Episode 18 - Nils Christian Larsen

For out latest episode, we visited Nils Christian Larsen, in the middle of Jutland near Herning, where he showed us around his amazing establishment Kronholt. Nils is a professional rider, trainer and colour breeder of Icelandic horse, but also has a passion for "big horses" and is an educated chef.

We had the pleasure to ask him about the nickname "Mr.10", being a member of the norwegian national team and that learning is a journey.

Come and join us!

https://www.kronholt.dk/about-kronholt

https://www.kronholt.dk/

https://www.instagram.com/kronholt.dk/

https://www.instagram.com/nilschristianlarsen/?hl=en

Music by Cob.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, @the_toelt_tales.

Chapters

• 0:05 Meet Nils
• 2:07 Educated as a Chef
• 4:40 How did it start
• 8:02 How is Nils as a trainer?
• 10:20 Last time you bought a horse
• 11:44 Mister 10
• 16:01 Outstanding horses more important than winning
• 20:28 Reflections on training and competitions
• 23:47 Riding for Norway
• 27:05 Differences in breeding between Norway and Denmark
• 29:55 Man of two worlds - Perspectives on classical riding
• 38:09 Development in sport through riders, but also trainers and judges
• 45:42 Nils is also taking lessons to improve for the horse!
• 48:12 Gaedingalist for improving horse and rider
• 52:31 Learning is a journey
• 59:19 Moving to Kronholt
• 1:05:15 Breeding good horses with nice colours
• 1:09:54 Next generations of superstars?

Transcript

Lionel: 0:00

Hello everybody, and welcome to The Tölt Tales Podcast. Hello, Nils.

Nils Christian: 0:12

Hello, sir.

Lionel: 0:13

How are you?

Nils Christian: 0:14

I'm very good, thank you.

Lionel: 0:16

So we are here in not the middle of Denmark, but in Denmark. Yes. I honestly cannot thank you enough for taking the time and the welcome us in Kronholt today. And I hope it's gonna be a good episode. We will see. Worst case, we just take that the first bit, you know? It doesn't matter. As per usual, we usually start like this. We ask the guest to present himself. Albeit today, it's a bit special because I will find difficult to find someone who doesn't know you. But still, it's how we start. This is Christian Larsen. Can you tell us what you do in your life?

Nils Christian: 1:01

Oh, that's a big question. It is. Yes.

Lionel: 1:04

We have 11 hours of recording.

Nils Christian: 1:06

Oh, okay. Then we have. Then I think we will be there. Yeah. My name is Nils Christian Larsen, a Norwegian guy living in Denmark at my yard, Kronholt, located in Henning. My business is about horses. Yes. 24-7, 7 days a week. Yes. I breed a lot of horses. I teach. I ride professionally. That's my passion.

Lionel: 1:42

Yes. That sounds like a busy life, though, with your five horses.

Nils Christian: 1:47

Exactly.

Lionel: 1:50

That's what we said we were officially going to say anyway. Before, maybe we dive into competition, teaching, or even like your stable. I will have a weird question. Maybe I read that you are a chef or you have by trade.

Nils Christian: 2:10

Yeah, actually, yeah, I'm educated chef.

Lionel: 2:15

In Norway, yeah.

Nils Christian: 2:16

In Norway, yeah.

Lionel: 2:17

So how is a chef become a competition rider?

Nils Christian: 2:23

Yeah, good question. My mother and father, they were quite strict.

Lionel: 2:30

Okay.

Nils Christian: 2:31

I knew from early age, I wanted to do horses. I wanted to, that was my passion, really. So, but my mother and father, they were quite strict and demanded me to take education.

Lionel: 2:44

Right.

Nils Christian: 2:44

And I was like...

Lionel: 2:45

A real job.

Nils Christian: 2:46

Yeah, because they were not horse people, and they were not so fond of horses. They thought it was stinky, you know. So they expected me to take a normal education.

Lionel: 2:59

Okay.

Nils Christian: 2:59

And I, yeah, to be honest, I also didn't have any inspiration to do or motivation to do anything else. So I just said to my mother that she could actually just choose.

Lionel: 3:11

No. Yeah.

Nils Christian: 3:12

I said just like choose something and I will do it. And then when I'm finished, it's just like sayonara, then my horse life starts. So we agreed about that. And then I came into this cooking school. And then in this school or in this class, it was like so good, how shall I say? The other students in my class, they really had a passion for cooking. And they were mega good, you know. And I have such a strong competition mind that I didn't want to be the worst one in the class either. So I was just like totally up on my toes. And I was quite okay at it. And then I also got a job at the Michelin restaurant. And I was also competing there. Yeah. And then...

Lionel: 4:06

And then when that was done...

Nils Christian: 4:08

When that was finished, I was just like, see you. Now the deal is sealed. The horse life starts.

Lionel: 4:16

So you're not coming from a horse family?

Nils Christian: 4:19

No.

Lionel: 4:19

Oh, wow. We usually, you know, like with some episodes, there is really like the two different sides. Like you're coming from a horse family. There's nothing bad about it, right? I'm not, there's no judgment there. Or you're coming, or you're not coming from the horse world, and then you build up, I guess you just, so you went to read Scola, I guess, or like riding school, or all of that?

Nils Christian: 4:44

I, yeah, I have actually an older sister. She had also the horse interest. And then I think that is a little bit how it started, actually, right? Because she was also babysitting me. She's a little bit older than me. And then I had to go to the stable to hang there while she was finished. And then, yeah, she gave me a horse. And then suddenly it was just like one thing led to another. And then here you go. And then here I am.

Lionel: 5:17

What kind of horses? What breed?

Nils Christian: 5:19

Then the first one I got was a Shetland's pony.

Lionel: 5:22

All right. So it was not...

Nils Christian: 5:23

Because I think I was six years old or something. So then I could just like...

Lionel: 5:30

Grab any horses.

Nils Christian: 5:31

Yeah, then I could just organize everything with that horse myself while she was in bigger horses.

Lionel: 5:39

And how do we end up with you riding a quite okay career so far in Icelandic horses?

Nils Christian: 5:47

But it was like in the area where I grew up, it was actually a lot of Icelandic horses. It was all kinds of breeds, the dressage, jumping, Icelandic horses, everything. But it... But I also went to a riding school at one time that had only Icelandic horses. And then, yeah.

Lionel: 6:10

Okay, and then you... Is it like because it was more convenient, or you just start like, okay, but I like those kinds of horses?

Nils Christian: 6:20

It was a little bit convenient in the beginning.

Lionel: 6:23

Yeah, you just had more access to Icelandic horses.

Nils Christian: 6:27

Yeah, it was like more... It was, yeah, I actually don't know why it led to it, because we were also riding dressage horses, big horses, so it's just, yeah.

Lionel: 6:39

And you still do?

Nils Christian: 6:40

Yeah, I still do.

Lionel: 6:41

And you still do?

Nils Christian: 6:42

Yeah. And then, you know, a little bit like back to the chef education. It's also like today, I'm actually very happy that that was the education that I got. Yeah, that your mom chose. When it comes to visitors today, I can make food or whatever I have in the fridge. And also the tastes, how should I say it? The taste of riding or the sense of riding is like, you know, to have the eye for the details.

Lionel: 7:15

Yes.

Nils Christian: 7:15

You know, too sweet, too sour, too salt, too this, too that. That is also the same as you do when you ride. Is it enough? Is it too less? You know, what should be the change?

