Get up close to top rider Nils Christian Larsen

Malgré Tout has been lucky enough to visit the Kronholt farm in Herning, owned by national team and Icelandic horse rider Nils Christian Larsen. As the pictures show, the farm is impressive, and you almost feel more like you are standing in a Rolls Royce showroom than in a stable. We would like to get closer to who Nils Christian really is, hear about his passion, the Kronholt farm, and what is the secret behind his successful horses.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?

My name is Nils Christian Larsen, I was born and raised in Norway and moved to Denmark in 2016. I originally trained as a gourmet chef, but my passion and love for Icelandic horses has become my full-time occupation.

I am a professional rider, trained at RIK3 level, which is the highest in Icelandic horses. In four gaits I am number one in the world rankings with my horse Flaumur from Solvangi. This year we set a world record together in four gaits with a score of 8.37.

In Norway, I have been named rider of the year a total of 5 times and have also received awards such as:

• Sportreiters Des Jahres in Germany
• Profile rider Of the Year in Norway
• Style Icon of the year 2020 by Isibless international

The World, European and Nordic Champion trophies stand in the rider lounge along with countless Norwegian champion titles.

On a daily basis I run the Kronholt farm with everything that comes with having a premium breeding and training center. The farm has its own webshop kronholt.dk, where I sell my own clothing collection, riding equipment and accessories in selected brands that I use and can vouch for. My latest venture is furniture design.

WHY DID YOU FALL FOR ICELANDIC HORSES?

"My goal is to breed horses that can compete with Charlotte Fry's horse Glamourdale, which has extreme x-factor and gaits." - says Nils Christian Larsen

I have always been critical and have an eye for the best. The Icelandic horse has the perfect mix of good will, x-factor and drive. From my perspective as a breeder, it is about breeding horses that stand out. That is why I focus on:

• Mind
• Will
• Building
• Gaits
• X-factor
• Color

WHAT IS KRONHOLT?

Kronholt is my farm in Herning. Here I have a training stable and sell top competition horses at an international level. On the farm I have:

• 14 newly furnished high-end boxes, several with associated paddocks
• Large open-air areas
• Riding hall with crystal chandeliers
• Crotch strap
• Outdoor riding arena
• Oval track specially designed for Icelandic horses
• 2 exclusive riders lounges

The farm has 10 first-class mares, which are the heart of Kronholt's breeding program. I select the best bloodlines from stallions all over the world to achieve my goals. Right now the farm has:

• 13 competition horses (1 mare + 12 stallions)
• 10 broodmares (7 lactating and pregnant + 3 pregnant, not lactating)
• 7 foals
• 11 sales/commission horses

Kronholt is a center for the elite of Icelandic horses in Europe. I focus on creating an exclusive environment where both people and horses are at the center and perform optimally, while maintaining a welcoming and cozy atmosphere.

HOW MUCH DO HORSES MATTER IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

24/7/365 – So every day all year round.

"Horses are my work, my passion and my leisure interest." - says Nils Christian Larsen

I am in the saddle on the first horse every day by 8:00 a.m. I ride and teach here at the farm and participate in all the stable work that occurs, so I can have the full overview. I don't go to bed until I know that all the horses are well and ready for the night.

I also teach on the weekends, mostly outside Denmark. I am based in Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Austria.

WHAT DO YOU FEED?

In addition to straw feed, I use all four Regulator Complete products:

• Peak Performance Balancer

  for competition and breeding horses. In addition to vitamin and mineral supplements, the feed also contains a special Omega 3 supplement as well as joint and muscle support.

• Every Day Happy Balancer

  A more than comprehensive vitamin and mineral supplement with herbs and superfoods that is suitable for all horses.

• +Energy Fiber Mash

  is suitable for thin and competitive horses that need extra energy and calories.

• +Fiber Mash

  I use it for sales horses that come into commission and thus change stable environments and are therefore extra exposed to late runs.

WHAT REQUIREMENTS DO YOU MAKE FOR YOUR FOOD?

Trust is the key word when I choose feed suppliers – I don't want to spend time worrying about anything, and I want to be absolutely sure that I'm doing my best.

My horses must be more than fully covered with the products I feed. The feeding plan must be simple and adapted to the horse's needs, so it is easy to feed it. To keep the horses healthy, each horse gets the best vitamin and mineral supplement and the fiber mash that best suits the horse's needs.

I am very critical about the straw feed I use – after all, it is what the horse eats the most in terms of quantity in a day. There must be an analysis of the content from my suppliers, as I need to be absolutely sure that I get a correctly composed feeding plan for the individual horse.

I have been working with Regulator Complete for the past 6 years, and we have developed the close bond that a small supplier can have with its customers. Ingeborg knows my horses, and I usually talk to her before I think about calling the vet. The new products Regulator Complete launched a year ago have made the collaboration even more interesting.

In everyday life, it is easy for me and my helpers to feed the horses. Especially the fact that I can boost my horses with Regulator Complete's vitamin and mineral supplements makes it extra easy and very safe for me. I never buy other special supplements to give on the side, because I know that my horses get everything they need - both in everyday life and before, during and after competitions.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO FEED YOUR HORSES?

My own competition horses are all trained 5-6 times a week, where they all get Peak Performance and +Energy Fiber Mash. The horses weigh around 350 kg, and the daily cost is around 48,- DKK. I use Regulator Complete's extra dosage for a horse in moderate work, but when I boost, I use the maximum dosage (280 g Peak Performance/37,73 DKK and 400 g +Energy Fiber Mash/10,50 DKK, total 48,23 DKK per day).

"I know that it pays to invest in a good foundation for the foal." - says Nils Christian Larsen

My broodmares also follow the Regulator Complete feeding plan and guidance. In the last three months of pregnancy, the mares are fed Peak Performance, while in the first eight months they are fed Every Day Happy.

Healthy sales horses of about 400 kg cost 16.50 per day. They are in moderate training, and I feed them Every Day Happy in normal dosage (240 g Every Day Happy/ 5.94 kr. and 400g Energy Fiber Mash/10.50 for a total of 16.44 kr.).

When I have special exclusive sales horses that need to be showroom-ready quickly, I boost with Peak Performance, and if the horse is on the lean side, it gets more +Energy Fiber Mash.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME!

We are delighted to have the opportunity to get closer to Nils Christian Larsen, and we have learned more about his vision, dreams and little secrets. Our visit to Kronholt clearly shows that some of the prejudices that have shaped the big horse world's view of Icelandic horses are being driven to the ground. At Kronholt, Nils Christian creates the ideal framework for training any horse breed to the highest international level. His constant desire to do even better is something that sets him apart from the crowd.

The article is published in Malgré Tout