The perfect horse. That is what Karin Dilou dreamt of as a child and still does. She has eight Danish Warmblood horses at her ranch in Marin County, just north of the Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco, California.
Three years ago she became the president of the North American Danish Warmblood Association and during the next days she is present at the Natinal Stallion Show in Herning, Denmark. Here she will help the American guests, look at the development in the breeding and enjoy the many beautiful horses.
Her mission is to show the American people all the advantages of the Danish Warmblood Horses. The horses are among other things extremely qualified to the American discipline Hunter Jumping.
9 years and determined
Karin Dilou was nine years old when she went to the local riding school. Determined to learn how to ride, she opened the gate into the stage. The teacher Keller was in the middle of a lesson and Karin Dilou remembers how surprised he was to see the little girl demanding a lesson. But teacher and child agreed on a lesson, and Karin Dilou went home and informed her parents.
Karin Dilou was nine years old when she went to the local riding school. Determined to learn how to ride, she opened the gate into the stage. The teacher Keller was in the middle of a lesson and Karin Dilou remembers how surprised he was to see the little girl demanding a lesson. But teacher and child agreed on a lesson, and Karin Dilou went home and informed her parents.
- My parents had no interest in horses but my friends at school were eager horsemen.
Ten years went by and every week Karin Dilou went to her training lesson.
Ten years went by and every week Karin Dilou went to her training lesson.
Forgot everything
19 years old she visited Jytte Jarl’ s farm in Jammerbugten in the Northern Jutland.
She breeds Danish Warmblood and Karin Dilou decided that so would she.
19 years old she visited Jytte Jarl’ s farm in Jammerbugten in the Northern Jutland.
She breeds Danish Warmblood and Karin Dilou decided that so would she.
- I remember riding in the sandhills on these great strong horses that went through the cold water without fear, Karin Dilou explains.
Then she traveled around Europe, forgot everything about Jytte Jarl, and moved to the United States.
- I wanted to live the American dream, as she explains.
She has her own business of import of Danish meat. Then, in 1998, she bought her first mare in Denmark.
She has her own business of import of Danish meat. Then, in 1998, she bought her first mare in Denmark.
- I didn’t know anything about what I wanted, so I contacted my childhood boyfriend, who helped me.
The ring completed
Karin Dilou told her childrens piano teacher about the horse coming from Denmark, and she believed her neighbour knew the man that would be flying the horse over.
Karin Dilou called the woman who introduced herself as Jette Jarl.
Karin Dilou told her childrens piano teacher about the horse coming from Denmark, and she believed her neighbour knew the man that would be flying the horse over.
Karin Dilou called the woman who introduced herself as Jette Jarl.
A name Karin Dilou recognized at once – Jette Jarl was the daughter of Jytte Jarl.
- It turned out that she lived 15 minutes away. Today she trains my young horses. I still feel goosey all over when I tell the story. It shows me that nothing is a coincidence and it seemed as the ring was completed, Karin Dilou says.
