156 SIDELINES MARCH 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Dani Moritz
Charlotte Jorst has lived the American dream. She moved from
Denmark to the United States with her husband Henrik in 1988.
In the states, she has experienced incredible success as both an
equestrian and businesswoman. In partnership with her husband,
she founded Skagen Designs, a Danish-inspired watch company
that she recently sold to Fossil, and she also newly started Kastel
Denmark, an equestrian apparel company that boasts functional,
attractive active wear for equestrians and other sports enthusiasts.
When she’s not busy designing clothing or handling business,
she’s in the saddle. Charlotte has an impressive adult amateur
career, which includes representing the United States in Verden,
Germany at the FEI World Dressage Breeding Champions, where
she placed 13th as the only U.S. representative with her six-year-
old Dutch Warmblood stallion Vitalis. Sidelines caught up with this
busy rider and got the inside scoop on her success.
Why did you decide to move to the States?
My husband and I were following the dream of starting our own
business in the United States. It started with Henrik and I working
e
Sidelines Success
for Carlsberg Beer in New York City and evolved once we started
working with a Danish friend on watch designs to sell ourselves.
I knew I wanted to start something that set myself apart and to
make my own mark in the world. We arrived upon the simple idea
that timepieces with minimalist appearances were a void in the
market. Our natural Danish aesthetic steered us as designers and
unfolded over the years into one of the world’s top watch brands.
Did you ever dream you would get where you are today?
I may not have imagined all of these situations in the exact
order they progressed, but each chapter of my life represents an
aspiration and my “just go for it” approach. I strongly encourage
any person with dreams, no matter how disparate they may be
from one another, to put their mind and efforts towards making it
happen!
What was it like representing the U.S. at the 2013 FEI World
Breeding Championships with Vitalis?
It was a wonderful feeling to be representing the United States,
my adopted homeland, at this championship. The partnership and
bond I have with Vitalis is a deep one and to compete with him at
the international level was an honor and something I will never
forget.
How do you balance both your business and equestrian
pursuits?
There is never an exact measured balance between these two
worlds – each at various times require heavier weighted focus so
the greatest challenge can occur when both peak simultaneously.
Living The American Dream
Charlotte and Wilkens, her 9-year-old Hanoverian stallion, at
Kastel Stables in Reno, Nevada.
Photo by Colleen Lawson
Charlotte thanking Vitalis for a job well done.
Photo by Amy McCool with McCool Photography
