SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
    • Media Partners
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
1
Tuesday, April 05 2016 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Hokan Thorn: No Short Cuts In Dressage

 

Hokan and Gabrielle competing in Aiken, South Carolina. Photo by Richard Ruben

Hokan and Gabrielle competing in Aiken, South Carolina.
Photo by Richard Ruben

By Lauren R. Giannini

In 1983, Hokan Thorn, a Swedish-born horseman, was working in Germany when he decided to take his vacation in the United States and visit some friends. He liked what he saw and made a few calls that led him to Aiken, South Carolina, for a job audition. “They had a difficult stallion and, after I rode him for 30 minutes, they hired me,” said Hokan. “I never went back to Germany.

“I’ve been working with horses all my life,” continued Hokan. “I left home for the first time when I was 14 to work at the Swedish Stallion Station where I rode many horses every day. In my early years I did a lot of jumping and eventing. When I moved to Germany, I discovered my connection with dressage. I’m primarily a dressage trainer. I love it and I’ve done dressage all my life. I trained with very good people. I worked in a sales barn in Denmark where I learned quickly how to ride difficult horses. In Germany I rode 10 horses a day where I worked for Udo Lange, five-time German Champion of Professional Riders. Alain Gaihede, trainer in Augsburg, Germany, was another mentor who helped shape my approach to dressage.”

Hokan still rides 10 to 12 horses a day. He has trained and shown more than 100 horses to Prix St. Georges, FEI level, and, as of a few years ago, 15 horses to Grand Prix. “I’m known for producing good horses and for taking difficult horses to a new level, although I haven’t made a team,” said Hokan, who became an American citizen 20 years ago. “To compete internationally, you have to have a lot of high-quality horses that you show in quality dressage shows. Unfortunately, some people try to make it happen too soon, either pushing the horse too fast or getting horses that are trained but have bad foundations.

“Nothing happens overnight and you can’t take any shortcuts; you have to be solid with your horses to get them to top levels,” he continued. “When I was a kid, Grand Prix horses in Europe were 16, 17, 18 years old and still going strong. To bring horses to that level, you have to put the time in, but all too often I see horses that are 12 and they’re finished. That’s wrong and a shame. My program focuses on foundation work to build strength and longevity.”

Hokan at Cross Creek Farm 

hokan1

Hokan and Gabrielle, a 10-year old mare by Oskar bred by Hokan. Photo by Richard Ruben

After 30-plus years in the U.S., Hokan had made a lot of friends and contacts, especially in North Carolina, where he taught many clinics. He was intrigued when he heard through the grapevine about plans for a new equestrian center in Tryon, an area he really liked. After two years or so in a private facility in the Tryon area, he found the ideal place to establish his horse business: Cross Creek Farm, owned by horsewoman and B&B proprietor Katherine Pfaff.

“Cross Creek is a great facility, and Katherine is a wonderful woman I’ve known for many years,” said Hokan. “We’re taking Cross Creek to a totally new level. We’ve invested in new footing and made lots of upgrades.”

Cross Creek’s full-service equestrian facility includes an outdoor arena with its own sprinkler system, Olympic-sized covered arena with mirrors, sound system, overhead watering system and new GGT custom gold fiber footing. At the moment, there are two nine-stall barns and one three-stall barn.

Bed, Breakfast, Barn

Katherine opened Cross Creek Bed & Breakfast in spring 2013. That she offers “lodging” for guests’ horses makes it absolutely perfect in terms of easy access to lessons and clinics with Hokan, trail riding on the Collinsville Equestrian Trail Association (CETA) system, competitions and several foxhunts. Guests have their choice of three rooms in the gracious 1860s farmhouse or the cottage with two bedrooms. Area activities and attractions include numerous equestrian events, especially at Tryon International Equestrian Center.

“Bed and breakfast and barn” best describes the big picture with Cross Creek’s welcoming atmosphere of elegance and comfort. The house has six fireplaces, warm wood paneling, and the décor is country classic. The equestrian B&B came about when Katherine departed her hectic life as a software developer in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and moved east to be closer to her parents. She needed a place for her horses and, after moving into Cross Creek where she had extra stalls, her family planted the idea of the farm’s potential as a B&B and equestrian facility.

“I have five horses here, mostly elderly, empty stalls and lots of paddocks,” said Katherine. “It’s a very horse-friendly environment, and horses and people seem very happy here.”

Katherine, a lifelong horseperson, stopped competing when a fracture took her top horse out of action; fortunately, he survived. “That horse is 20 now, one of my retirees,” said Katherine. “With him, I was working up through the levels to Prix St. Georges and then the injury… I do a bit of hacking out on the CETA trails, but now I have a new horse, a Dutch Warmblood gelding, 9, and he knows a lot. I hope to get fit and learn a lot riding him with Hokan. He trained through the German system and he knows what he’s doing.”

“My” Horses

The fact that Hokan buys and sells horses in addition to training and showing doesn’t stop him from thinking of every horse as his, no matter who owns them. He also cites standouts, like Bold Contender, “a mare with great heart” who, at barely 16 hands, made history as the first Friesian ever to show internationally in CDIs under FEI rules, including Freestyle and Grand Prix.

hokan2

Hokan schooling his mare Gabrielle at Cross Creek Farm, Tryon, North Carolina. Photo by Richard Ruben

The adrenaline starts to pump whenever a prospect shows potential for greatness. Less than a year ago, Hokan bought Django, 7, a handsome and athletic Dutch Warmblood by Jazz out of Nirvana, by Fleming. “He’s a cool horse, but very difficult to ride. I spent six months doing basics with him, building his strength and his confidence,” said Hokan. “In four shows, Django earned the highest scores in the country at Training Level, 77.609 was his best, and he was named 2015 USDF Dressage Horse of the Year (for his level). I t
hink he can go all the way to Grand Prix. I’m really excited about him.