Lionel: 7:27

So there is a small, there is a bridge between those two.

Nils Christian: 7:29

Yeah, I would say.

Lionel: 7:30

The competition as well, I guess also. You mentioned, you have a competition.

Nils Christian: 7:34

Yeah, we competed in, how shall I say, in English. It was like, yeah, you know, making different courses on a certain time and yeah, you got the ingredients and then you, yeah.

Lionel: 7:48

And you, are you as strict as what if I don't know a lot about cooking, but you know, like the brigade, like you have, you have a hierarchy, etc. Is it as strict to work with you to ride for you? Is it how it is?

Nils Christian: 8:06

I think I'm quite, I am more to the strict side, yes.

Lionel: 8:12

All right.

Nils Christian: 8:12

Yeah, but also fair. I would say I am very fair, but I am also in a positive way, also demanding.

Lionel: 8:21

Okay.

Nils Christian: 8:21

Because I also, because I'm also demanding for myself. So then it's a natural thing for me also to be demanding for my students or for my workers or for my horses, or because if we are going to develop, if we are going to get better, it also requires a change. We cannot settle for less. It has to be like something going on.

Lionel: 8:47

Yes. You need to be slightly uncomfortable.

Nils Christian: 8:51

Exactly.

Lionel: 8:52

And then that's how you push the, I mean, we say you push the limit, push the barrier of what you're doing, even for the horses, I guess.

Nils Christian: 9:00

Yes. Yeah, totally for the horses. And I think it's so important to do it for yourself as well. You know, not be the same all the time. You have to, like, yeah, get better, be curious.

Lionel: 9:12

Yes, yeah, yes. So, so, so they are, right? Our horses are probably, I don't come from a horse family at all. I started 10 years ago riding because of a lady right here. And I always find fascinating how curious even those animals are.

Nils Christian: 9:32

Exactly.

Lionel: 9:33

They are always curious. Yeah.

Nils Christian: 9:36

And I mean, also imagine the animals, I mean, they don't understand our language, you know, they can maybe learn some words, but they learn from the motivation that they get from new work and from totally different things.

Lionel: 9:52

It is a case of also, I know that I'm lucky enough to have a good horse now, and he has this mentality that you described a bit. It also is like, if you don't ask me, I will not do it. So ask, ask well, and then I can do what I know the best to be.

Nils Christian: 10:13

Yeah, exactly.

Lionel: 10:15

So you're more on the strict side.

Nils Christian: 10:17

I would say, I would say.

Lionel: 10:19

Demanding, demanding. We always ask, when is the last time you bought a horse?

Nils Christian: 10:24

I think that hopefully will be today. Yes, to be honest. But yeah, so we will see.

Lionel: 10:33

Yeah. What kind of horses?

Nils Christian: 10:36

That is actually a Danish warmblood.

Lionel: 10:38

OK, right. Not an Icelandic.

Nils Christian: 10:40

No, but I actually actually also, yeah, I don't know. I don't buy that many horses.

Lionel: 10:46

No, you create them.

Nils Christian: 10:48

I clean them. You make new ones. Yeah, it takes also time to educate the ones you have. So it's not all about getting a new one and a new one and a new one. It also, you have to have the patience to, yeah, do the work well enough with the ones that you have.

Lionel: 11:08

Yes.

Nils Christian: 11:09

Instead of just buying a new one, even if it's maybe sometimes attempting to buy another one. But for me, the whole passion thing is also the education part of the horse. So then if it takes like four years, five years, six years to totally educate the horse, that's fine by me. If I believe in the horse and I have faith in it, then I also enjoy the ride.

Lionel: 11:34

Yes, yes. All right, let's dive in into a bit of our own internal kitchen. We were like, am I allowed to ask that question? And we were like, okay, I don't know. It's the Mr. Ten question. Yes.

Nils Christian: 11:50

Oh, what is that question?

Lionel: 11:52

So like on the internet, you're known as Mr. Ten.

Nils Christian: 11:58

Yeah.

Lionel: 11:59

Can you, can you, can you tell us?

Nils Christian: 12:02

Can you explain?

Lionel: 12:03

Can you tell us?

Nils Christian: 12:06

Yeah. Yeah. I think.

Lionel: 12:07

Because you had ten horses, maybe.

Nils Christian: 12:09

Yeah, that could be. That is maybe the new, the new story. No, but I had a horse from for some years ago called Garpur from Høygarden. A black, really good stallion that had the joy of riding, or I owned him also 50 percent together with a breeder. He scored quite many times ten for Fast Tölt, which for me may also maybe for the audience was really spectacular. It was really every time he got a ten, it was really just like, oh my god, it's a wow. Because normally, the feeling to sit on him was also amazing, because in the finals, you know, maybe the horses were a little bit tired. For the last section in the Forgator, in the Tölt, you just knew that he had like two gears extra, you know? So then he was just like, oh my god, he was so good, so well balanced, such a tempo, such a beautiful outline. It was a wow horse.

Lionel: 13:19

Is it still to that day, like, are you trying to re-create that feeling that you had in Fast and Potent with him?

Nils Christian: 13:27

Yes, but I'm not, I think I'm not able to re-create it ever.

Lionel: 13:32

No?

Nils Christian: 13:33

No.

Lionel: 13:34

It was that unique?

Nils Christian: 13:35

It was that moment or that, yeah, that horse or that special balance character confirmation. And he had it all. So it was like, yeah, yeah. He was like, wow.

Lionel: 13:51

Yeah?

Nils Christian: 13:51

So that's, of course, that's why also we got the 10, because it was like, it was.

Lionel: 13:56

Yeah, you don't get a 10 for just showing up.

Nils Christian: 13:59

No, exactly. So that was, I remember also one time he scored, I don't remember, it was 880 or 890 in the T1 preliminary. And I had just such a mega ride, you know, he was just like, he was so fun to ride. I was so in, into the horse, into everything, enjoying the music, and just having a blast. And then when I was finished my program, it was like the whole arena, it was just like standing ovation. And then when I looked up, you know, when I was finished, I was just like, oh my god, are they doing this for my horse? You know, I was just like, is it really me they are clapping for? You know, I had to like really pinch my arm and look around to see if there was somebody else they were clapping for. Because it was just like so surreal. And I had been such in my own world for those four minutes that I hadn't, I hadn't paid attention to it at all. So I was just like, when I looked up, I was just like, holy macaroni. This was wild.

Lionel: 15:08

When you ride in competition, are you then in your world?

Nils Christian: 15:12

Yeah, but normally I have also trained that much at home that when I come to the competition, I also know where my limits are. So even if I am in my own world, I also have time to look up and look around and have the energy to do more than just, yeah, doing the thing, because I have practiced my thing. So I am ready. So if I know, even if I would like to do more, I know I also cannot do more. And then when I have done what I should do, then I should also have time to look up and to have the energy to smile or to enjoy the ride and don't analyze too much either. Yeah.

Lionel: 15:53

But not that time. That time you were in the flow.

Nils Christian: 15:55

It was just like, yeah, he was... Oh, wow. Yeah. That was a wow day.

Lionel: 16:00

So like I say, you have some out OK career as a competition. I'm kidding.

Nils Christian: 16:05

Yeah.

Lionel: 16:06

You have quite an extensive, let's say extensive, and impressive career as a competitor. Apart from that time with your horse, like do you have a competition that stuck to your brain as like that was, I don't know, it could be a Nordic championship, Norwegian championship or world championship, that you will remember the feeling or that was just that feeling?

