Blue Hors announces collaboration with Nanna Skodborg Merrald
Nanna Merrald and Blue Hors go their separate ways
from Dominique Wehrmann 
Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter in Aachen in 2023. The gelding is now 18 years old and last competed in Neumünster 2025, where he won the Grand Prix Freestyle. Photo: www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/Sharon Vandeput According to Blue Hors Stud, the decision was made by the board of directors. After careful consideration, it was decided to end the collaboration with head rider Nanna Skodborg Merrald (32). The reason: “This is being done as part of the integration of Stutteri Ask and Blue Hors, as the board believes the time is right for a new management structure and composition.”
It was not an easy decision. In the same breath, however, it is also said that the search for a new head rider for the dressage horses has already begun.
Reaction Nanna Merrald
For her part, Nanna Skodborg Merrald has published a social media post in which she writes how grateful she is for all the experiences during her eight years at Blue Hors and where she expresses her gratitude to the colleagues and employees she has dealt with.
“Now it’s time to look ahead. Sport and horses are still my passion. I am now trying to figure out where and how I will continue from here.”
A success story
Nanna Skodborg Merrald took over from Daniel Bachmann Andersen at Blue Hors and has had great success with the stud’s horses. The now retired Zack was her partner in the Danes’ historic team gold medal at the World Championships in Herning. Before that, the pair were part of the Olympic team in Tokyo.
She had her greatest successes with the Zack son Zepter, who had almost been discarded as a training horse. Although the chestnut went to the World Cup final with Patrik Kittel, he only regained his former glory with Nanna Merrald. The highlights of the pair’s career included the team silver medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and the individual silver medal at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck, where they also took bronze with the team.
The now nine-year-old Blue Hors Santiano was being touted as the next international Grand Prix horse for Nanna Skodborg Merrald. She also had the former dressage horse world champion St. Paris by Blue Hors St. Schufro under the saddle, who is regarded as one of the greatest talents in international dressage.
She gave birth to her first child at the end of March.
