Paisley Park. Photo by Mackenzie Clark.
Chris and Whitney Sorensen's Sorensen Stables originally scouted Paisley Park in 2016 for longtime friend and client Danielle Baran, who rode with Sorensen Stables when the operation was based in Canada and Florida. After four successful years with Baran, Paisley Park has been sold to continue his show career under top rider Geoffrey Hesslink for Lauren Little's Little Brook, LLC.
The leading WCHR Professional of the Northeast Region in 2021, Hesslink is fresh off his first career victory in the prestigious WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. His winning mount was the Holsteiner gelding Mon Tresor—owned by Little Brook.
"[Professional] Quincy Hayes did a lovely job developing Paisley Park, and Danielle Baran is well accomplished in the hunter ring in her own right," Whitney Sorensen said. "Quincy really took the time and developed him as it should have been done, and we've seen him now have success with multiple riders at the top level.
"We are thrilled to see Paisley Park join such an outstanding program, with top owners and a top rider" she added. "We've known this horse for a very long time, and we believe him to be one of the best in the world. It's been a joy to watch him win with top amateur, junior and professional riders, and we're excited to see what's next for him."
The Sorensens had only recently relocated to The Netherlands when they first saw Paisley Park. Having spent nearly two decades immersed in the horse show industry throughout the U.S. and Canada, they were uniquely positioned to identify horses with potential to succeed in the North American market. They immediately knew the then-4-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding would be a top hunter prospect.
Paisley Park has since earned himself distinction with accolades from the Winter Equestrian Festival to the Canadian Hunter Derby Championship, which he won in 2020. He earned himself a place in the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular in both 2019 and 2020 by way of the Performance Hunter 3'6" division, and he captured the 2018 Green Hunter 3'3" Stake at the prestigious Capital Challenge Horse Show, universally understood as the most prestigious hunter competition in the country. He began his 2022 season with the Large Junior Hunter 3'6" 16-17 division under Augusta Iwasaki at WEF 4.
"Because we’ve had a business in North America, we know what it takes in a horse to be suitable for the American programs and for riders that range from children to older adults and top professionals—every type of rider," Sorensen said.
Sorensen Stables Stables is perfectly situated to access and hone some of the best hunter, jumper and equitation horses in the world and has found its niche in bridging the gap between horse sales in North America and Europe. Their track record is impressive, with program graduates reaching the likes of the World Equestrian Games and the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships. That's earned them the reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and experienced hunter suppliers in Europe for the North American market.
"With us, the biggest thing is mentality. In Europe, you're not buying a hunter. You're buying a jumper or a young horse," Sorensen said. "You have to see potential and know how it’s going to develop. That comes from the experience of watching hundreds of horses go through that transition and knowing as a coach who has put those clients in the ring in North America what those horses have to be like to really succeed."
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