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Monday, October 29, 2007

Madeline Axelsson Assitant Dressage Trainer for Tempel Farms Tragically Killed

Madeleine Axelsson - April 9, 1968 - October 24, 2007

Tempel Farm's tragically lost their assistant trainer Madeleine Axelsson this past Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Axelsson was struck and killed by a mini van after picking up her mail and crossing Hunt Club Road in front of Tempel Farms, where she lived on Tempel property.

Courtney Trip program director at Tempel Farms was quoted in the Daily Herald; "Axelsson was vibrant, fun to be around and liked by everyone at Tempel Farms since arriving there in 2005 to train Lipizzans.We are all just in shock."

Madeleine Axelsson joined the Tempel Lipizzan staff in December of 2005. Madeleine, a native of Sweden, studied at the National Stud, Flyinge, completed the Stable Manager course there, and received an elite scholarship to study an additional year.

She has worked as a trainer or instructor in Bermuda, Norway and Spain. During that time she rode and competed horses through the FEI levels. In 1999, she studied for a year and a half in Germany at Fleyenhof with Olympic rider Hubertus Schmidt. Under Schmidt, she further refined and developed her classical riding skills. Madeleine came to the United States in July of 2002, and since that time she won numerous local awards as well as national all-breed awards.

Axelsson's family will be arriving from Sweden today, and then funeral arrangements will be announced.

Madeleine was a wonderful person and quite an asset to the dressage community and Tempel Farms. She will be greatly missed.

Please visit the Tempel Farms website to view more photos of Madeline, and sign her memorial page. tempelfarms.com