Nils Christian: 16:35

That's a tricky question.

Lionel: 16:36

Yeah, you had multiple?

Nils Christian: 16:37

I think because as I said, when you are also a demanding person, or it is also like you almost remember the worst rides more than the good rides in a way. Even if you can also like look back and you can like see some of the magic moments, but I have also had so many mega horses. So it's also difficult to say like one is...

Lionel: 17:07

To pinpoint one or...

Nils Christian: 17:09

Yeah, but like of course like Garpur there, that was like everyone called him Mr. Ten. And then I started to post pictures, you know, Mr. Ten, and then suddenly the whole world was Mr. Ten. Or also Molly Fraskridu, when I had him, then it was like Holy Molly instead of Molly Fraskridu, because he was so, oh my God, you know, he was just so wild, so different than any other horse on the planet. So then everyone was talking about him as Tortillas in the dressage world, you know, that he was just a different kind of horse. And he was really. And that's why when I also rolled him at the last world championship, was that in Germany? I also chose to ride, have Gangnam style as a song, because I mean, he had his own style, that horse. And then also the audience were totally wild, you know, when I was riding Fast, Tempo, Tölt. After Gangnam style, it was like, the atmosphere was just like really up in the roof.

Lionel: 18:22

So it's more filling with the horses than more like a competition, if I understand well. It's more that that carries you.

Nils Christian: 18:30

Yeah, I think that is, yeah, because it's like, to be honest, the feeling being in harmony or being in balance with the horse, that is the feeling that is the wow, I would say. So it doesn't, I don't need to win to have like the feeling that, oh my god, this was it. I can also be number 10 and feel that the horse and me was totally together. And it was, yeah, it was a super ride, because I cannot control what the other ones do. The other ones can be better than me, even if I feel that I have really like, oh my god, I delivered the stuff today. So I have to just let go what the others do, because it's so many good other riders as well, that I cannot focus what they do.

Lionel: 19:19

True, true. This is true that it's not... Obviously, you're competing against other riders, but it's not... nothing you can do about them.

Nils Christian: 19:28

Nix.

Lionel: 19:29

You can do about you. And I remember I said that, I stole that from, I think, Julio Barba during one of the podcasters, like the day of the competition, it's done. It's already done. If you're upset, or you don't feel ready, it's six months you go that should be, okay, I need to train for it.

Nils Christian: 19:51

Exactly. And it's so important to be honest with yourself, be proud of yourself, and be proud of your work. And if you have done your work, then if the other ones are better, then it's just like good for them. Because you have done your best.

Lionel: 20:08

Yes. I think it's good also. Maybe it's not that it takes the pressure off. Obviously, there is a lot of pressure when you ride for such big competition. But yeah, like if you that stress because your horse is not ready, it's not on the day of the competition that you can fix really anything.

Nils Christian: 20:26

Exactly.

Lionel: 20:27

Just to linger a bit on the competition, do you do something special to prepare yourself? Because you train your horse, obviously, etc. But do you do something special? Do you listen to GamGamStyle before or...?

Nils Christian: 20:43

Yeah, there in the preparation. Yes. No, I don't have like any specific things I do. But I mean, your mindset is everything. Yeah, or I need to do it with my mind at least, to stay focused and to know what to do, not to like cross the limits. And also, you know, yeah, as I said, be proud of myself and my work and believe in myself. Because like sometimes it could also be that everything is also out of your hands. I mean, it is judges that are judging you, and maybe their opinion is different than your opinion. And then it's something you also have to be prepared for. Both directions. Sometimes they maybe give you higher than you expect. Sometimes they also give you lower than you expect. So then instead of maybe changing the pattern also too quickly, you also have to just breathe in. Now I got a 6 instead of an 8. Maybe I should just evaluate, do another competition, see what the other judges are saying, before you start to panic change something because you are stressed because the marks are not maybe high enough.

Lionel: 21:58

Yes. Do you watch the videos after?

Nils Christian: 22:01

Yeah, a lot.

Lionel: 22:02

A lot? When you train, do you video yourself?

Nils Christian: 22:05

Yeah.

Lionel: 22:06

All right.

Nils Christian: 22:06

And I also use the mirrors. I have the mirrors here in the riding hall, but I also have the mirrors out on the oval track.

Lionel: 22:12

Yes.

Nils Christian: 22:13

So I can like, I can quick have a look how the feeling looks like, and then copy that feeling more and more, because sometimes the feeling in the saddle is different than how it looks.

Lionel: 22:26

Right.

Nils Christian: 22:26

And, and, and vice versa. So that's why to have eyes from the ground, or the video, or the mirrors, it's a really important tool in the training.

Lionel: 22:37

Okay. You link your feeling to what you see on the video. Is it what you do?

Nils Christian: 22:42

Yeah.

Lionel: 22:42

Right. Okay.

Nils Christian: 22:44

So then, you know, before then writing a perfect for a good program for me, then I'm also, you know, writing the program in my head, you know, imagine aging the best tilt I've ever done, the best trot I have ever done, the best walk I have ever done, the best transitions I have ever done, the best corners I have ever done, just to have it in my mind when I ride in on the track, that, okay, if I do this, then my perfect corner is coming. If I do this, the perfect transition is coming. So I can always like aim for the top, that I'm not like riding in and think, oh, I have to remember to push him out in the corner because I'm already there, the negative energy is, and then the snowball is escalating, you know, that I focus on the bad things than rather than my, how shall I say, my work.

Lionel: 23:37

Yes, you put yourself in the seat, well, not no pun intended, but you're of the seat of this is the best, this is what I need to aim for.

Nils Christian: 23:46

Yes.

Lionel: 23:46

All right, okay. Like you mentioned at the beginning, you're from Norway, you're living in Denmark. How important is Norway for you? Like the team, the Norwegian team, I asked that question because before the World Championship, I saw a very funny and cohesive group, like between you and Martin. How important is it for you?

Nils Christian: 24:15

Good question. Norway is like super important for me because I feel really Norwegian. I have worked, I would say, mostly of my life, I have worked abroad.

Lionel: 24:30

Okay.

Nils Christian: 24:31

You know, Germany, Iceland, Denmark and Denmark again. So then I, of course, feel really Norwegian. Right. And I'm proud of Norway and I'm proud to be one of the Norwegians in the team and so on, because that they have, the Danish group has also like asked me sometimes if I can please change citizens, you know. Book. Yeah, exactly. And then I was like, no, I'm not ready. I'm not ready. And now I will, yeah, you know, I am Norwegian. So I really, yeah. So that is a important part, but it's also like when you live far away or not far away, because it's just like some hours to go there. But but there is also like the community in Norway. I'm far away from that. I'm far away from from what happens there still, you know, if they gather or yeah. But but I would say, like, for example, me and Martin, we have also known each other for many years, and he lives in Germany.

Lionel: 25:39

Yes.

Nils Christian: 25:39

So we have also like in the past, been driving together to some of the tournaments when the Norwegian Championship has been 1000 kilometers up in Norway. We have been driving together and yeah.

Lionel: 25:55

What a ride though, like because you had to do the Norwegian Championship and then go down. It's quite a ride.

Nils Christian: 26:04

It's wild. Yes, it's wild. It has nothing to do with horse welfare, to be honest. But yeah, earlier we had to do it, because the Norwegian Championship counts 50% to come into the team. And it has also been demanding to be there. But and that we also want to be there, of course.