“I’m excited about all the horses I get to train,” continued Hokan. “The process of finding out who they are, their strengths and weakness, is a puzzle I thoroughly enjoy working on. Right now I have some really nice younger horses, including two of my own that are in full training. Their prospects are wide open and I look forward to competing them to the fullest extents of their talents. Settling down here has been a very positive experience.”

Visit www.hokanthorn.com or call (404) 275-8888 and also visit www.crosscreekbbb.com

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: cross creek farm, dressage, hokan thorn

What you can read next

Karl Cook: His Passion and Love for Animals
Brent & Lisa Workman: Grand Prix Through Grand Mal With Help From the Horse World
Deborah Ettenger: A Special Horse Changes Lives

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jennifer Williams, our February cover rider, is gr Jennifer Williams, our February cover rider, is grateful for MIllione, her longtime partner with whom she won the 2020 Grand Prix National Championship. "Millione has been such an impactful horse for my life. He's all heart, and I joke that he's my little Viking warrior because he's solid and strong and always ready to give 110%. He loves to work and has such an incredible work ethic. He's so happy and quirky, it warms my heart," Jennifer said. From the looks of it, Jennifer (@summervalepremierdressage) warms Millione's heart too as evidenced in this photo gem by Sidelines photographer @msfullerphotography of the two sharing a sweet moment. Catch more exclusive content like never before seen photos and quotes when you sign up for the Sidelines Scoop! DM us your email to sign up! #equinephotography #pony #snuggles #cuddles #photography #dressage #grandprix #doublebridle #love #sidelinesmagazine
Straight from the Sidelines Stallion Guide 🐴 F Straight from the Sidelines Stallion Guide 🐴 Find out more 👉 @eurequinellc and view the 2021 Stallion Guide in the January issue of Sidelines Magazine 🤩 LINK IN BIO 🤩 #stallion #stud #showhorse #kwpn #warmblood #showjumper #dressage #eventing #hunterjumper #sporthorse #breed #foalingseason #equestrian #equinephotography
"I remember everything about that day. I remember "I remember everything about that day. I remember the name of the horse his color, and that it was a beautiful summer day in the mountains. I was thinking, This is it. This is the moment I've been waiting for. It was all I wanted to do for the rest of my life." A trail ride in Colorado on a roan gelding named Schnapps was U.S. eventer Liz Halliday-Sharp's first foray into the world of horses. After her momentous first ride, Liz began taking lessons, earning money and saving her allowance to buy tack and riding clothes. When the native Californian joined Pony Club and had a chance to jump cross country, she decided eventing was meant for her. "I got that 'this is it' feeling again," Liz said. Liz's father, a vintage auto racer who instructed for the Sports Car Club of America, taught Liz how to race cars when she got her driver's license. The dad and daughter shared a 1967 Datsun 510 which was the first car Liz raced on her journey to becoming the most successful female driver in the American Le Mans Series. Read about @lizhallidaysharp at the link in our bio! #horseshow #equestrian #hunterjumper #eventing #equinephotography #sidelinesmagazine
Straight from the Sidelines Stallion Guide 🐴 F Straight from the Sidelines Stallion Guide 🐴 Find out more 👉 @poniesandpalmsshowstablesllc and view the 2021 Stallion Guide in the January issue of Sidelines Magazine 🤩 LINK IN BIO 🤩 #stallion #stud #showhorse #kwpn #warmblood #showjumper #dressage #eventing #hunterjumper #sporthorse #breed #foalingseason #equestrian #equinephotography
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • BED & BARN FARMS
    Lodging/Overnight Stabling Forest City, NC/Tryon Area 828-248-4463 www.bedandbarnnc.com

    [Read more]

  • ROYAL SHELL REAL ESTATE
    Serving all of Ocala – Homes, Farms and Land Ocala, FL 352.369.6969 www.RoyalShellRealEstate.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Saying Yes to the Vest – How My Quest for Safety Launched A Company
  • Rutledge Farm Sessions: Phillip Dutton 2019
  • Rutledge Farm Sessions: Will Simpson 2019

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Hunter World Get Ready – Split Rock Jumping Tour to Add Hunters in 2021
  • News from the Alumni Tournament of Champions
  • EQUITANA USA Unveils Month-Long Virtual Program to Celebrate the Horse Online eQuestrian Celebration Offers Sneak Peek for 2021 Exhibition

Category

Recent Posts

  • Liz Halliday-Sharp: Shifting Gears

    By Josh Walker Portraits by Alex Banks Liz Hall...
  • February 2021 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • A Family Business Raising Welsh Ponies

    Cheryl Maye Fairfield, Virginia Owner/Trainer, ...
  • The Year Ahead: A Look at Dressage in 2021

    By George Williams With 2020 officially behind ...
  • The Armed Forces Equestrian Center: Changing Lives Outside the Box

    By Britney Grover To say that the Armed Forces ...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!