19 November 2021

This weekend the finals of DressagePower’s five competitions take place in Linköping. The riders are excited about the finals, which offer Sweden’s highest prize money in dressage. 

Now it’s time for the DressagePower finals, which take place on Sunday in Linköping.

– It has become like an indoor championship in dressage, an extra championship for dressage horses and riders. We offer the highest prize money in dressage in Sweden, says Peter Härnstam, one of the founders of DressagePower. 

The major competitions in Linköping conclude on Sunday with finals in five competitions organized by DressagePower. In one of the competitions, the StudioS19 Grand Prix Tour, Lina Dolk leads – despite being a U25 rider and competing against seniors. 

– It feels good, the seniors might have it (laugh)! It’s a shame that there aren’t more U25 riders joining in and getting a taste of the senior field, but it’s great that a U25 rider is leading, says Lina Dolk.  

She has been riding the Languedoc, or ”Dokki” as he is called at home in the stables, for four years. 

– There has been a lot of progress this year. On the one hand, we have become more confident in all our Grand Prix rides, but I also think the chemistry between him and me is stronger. Dokki is a special horse, with a rather fragile personality. He always wants to do the right thing, and if he makes a mistake he gets scared or upset, says Lina Dolk. 

Training has therefore been very much about praise to build self-confidence. 

– I have also benefited greatly from the fact that Kristian (von Krusenstierna, Lina Dolks’ trainer) has been riding him and knows the horse. Kristian understands the fragile side of Dokki. 

This weekend, Lina Dolk chooses not to start in Saturday’s Grand Prix. Instead, she goes straight into the final race on Sunday, all in order to save the horse that will be competing for two days at Friends next weekend. 

– We have actually put the circuit together and ridden it a few times with good results. Last time it was at the European Championships when we got 75 percent, and we would be happy to do that again.  

In the competition DressagePower Future Stars, which targets horses between the ages of seven and nine, it is Carl Hedin and the seven-year-old horse Dalaverian who are leading into the final. 

– It will be great to ride in Linköping for the second year in a row. Last year I was probably more the favorite tip, now I’m more like an underdog. It could go just about any way, says Carl Hedin. 

He has had ”Lukas” as the Dalaverian is called since the horse was three years old. 

– It’s so much fun, I can feel my arm twitching at the thought of making this journey with this horse. He’s the one who runs the show; I’m just a little fly on his back. 

Lukas's great personality has resulted in many funny stories to take with you through life, says Carl Hedin. 

– We usually say that he is not schizophrenic – he is just tired and barely able to get up from the box. Either he is really tired and barely manages to get up from the box, or he is really excited. If I know him right, he will be like that later in the Sunday curling final.

According to Carl Hedin, the horse has incredibly much power, but he is still young and inexperienced. 

– We take this on the experience account. But if I have him with me and he is focused, I think we have good chances, there are enough qualities to make it enough and then some. 

Ahead of the Young Rider final in the StudioS19 Young Rider Trophy, 20-year-old Linnéa Holmgren and 11-year-old QC Sir Dennis are leading the way. They have been a couple for four years. 

– It has been a long and somewhat tricky journey, but now it’s starting to get damn good, says Linnéa Holmgren. 

The difficult part has been dealing with the extremely high energy level in the horse. 

– Dennis isn’t stupid, but he has a lot of energy and a lot of power. He’s a big horse, quite childish and he’s been a bit of a puppy. It’s a lot to handle, with large body parts, but we’re starting to get the hang of it. 

On Sunday, Linnéa Holmgren will ride in a black and white frack on the black and white Dennis. Appropriately enough, for a figure skating competition in the style of James Bond. 

– The choreography itself is quite difficult, with, among other things, a GP sax and difficult lines. It’s very fun to watch, there’s a lot going on in the music and then Dennis is always very fun to watch. He’s very beautiful and cool, I’m a bit biased here, but he’s wonderful. 

The goal this weekend is to get a good lap. 

– Our big goal for the future is to get Dennis into the Grand Prix so that I can ride U25. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to win this weekend, but if the judges think so, I’d at least like to make sure I ride well, says Linnéa Holmgren. 

Admission to the competitions at Smedstad Riding Center in Linköping is free. Those who cannot be there in person can follow the competitions via DressagePower TV.

– It will compete with SVT thanks to our collaboration with StudioS19, who produces the broadcast. We hope to beat last year’s number of viewers, 8,000 people, says Peter Härnstam.  

Link to the broadcast, which starts at 8:15 on Sunday, November 21 and can be watched afterwards.