Lionel: 26:31

And we want to represent to, yeah, obviously, I can understand it's important.

Nils Christian: 26:35

Because it is also like really an honor to be a Norwegian champion as well. So of course, we want to be there and compete with the best, you know. So yeah, so that is the important part, but it is also challenging when the distances are as they are.

Lionel: 26:51

Yes. And we're lucky enough to live in Europe. We were talking with some people from the US, and it's even more banana like the distances and yeah. How would you see like the Norwegian breeding? How do you see Norway in the Icelandic world? Is the breeding something that you think is going to be pushed or?

Nils Christian: 27:15

That's a good question. I think there are some quite professional breeders in Norway that yes, that that tries to have a high standard of mares and choose stallions wisely, I can say. But like the challenging part with breeding is that it's, you know, the courage and the patience is really a big quality. Or you have to have that because, I mean, from your idea to cover the mare, to get the foal, to raise the foal, to educate the foal, and bring it to fietsu or competition or futurity classes. It takes like some quite many years and quite many costs. And of course, that's a lot of people that lose, that you lose on the way, on that journey somewhere.

Lionel: 28:16

Yeah, yeah, obviously. Yeah, obviously. Is it better here in Denmark? Yes.

Nils Christian: 28:21

Because it's, I don't know, in Norway, it's not that common to have so many horses as here, for example, just here in the street, I would say everyone has probably five to 10 horses in their backyard.

Lionel: 28:41

Yes.

Nils Christian: 28:41

That's normal here. Right. But it's like a different horse set up here in Denmark, because it's a horse nation.

Lionel: 28:51

Yes.

Nils Christian: 28:51

Norway is not in that direction, a horse nation.

Lionel: 28:55

Right.

Nils Christian: 28:56

And you can also see it in, I don't know if it's the weather or the conditions or how it is, but it's the same in the dressage world a bit as well, you know, that's...

Lionel: 29:08

Yeah, it's not... I guess, yeah, you could identify five or six nations like Germany, UK, Denmark, Sweden, France for some as like, okay, they... Historically, they do...

Nils Christian: 29:25

They're really strong.

Lionel: 29:26

They know horses. They have... Yes.

Nils Christian: 29:28

We are more like, yeah, we use the horses to work on the farm. We are not like this riding nation somehow from the beginning.

Lionel: 29:40

Rides, rides.

Nils Christian: 29:41

We used to horse horses on the farms.

Lionel: 29:45

Yeah, it's not the same. The Norwegian horse is indeed not a dressage horse.

Nils Christian: 29:49

No, exactly. It's a working horse.

Lionel: 29:52

Yes, it's a working horse. I'm curious to know, and maybe it's to transition into you as a rider, and you are riding Icelandic horses, big horses. You know, like I was, I don't know why I got all of a sudden poetic, and you know, man of the two worlds, you know. Man of the two worlds? You can take that as a note.

Nils Christian: 30:17

Yeah, exactly. I will write it down.

Lionel: 30:19

Yeah, absolutely.

Nils Christian: 30:20

So then Mr. Chan is out.

Lionel: 30:21

Yes, yes. Appreciate that. The next podcast, we'll ask you, where does it come from? You can say it.

Nils Christian: 30:27

Yeah, exactly.

Lionel: 30:28

It's a gift from us, you know.

Nils Christian: 30:29

It's come a line now.

Lionel: 30:32

Or Lionel, up to you. Yeah, exactly. I'm curious to know, like, what is, do you see a difference between those two, those two, the two riding? I want to look at the riding, like riding big horse and riding Icelandic horse. How do you see a difference or do you see a difference between them?

Nils Christian: 30:55

I would say if you just like take the picture of it, it's like classical, classical dressage riding, or like every school book you buy from How to Ride, it's the classic way of riding. It's like the French classical way of riding. That is the same, which breed you ride. That is the basic. And then of course you adjust a little bit from race to race, maybe what is like, where to find the correct key, I would say, because like with Icelandic horse, we have also two more gates, or one to two gates more than dressage horse. But it's like with the basic stuff, I hope that the Icelandic horse world can, I wouldn't say copy, but you know, also like see more in this direction from the big horses, because all of the definitions in the school book is what the dressage world are riding after, I would say. And that is like the challenge for us. If we say like medium trot, in our guidelines, when we ride four gate, five gate, it's like working to medium tempo trot, that we should show. And then if we then choose medium trot, hind legs passing the footprint of the front legs, in classical dressage, that is a definition of sitting trot.

Lionel: 32:34

Okay.

Nils Christian: 32:35

And then so many Icelandic horse riders doing rising trot, medium trot, or medium to extended trot, actually. So then already, it's like, then we also avoid the problems that we actually have in the Icelandic horse, because you may be, so many that uses the tempo rather than the balance. So if they had done the sitting trot, maybe the horse, because of the tension, wouldn't do the trot, because the tension, but they can adjust it by doing the racing trot, getting rid of the tension, trying to control the beat, using the tempo instead of the correct balance. And then the judges are maybe sometimes correcting it and sometimes not, because it is also more to the difficult side, I would say, to see it. When they do the racing trot, they can have active hands, do racing trot and maybe get the 7.5. But if they had been pushed to do the sitting trot, medium trot, then they would maybe be able to do it, because like if you sit tense hind legs, of course they will choose tölt, or mainly choose tölt, or be more forbeated or...

Lionel: 33:53

Yeah, or having a forbeated... Yeah, okay.

Nils Christian: 33:56

And then I can be, you know, sometimes really frustrated also when you go to tournaments, and then you see like medium to extend the trot, you see racing trot, you see also racing trot on the wrong diagonal, because it's so many good riders that adjust the rising trot, also the wrong diagonal to balance the horse. And then they get maybe 8.5.

Lionel: 34:19

And they take a shortcut kind of... Or they just, like you say, like they went for a bit more speed to have a bit less balance problem. Yes. Not maybe speed, but tempo. But obviously with more speed, like on a bike, you have less problem with balance.

Nils Christian: 34:35

Yes.

Lionel: 34:36

And you would like the Icelandic world maybe to push?

Nils Christian: 34:40

I think we should define much more, you know, so we wouldn't allow, you know, let's say medium to extend the trot, and then the wrong diagonal on top, and then they get 8.5. You know, from 8 to 10, then it's like excellent riding. Or I get really frustrated, at least, you know, when that kind of riding is rewarded in our world, that's excellent riding.

Lionel: 35:06

Yes. You're like, why?

Nils Christian: 35:08

Then it's so important to believe in yourself, and believe in your values, and believe in your own way of doing it. It's not that I am doing it perfect, because I'm just like struggling to do it as good as I can. But you know, we have to have a goal. We have to have one direction to work towards. So then when I see that that is a kind of reward we get in our world, I feel that our world is just like going backwards and so the forward. Even if it is also going forward, but it would be so good if we just had those definitions in our world as well, because then it is the same if we teach a big horse rider, or if we teach an Icelandic horse rider, or if we teach, you know, contact is also contact. Contact is not two light reins hanging. Light horse, that is not contact, you know. So then all of those definitions is something that we need to have more in our world.

Lionel: 36:11

Right. We didn't take from the classical riding enough.

Nils Christian: 36:18

We have also so well bred horses, you know, they are just amazing. They had super temperament, super conformation, mega gates. I mean, even with all those strange part, we said now more tempo, wrong diagonal, we can still get 8.5.

