturnier or Bundeschampionat, where he regularly competed.

However, he was still allowed to take part in private events and therefore rode in stallion shows.

Proceedings against the Technical Delegate

Another case is running in parallel: Anders Uve Sjøbeck Hoeck has also appealed against the judgment in the proceedings against Technical Delegate Birgitte Yvonne Tribler. Tribler had been sued in civil proceedings for defamation of character; in November 2025, the court ruled in her favor. The appeal hearing before the regional court is scheduled for January 14, 2027.

In the Michaela Navrsted Jensen case, a trial date has not yet been set before the district court, which is the final instance in these proceedings. The Danish equestrian magazine “Ridehesten” first reported on the new development in the case and spoke to Michaela Navrsted Jensen as well as the Danish Equestrian Federation and Jens-Erik Majlund.