I guess this will end up in court as Denmark does have laws about recording conversations
According to Section § 263 (3) of the Denmark Penal Code, it is unlawful, with the aid of equipment, to secretly listen or record statements made in private, phone conversations or other conversations between others or negotiations in a closed meeting in which you’re not taking part or to which you have unlawfully obtained access.
The videos were taken by an undercover groom. They were not unlawfully on the property.
Access might have been lawful, recording not so much.
I think the point is, what are the recording consent laws there.
The way its written, it’s one party consent.
Don’t they own this board now?
They own everything. The fallout of this could be immense.
As I read the law, it sounds like the groom was OK recording conversations, but not OK on the video? I would doubt the farm would be considered “open to the public”.
But then there is this - and not meaning to be flip. The people who buy their horses are in a way different world than those who will watch some tv documentary on the horse world. Those buyers cannot possibly be ignorant of the rumors/stories that float around regarding use of draw reins and training techniques. But Helgstrand sells very nice, well bred horses ($$$) and I doubt people will stop buying them. Will breeders stop using their stallions?
Not saying what their training is ok - or not - as I have no clue as to what they do on a day to day basis. But there are groups that take video clips or still pics out of context, and skewer the people involved on social media.
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds; the whole planting a spy with a camera is quite weird IMO, and it sure sounds like the TV station has an agenda.
From my googling, it looks like the station did a piece on Helgstrand several years ago, in a positive light.
It seems that if TV is doing a positive story, its likely put together in the light of day. Its hard to imagine an “undercover agent” is looking for good stuff.
BTW I have my own undercover agent; he spys on everyone who goes up/down my street 
Love that picture!
I wasn’t saying that the undercover would show something nice. It’s just weird for the same TV station to do an interview singing their praises, then a couple years later do this.
This is red flag-ish to me. If I had an undercover groom come to my property and record, I wouldn’t have any hesitation viewing the recording and commenting as there is nothing inappropriate occurring here at any time. I wouldn’t need to prepare some type of justification or response. Does he?
I also don’t like the justification that because horses are powerful, they need harsh aids.
Any links to actual video?
Looks like someone fell asleep on the job!
If someone comes down the street he is up and barking in a flash… 
We think he is part border collie and therefore must have a job. So this is what he does - all day every day.
I think it’s creepy that someone working for them was spying. Don’t care who you are or your practices… my gut reaction is this is wrong and it feels like an invasion of privacy to me; and for that alone, I’m with Helgstrand.
If they are doing something wrong find that out thru legal means… and yes I’m judging from a US legal point of view; it’s my personal point of reference from the culture I grew up in.
It’s creepy and it may be illegal depending on the local laws. But it’s also a tactic regularly used by whistle blowers and whistle blower film makers. I would assume the person was a plant by the film makers from the start.
Well it really depends on what was caught on video.
I once witnessed someone take a hammer to try and knock out wolf teeth on a horse (with no sedation). The horse was fighting and rearing and I couldn’t watch any more and had to step away. Wish I had gotten that on camera at the time. Would have trashed the reputation and probably the careers of a couple people. But it was violent and unnecessary when we could have used sedation and done it the proper way.
I do wonder if the new owners had issues with the horse related to that horrible extraction process. And they would have no idea why the horse acts up😔.
Cross post from Dressage.
Update - injunction filed by Helgstrand. This is what the TV station says…
Operation X is made by Danish Morten Spiegelhauer. According to TV2, “with Morten Spiegelhauer as the leading figure, Operation X reveals conditions and cases that would otherwise not come to the public’s knowledge, and those responsible are confronted.”
In a short statement in Danish on Facebook, Andreas Helgstrand confirmed that he has officially filed an injunction and pressed charges with the police against Danish television station TV2.
Cant speak for Denmark but these kind of cases dont just get dreamed up by TV stations in USA. Someone who has seen improper going’s on or training or whatever goes to the press and gets the ball rolling. I have to think that something was passed along first, either by client or competitor or unhappy employee…then the undercover groom was put in.
In my perfect Horse Utopian world, any trainer would have no hesitation of seeing their training methods viewed. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power or influence to enforce that and there are too many people out there trying to make a buck at the horse’s expense…
Our beautiful horses sometimes pay such a high price. It really breaks my heart. I’ve got two in my barn now that were abused and all three were neglected at some point in their life. I try every day to give them a good life and make up for what was done to them in the past.
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