Lionel: 36:38

Yes.

Nils Christian: 36:39

You know, with a big horse that has the nerves, they are much more sensitive, much more electrical. So there are no shortcuts. You cannot, you know, you cannot like, don't do your work with an 800 kilo meat bowl, you know, that is on fire. So then the big horse needs really step by step. You cannot like force anything because it's not possible.

Lionel: 37:04

Right. You feel that because of the temperament, they allow us to be not slacker, but because obviously you are not slacker, and the best competitor in the world, there's nothing as slacking in horse riding, you know, but they give us a pass. They're like, I can handle a wrong diagonal. It's fine. I can do that.

Nils Christian: 37:24

Yes.

Lionel: 37:25

It's okay. That's really funny.

Nils Christian: 37:27

And also like the Tölt, I mean, they do the Tölt anyhow, almost, because they are so natural gated, you know, so they are, yeah. So I think also like, so even if we say that riding is riding, no matter which horse or no matter which breed, I would, it would be cool if we all are a little bit more on the same path.

Lionel: 37:50

Okay.

Nils Christian: 37:51

That would be cool.

Lionel: 37:52

It's been some time that you're riding now. Do you see that we are gearing towards what you describe? Or you're like, no, there is still gates that are like, no, we don't push.

Nils Christian: 38:03

No, I think it's definitely going in the right direction. But it's also like, you cannot demand everyone maybe to have the same passion or go or drive as myself. So it's also like, because like, you know, if I say that I get lessons, then twice a week, maybe, yeah, once or twice a week, then I've, and then maybe one of my colleagues gets lesson once a year, then of course we are on two different paths.

Lionel: 38:34

For sure.

Nils Christian: 38:35

You know, we are on two different levels. I'm not saying that I am better and the other one is worse, but then you know, if you are going to like move the barriers, then we all need to do even more. And yeah, the judges also, I mean, I mean, it's actually, even if it's my responsibility to take care of my horses, but it's also the judges that has the responsibility for the education of us. So if they are like the ones that are more, for deciding the correct marks.

Lionel: 39:08

Yes, they are giving the marks. So there is, that's true. Like the judges have a responsibility into putting the sport forward. Like this is what we reward. This is what we don't. This is what we are against. I mean, we do it with the beat. We do it with the old apparatus that we put on our size. I guess, like you say, maybe naturally we should go into, you cannot have the wrong diagonal on your trot anymore. Okay.

Nils Christian: 39:37

Exactly.

Lionel: 39:38

Before we started recording, you actually, you were talking with Arian about difference between big horses and you end up talking about the seat.

Nils Christian: 39:47

Yeah.

Lionel: 39:47

Do you feel there is a difference of seat and should we improve in sitting better, maybe? I don't know, in the Icelandic horse world. What do you think will improve?

Nils Christian: 40:00

I would say, I would just start to say that the horse is always the mirror of the rider. So the body language of the rider defines the body language of the horse. So I mean, the straight seat and the function of the seat is what the horse will respond to. Because the avatar connection is like the seat in the saddle down to the horse. So then if that connection is good and clear and so on, we can add the other aids as leg or voice or hands or yeah, blah, blah, blah. It's really many super riders that uses the seat perfect and does it super good, of course. But I think like, as we talked about with the judges and so on, I think it's also the responsibility for the teachers, the teachers, you know, to start there rather than to organize the horse. So then if you use a skilled teacher, that is the first thing a skilled teacher will do.

Lionel: 41:05

Yeah, it's not my experience, but you're right. Because 10 years after, it hurts. It hurts the legs when the teacher tells you, you need to sit, not like an Icelandic farmer, hello, Johan. And it hurts the legs.

Nils Christian: 41:21

Yeah. And it's also like, and I think also like to be strict again. I think we all, yeah, every rider, you know, their horse deserves a rider that is in balance.

Lionel: 41:36

Yes. Yes.

Nils Christian: 41:37

So then if you sit out of balance, then for me, that is more like the horse welfare chit chat, you know, rather than people commenting pictures of me on Instagram saying I'm fat, or I'm this or I'm that, you know, like just if we sit in balance, I mean, it's like super, you know, help your horse. Then we are talking.

Lionel: 41:59

Yeah. It's funny. It's sorry to get you. It's funny you say that because I mean, so many episodes we say the same. So many is like, I know it's boring when I say it, but you know, like yes, a horse welfare, yada, yada, yada, yada. But like instead of going out in the wood and with no contact, terrible, terrible conform, not conformation, terrible line or et cetera, et cetera. Get a trainer. Just improve. And it's not to compete. It's nothing to do. It's just to have your horse.

Nils Christian: 42:39

Ride your horse in balance.

Lionel: 42:40

Yes, in balance. Sustainable horse. Manship is also learn how to ride properly.

Nils Christian: 42:46

Yeah.

Lionel: 42:47

And I think sometime we tend to forget that, but I said it so many times that I should never say that again.

Nils Christian: 42:55

But I feel also now I have been... It's this riding rider teacher education in Norway. I have been a censor there now. So it was an exam for the level two, and level three has been now early, or late summer, earlier.

Lionel: 43:15

Okay.

Nils Christian: 43:16

And then, yeah, I also could just... How should I say? I could just feel how important my job as a censor was.

Lionel: 43:29

Oh, right, the responsibility that you carry.

Nils Christian: 43:31

Yeah, exactly. Because then I was sitting there analyzing all of the exams, the writing exams, the teaching exams, all of their exams. And then, you know, really to be sure that the new educated teachers could actually teach correct.

Lionel: 43:54

Yes.

Nils Christian: 43:55

You know, not by their opinions, not by something they have heard, or something that they had experienced themselves. But the basic has to be 100% clear. Yes. You know, and then we can like add some extra spices that we, that is our passion. Yes. Whatever, have clean equipment or like...

Lionel: 44:18

Your kinks, your like, your thing.

Nils Christian: 44:21

Yeah, exactly. But like the basics, the seat, the riding directions, the balance, the, you know, all of the correct words, the right definitions. So then I was really just, wow.

Lionel: 44:42

You reflected out like...

Nils Christian: 44:43

I really, when I was driving home, I was just like really thinking through it, you know, because it's easy when you sit there to be like strict and like this and that, this is correct, this is wrong, and it's so, it's also so much work. But then when it was finished, I was just like, wow, this is one hell of a responsibility, because this is so important, because the new writing teachers, they are teaching the next generation.

Lionel: 45:10

True.

Nils Christian: 45:11

So if we are going to level up, we need to educate more people to also to do it on a certain standard.

Lionel: 45:21

Yeah, I guess you reflect on like, okay, it's not only being in the middle of the writing hall, shouting orders or requests. It's way more important than that. You train the next generation. Those people will say later, oh, this is how you write, this is how you sit, this is how you take care of the house. So I guess it's more than just that. I'm always fascinating when we had a chance to talk to champions before and we're talking to one today. You went to the biggest stage of our whole sport, but you're still taking lessons. Do you have your system? You are your own trainer. How often do you take lessons?

Nils Christian: 46:11

Yeah, but I have, of course, some basic trainers that I have used for the last really many years. And which I'm really grateful for. And then I have some colleagues around here that we also work together. And with my big horse, yeah, with my potential new big one, then I always have one to two days a week just to be, yeah.

Lionel: 46:45

Oh, wow.

Nils Christian: 46:46

Yeah.

Lionel: 46:47

So Nils Christian Larsen still need to?

Nils Christian: 46:50

100 percent.

Lionel: 46:50

Yes.

Nils Christian: 46:52

Discipline.

Lionel: 46:53

Discipline. Yes. OK.

Nils Christian: 46:56

And you also need to like, yeah, I need to level up all the time, or I want to get better. I want to learn more, you know, and then it's good that also somebody reflects your work.

Lionel: 47:10

Yeah.

Nils Christian: 47:11

Even if I don't need to compete all the time, but I want to do better.

Lionel: 47:15

Yes. And you're looking for an externalize, like someone who look at you and then can reflect. Is it what you're looking for?

Nils Christian: 47:23

And also like, yeah, I do.

Lionel: 47:27

Or correcting you even?

Nils Christian: 47:28

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Completely.

Lionel: 47:29

Better seat, more contact, yes?

Nils Christian: 47:32

100%. Yes? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course.

Lionel: 47:35

Okay. All right. I take your word for it, but it doesn't seem like it. But yes, yes, I imagine you always have to be better, I guess.

Nils Christian: 47:44

Yeah. And I mean, it's also like different. Sometimes you need a clap on the shoulder to say like, you know, this will work, you know, just continue. You know, you will fix it.

Lionel: 47:52

Pull through, pull through. Yes, yes.

Nils Christian: 47:54

Or other times you also need a kick in the ass and, you know, just like, what are you doing? You know, wake up, you know. So that is also like, yeah.

Lionel: 48:05

So you ride dressage with a big horse, you ride many competitions in the Icelandic horse world. I have a small question. I know that something that I always find fascinating is getting a list. Like, I don't know, in my head, when I thought like, okay, you riding dressage and you have Icelandic horse, five Icelandic horses, it feels like, is it not a natural thing that I will see you riding?

Nils Christian: 48:39

And getting a list? Yes.

Lionel: 48:43

Is it something that interested you or it's not at all what you, is it something that you think, okay, but yeah.

Nils Christian: 48:50

No, I think it's really cool. I have done it sometimes actually in Norway because it was some of getting a list competitions there for some years ago.

Lionel: 49:01

I didn't find anything online. I was like, okay, did you ever ride getting a list?

Nils Christian: 49:05

Yeah, actually, yeah, I did. But there are not so many competitions with this. I'm very positive for it. I think it's like a good, I mean, that is also like a training session almost.

Lionel: 49:19

Yes, true.

Nils Christian: 49:20

So it's, and it also shows what I find really interesting with it. It's also like defines every rider, you know, if you, if, if, like, if you see getting a list in Maestradelt, then you can see like super riders. And then, and, but you still see the difference between the ones that you, that you see it uses the exercises beneficially to improve the gaits.

Lionel: 49:46

Yes.

Nils Christian: 49:46

Or you see also the riders that do the exercises just to do the exercises.

Lionel: 49:52

So you have that sharp eyes.

Nils Christian: 49:54

Yeah. And that is, so then if, if it would be more of this here, then we can also, you know, educate more of the riders out here as well.

Lionel: 50:04

Yeah.

Nils Christian: 50:05

But there are not so often it is.

Lionel: 50:07

No, no, no, no, no. And it's, it's mainly in Mestered Island, for sure. Like, I know that this year we went to, we went to Iceland and we went to see Geringgalist. We missed you by a week, I think.

Nils Christian: 50:21

Ah, from the clinic.

Lionel: 50:22

Yes, yes. We are like, ah, we took the wrong one. But we wanted, I know that I always think it's impressive to see them, you know, but I see what you mean by, okay, some of them are really putting the effort and what they show is natural for them to show. And some of them is like, okay, I'm asked to do those exercises. I will do them. And that's pretty much it.

Nils Christian: 50:48

I would also say, like, if you, yeah, we should maybe name drop in the podcast, but still. I would say like Aas Munder Ertnir Snorra Søen.

Lionel: 50:58

Yes.

Nils Christian: 50:59

He is one of the riders for my eye that you can see that he does the exercises beneficially for the gates, to improve the gates and to make the horse more supple, to make it more strong and so on. And he also had like mega massive success during the summer as well. Because of that good training, he could ride Maestradelt on his mare, all of the competitions, also all summer. And then she was still fit, you know?

Lionel: 51:34

Yes.

Nils Christian: 51:35

And that is also the result of the consistency in the training, building the horse up.

Lionel: 51:42

Yes.

Nils Christian: 51:42

So then even if you ride that many competitions, I would say it's possible because you train the horse properly.

Lionel: 51:51

And it ended up being a long season as well, because they start already in January. It started in January, yes.

Nils Christian: 51:57

And the Icelandic Championship was there in July. So then, and I mean, that horse or that mare, I mean, this Hlökk, she was also performing over nine, so she was really performing. It was not, you know, seven months of competition riding to 5.5, you know? It was just like really the highest level.

Lionel: 52:20

On top of it, yes. It's not like I finally managed to land a real Icelandic Championship. It's just like performing over and over.

Nils Christian: 52:29

Yes.

Lionel: 52:30

We briefly talk about the clinic. You training as well. You said you also passing exams to be a trainer, right?

Nils Christian: 52:38

Yeah, I was, yeah, exactly.

Lionel: 52:39

Like, do you have, as a coach, if you put your coach hat now, do you have, you know, like, yeah, a system in your head that you want your student to follow? No.

Nils Christian: 52:54

Do I have a system?

Lionel: 52:55

Do you have a system? Do you have a system?

Nils Christian: 52:59

Oops, do I have?

Lionel: 53:01

You know it every day, dude.

Nils Christian: 53:04

You know, I have a system, of course. I do. But I was a little bit nervous now.

Lionel: 53:13

I see you making that up, like I have a system.

Nils Christian: 53:18

No, but it's, you know, I totally have it. But it's, you know, everything is a journey, I would say, because everyone says that we ride classical way and blah, blah, blah. And it also took me so many years to also to understand one of my trainers, that Julio Borba.

Lionel: 53:38

Yeah.

Nils Christian: 53:39

Because he was, when I started to ride or train for him, he always asked why I was riding the horse when it didn't have balance.

Lionel: 53:52

Okay.

Nils Christian: 53:53

And then I was like, yeah, but I like to ride, you know, I was just like full of confidence. I was like, what are you meaning? And then he was like, yeah, no, you know, from our culture, we don't ride the horse until it's like strong enough or have balance enough. We work them by hand. And then I was like, oh yeah, yeah, that's nothing for me, you know? And then I was just like, because I didn't know, it was such a lack of knowledge, you know? It was another world for me, and I was like walking the horse by hand. I was like, no, thank you.

Lionel: 54:28

What are you talking about?

Nils Christian: 54:28

Yeah, exactly. I was like... And then he was so polite also in the beginning. So he was just like, okay, yeah, let's just do the best out of it. And I was like, yes, let's do it. So it was just like, he was just probably in shock, you know? But it continued and continued. And then he was like trying to introduce it to me, you know, over and over and over again. And then I start to do it because I could, I could, I realized that for him, it was important, you know? So then when he said I should do it, I was like, I can do it. But then I did it just a little bit. And then I started to write. But then, because I never really understood it, even he tried really to do his best to, you know, explain it, but I didn't get it. Because, you know, I come from a writing school where we have learned to pull and kick at the same time. That is actually the origin from a writing school. You know, that is what I remember, at least, you know. And I tried to tell him that this is our origin. So that's why for him, that is born under a cork tree with a lunch line in the hand and respect. And born into a horse nation and family. And we are from two different worlds.

Lionel: 55:51

Yes.

Nils Christian: 55:51

So then, yeah, bringing this together has taken some years.

Lionel: 55:57

And you feel you there or you feel you are on the way?

Nils Christian: 56:00

Yeah, I feel I'm on the way. But then for some years ago, when I really understood the work by hand.

Lionel: 56:06

Yeah.

Nils Christian: 56:06

That was a game changer.

Lionel: 56:09

OK.

Nils Christian: 56:09

So then when I like really understood that work, I understood the lunch work. I could start my youngsters up correctly. It takes maybe a little bit longer time. But when when they are there, they are like also on a totally another level than normally.

Lionel: 56:24

OK.

Nils Christian: 56:25

And also organizing the balance from the ground rather than sitting in the saddle. It also, you know, it's another world.

Lionel: 56:34

OK.

Nils Christian: 56:35

So that is what I'm also maybe that is my system also now because now I have understood it. And so then and now I can also, you know, be more strict with my students, even if Julie tried probably to be strict. But since I didn't knew and I was just like, yeah, you know, it took too long time. But I can be much more strict, you know, with my students to say, like, you know, this is why. This is how, you know, we have the same language. I have the same background as my students.

Lionel: 57:07

Yes.

Nils Christian: 57:08

You know, so I can like much more. I can be more strict because I know why.

Lionel: 57:13

Yeah, you can relate.

Nils Christian: 57:14

Julia didn't really realize that I could be that stupid, that I didn't understand it, you know, because he was sometimes he was just like, but hello, you know, what are you doing? Why are you doing it? And I was like, but this is OK.

Lionel: 57:30

I think I'm good. Thank you.

Nils Christian: 57:32

I think this is quite OK. And he was like, no, this is not good. And I was like, yeah, OK, you know. So but now I see I see the I see my direction or I see the solution.

Lionel: 57:46

Yeah, I should bridge those two.

Nils Christian: 57:47

Yes.

Lionel: 57:48

Yeah, OK.

Nils Christian: 57:49

And now I'm also when you come to the, how shall I say, stage that you also, of course, I love to teach and I teach a lot, but I don't teach to teach.

Lionel: 58:02

OK.

Nils Christian: 58:03

So then if I have maybe a student that doesn't like this or doesn't want to do this work, then I'd rather drink a coffee and not teach and to teach somebody that doesn't do it properly.

Lionel: 58:17

OK. Yes. Yeah, OK.

Nils Christian: 58:20

Yeah.

Lionel: 58:21

It's saner, no?

Nils Christian: 58:22

Yeah, it's either you do it or you're not. Yeah, and it's not a problem if you don't do it. Then we'd rather drink coffee than to do something halfway. Or yes, I've seen so many or been witnesses to so many lessons where it's like head up or head down or hands up or hands down. Yes, we are just like past that level.

Lionel: 58:44

OK.

Nils Christian: 58:45

Organizing the horse, you know, it's more like organize yourself and then the horse. Yeah, it's just how it is.

Lionel: 58:54

At the beginning of this podcast, you say you were strict. Yeah. Yes. Now I can see.

Nils Christian: 58:59

Now you can see it.

Lionel: 59:00

Now I can see it, sir. But yeah, no, no, I understand. It's like, OK, this is your way of doing it. And let's do the way I want you to do it and not YOLO it and just see what comes, what gives. Let's talk about where are we here today? Not the room, right? Obviously. But like Kronholt, can you tell us like how does it all started? Like when did you started it? And maybe, well, the reason why I think I can understand, but why did you wanted to create that space?

Nils Christian: 59:42

Yeah, but it was just time for me to buy something.

Lionel: 59:46

Okay. How long is that since when you...

Nils Christian: 59:51

I think that it's like seven years ago now.

Lionel: 59:54

Okay. So seven years ago, you said, all right, I went to...

Nils Christian: 59:57

I had actually been... I had been working in Denmark.

Lionel: 1:00:01

Yeah.

Nils Christian: 1:00:02

And then I went home to Norway. And then the plan was to buy a farm. Okay.

Lionel: 1:00:10

Was the location already? Like your country, you knew it was...

Nils Christian: 1:00:13

I was quite... No, I was actually first searching in Norway, because then I was like... Then I had traveled, yeah, been here in Denmark. I had been in Germany, I had been in Iceland. And so then it was just like, now it's time to settle down in Norway.

Lionel: 1:00:28

Yeah.

Nils Christian: 1:00:29

But then I was like, no, I cannot do it. I don't have peace with it. It's... And I also didn't find any properties either in the region that I wanted, but it also didn't feel correct, actually. Even if I was just like, it is correct. You should do it, you know? Yeah. I was just like, find your inner peace. It is Norway, but it wasn't. And then I started to search around Copenhagen because I really like that area, and I have a lot of friends there. So then... But then I also couldn't find any properties. And then the family that lived here, they knew me or knew my name and had heard I was like searching for a farm. So she started to call me to say that they had the perfect property. So I was like, mm-hmm, thank you, but I'm not going to live in Hörning. That is 100.

Lionel: 1:01:23

Excuse me.

Nils Christian: 1:01:25

Yeah, but I didn't have anything negative to hear, but I didn't have any relationship to hear either. So I was just like, no, thank you, but it's good. It's good. And then she just continued calling, calling, calling. And then in the end of this, she started to call in the spring. And when it was Danny Championship here in Hörning, she could see me. I was tagged in something on Facebook. And then she was asking if I could come to drink a coffee because it takes just five minutes to drive from the competition area. And I was just, she's never giving up, you know? And then it was a little bit unpolite not to come because it was five minutes. You were there. So I was just like, okay, I'm coming.

Lionel: 1:02:04

A free coffee also.

Nils Christian: 1:02:06

Exactly. So then when I was driving in the driveway here, I was just thinking immediately that, hmm, this was quite nice. This was quite okay. And then I came in and then it was boxes, totally ready, it paddocks, everything top. So then I just, yeah, I think it took two weeks then I had bought it.

Lionel: 1:02:37

What?

Nils Christian: 1:02:39

Okay, and then the four weeks, then I had moved. Boom.

Lionel: 1:02:42

Oh, wow. So you really fell in love.

Nils Christian: 1:02:45

You're like, okay, cool. That's why I could imagine immediately that I could just move in. I could start to work. It was three hours to Copenhagen, three hours to Hamburg, where I teach a lot. It's half an hour to the airport.

Lionel: 1:02:58

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:02:58

It's just like, this is it. And five, or maybe then ten minutes, to Messe Center, where all of the exhibitions are, the Danish Championship, breathing shows, everything for big horses.

Lionel: 1:03:12

Is it Isorst?

Nils Christian: 1:03:12

Yeah, Isorst Festival. Everything is there.

Lionel: 1:03:16

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:03:17

So then I, yeah. Then I was just, Denmark, here we are.

Lionel: 1:03:25

Yeah, this is cool. And did you had to change a lot from what it was before?

Nils Christian: 1:03:31

Yeah, but it's always like that when you move in on a new place, even if it was really nice, I have renovated everything.

Lionel: 1:03:38

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:03:38

And bought more land. And yeah, are still, as I told you a bit earlier, now we are renovating again, the rider lounge and the riding arena. It's like a never ending. Because also when you change as a person, you value other things suddenly. So then even if I like this a lot, as what I have, but I think I will be even more happy with the new windows in the arena. And it will be more practical here when I can have the windows and the bigger kitchen, so I can make more food. And yeah, you know, and it also takes some years to live on a farm and see what is the most practical things.

Lionel: 1:04:29

Yes, yeah, you need to live in to say like, okay, but I need more of this, less of that. I want like this. And yeah, for sure.

Nils Christian: 1:04:38

As I made also the paddocks out from the boxes, as you saw, then I can just open the door rather than walking in and out with seven horses on that side.

Lionel: 1:04:50

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:04:50

So that is also saves time. Yeah, it looks nice and it's smart and it's so on. But I also can use much less time.

Lionel: 1:04:59

Yes. Yeah, the practicality and all of that, that we sometimes we sometimes we don't realize how you're just going to routine doing the same thing. It's like, well, I could have solved it differently. Yes, obviously.

Nils Christian: 1:05:13

Yeah.

Lionel: 1:05:14

So you're breeding here. What is the what is your idea behind your breeding? Like, you know, we talked a bit when you show us around and you discuss about you discussed also during the podcast about you need it takes time to breed a horse and but you seems to have a very conscious approach on this is what you're looking for.

Nils Christian: 1:05:38

Yeah. Yeah, I just want to have good horses.

Lionel: 1:05:47

All right. Thank you. Have a nice day.

Nils Christian: 1:05:49

Yeah. Good horses. Yeah. I also then said earlier, I'm a color breeder. Yes, I'm 100% color breeder.

Lionel: 1:06:00

And you are OK saying that.

Nils Christian: 1:06:02

Totally, totally cool with saying that. I'm admitting it. Of course, I want a good horse. But for me, eye candy is really important. I have to be happy when I see a horse. And it's also on the competition track, if you have a beautiful color, a different color, that it's also really attractive, I would say, even if a black horse is also super beautiful. But the other colors are also really spectacular. I try to have some, breed some white ones.

Lionel: 1:06:41

Yes, okay.

Nils Christian: 1:06:42

And I also have some silver dappled ones.

Lionel: 1:06:44

Yes. So that would be with whom? With Fenrir?

Nils Christian: 1:06:49

I have...

Lionel: 1:06:51

Or with other stallions?

Nils Christian: 1:06:54

I have used all of my stallions, actually. But I have white mares in breeding. I have silver dappled mares in breeding.

Lionel: 1:07:02

Okay.

Nils Christian: 1:07:03

And black with fox and blaze and blue eyes. And I have all the variations. I also have some red mares. But then with the red mares, I try to use colors that fit for them.

Lionel: 1:07:16

Okay. All right. Okay. So the gates, the expression, the temperament, et cetera, but also the color.

Nils Christian: 1:07:22

Yes.

Lionel: 1:07:23

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:07:24

That's the goal.

Lionel: 1:07:24

That's the goal. Like, can you tell us, we were looking at the Kronholt horses. And obviously, like you say, it takes a lot of time to arrive somewhere with your own horse. Is it a dream of you to ride at the highest competition a Kronholt horse? Or you don't have that each?

Nils Christian: 1:07:51

Maybe that is a goal. I haven't really had that as a goal, actually, but maybe I should have it.

Lionel: 1:08:03

Okay, that is okay.

Nils Christian: 1:08:05

Yeah, that is a goal. From now, it's a goal.

Lionel: 1:08:08

Yes, okay.

Nils Christian: 1:08:10

It's fun. I mean, like Baltasar that I'm riding now, he's out of my mare.

Lionel: 1:08:15

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:08:16

So that is, of course, fun. Yes. But it is also fun. Any horse that you have started up yourself and done everything, you know, done the journey.

Lionel: 1:08:28

Yeah, you don't need to have bred the horses.

Nils Christian: 1:08:30

No, actually not. I don't need that, actually. Even if maybe that will be even more cool, you know.

Lionel: 1:08:37

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:08:38

But the responsibility to educate my breeding as good as I can, and sell them to the correct buyers is maybe more my goal. You know, that's also that they are educated enough also to get the good life after they go from here. It sounds maybe cliché, but I feel like this is also the passion.

Lionel: 1:09:06

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:09:07

A bit. You have the responsibility, you know, when you give them in other hands, that they have, that they keep their value and respect.

Lionel: 1:09:16

Right. So you pay attention. So, okay, so that there is the upbringing of the horses, the education and finding the right people, I guess.

Nils Christian: 1:09:25

Yeah.

Lionel: 1:09:26

It's really important for you.

Nils Christian: 1:09:27

Yes.

Lionel: 1:09:27

Yes. Okay. More than just competing on the Kronholt horse.

Nils Christian: 1:09:31

Yeah, actually.

Lionel: 1:09:32

Yes. Well, it's good. It's good. It's like you say, like, Battasar is not a Kronholt horse, but you started it since he was a foal. I mean, you didn't start it.

Nils Christian: 1:09:45

No, no, but he came from Iceland when he was five, six, six. Okay. Yeah. So that is also cool. But now I have also a generation with four year olds inside.

Lionel: 1:09:56

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:09:57

And I also have a generation with three year olds inside. So then I have managed not to sell those two generations.

Lionel: 1:10:06

Okay.

Nils Christian: 1:10:07

So that is very good.

Lionel: 1:10:09

Okay. Okay. It's good for you. Yeah. You prefer educating them longer. Yes. Okay.

Nils Christian: 1:10:17

That is the goal. It would. Yeah.

Lionel: 1:10:19

Okay. So you're not selling when they are full, for instance. It's not what you prefer.

Nils Christian: 1:10:24

No, I have sold some foals to the right clients.

Lionel: 1:10:28

Yes.

Nils Christian: 1:10:30

And then I, but the first, I had two generations earlier than this. And then I sold all of them to, because sometimes you have to give and take also. So I sold the foals to make an oval track. You know, you have to give and take when you need some income as well. Yes. But so this these two generations, I want to keep to the next year, show them in Fietsu and start to ride the five year olds. And the other four year olds now that turns five. Then I can show them in Fietsu and I can also ride some futurity on them and start to prepare them for the competition life.

Lionel: 1:11:13

Right. So that will be a goal then. That is important for you.

Nils Christian: 1:11:18

Yes.

Lionel: 1:11:18

Yes. Okay.

Nils Christian: 1:11:20

That is.

Lionel: 1:11:20

I think I exhausted all my question at last, maybe for you. I don't know. So yes, that's already the end of the episode. Again. It went fast. Yeah. Okay. It's good sign. So at risk of repeating myself, thank you so much for welcoming us here. It's really nice of you to take the time. You have a busy schedule and you need to buy a horse.

Nils Christian: 1:11:48

Yeah, exactly.

Lionel: 1:11:51

So thank you so much for welcoming us.

Nils Christian: 1:11:55

Thank you as well. Thank you for having me.

Lionel: 1:11:57

And thank you everyone for listening. We will come back in two weeks with a new episode. In the meantime, do not hesitate to share this episode with everyone, with Nils Christian Larsen maybe. And never hesitate to comment or reach us on Instagram or Facebook. Before leaving you, you can follow us on those platforms for more news and stories. Thank you so much, Nils Christian.

Nils Christian: 1:12:29

Thank you.