A documentary exploring the deep cultural and historical role of the horse in Swedish society — and why this connection still matters today.
Horses in Our Hearts is a reflective documentary about the place of the horse in Swedish life, past and present. Through archival voices, historical perspectives, and personal stories, the film shows how horses shaped our cities, our work, and our way of living — and how their presence continues to influence us today.
It highlights the quiet, enduring partnership between humans and horses: a relationship built on trust, responsibility, and shared history.
The film also reminds us that many aspects of modern society — from infrastructure to daily routines — still carry traces of a world built around the horse.
This documentary is part of the Foundation’s commitment to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the horse, and to ensuring that its significance is recognized for future generations.
Credits:
Documentary by Per Wilén. Originally produced for SVT. Published on Per Wilén’s YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/jY7waqnw7ts?si=kSicyPY3jY8sVWN7).
Note: The film is in Swedish.
At Flyinge’s Horse Welfare Summit, the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation awarded its 2026 scholarship to Dr Andrew McLean, recognising his pioneering work in equitation science and his longstanding contribution to equine welfare.
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Two days. One shared goal: advancing horse welfare through science, education and practice. Join leading international experts at the Horse Welfare Summit 2026, where Dr Andrew McLean will deliver two keynote lectures and receive the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation Scholarship.
A new review examines how smartphones are becoming genuine tools for monitoring a horse's soundness, heart rate and recovery, and even for meeting international competition requirements. Among the systems it highlights is Sleip, co-founded by Dr. Elin Hernlund, one of the Foundation's own scholarship recipients, whose work builds on decades of Swedish equine biomechanics research going back to Professor Ingvar Fredricson himself.
On November 2, visitors gathered in Hall B at the Jönköping Horse Show for the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation’s 2025 scholarship ceremony, celebrating groundbreaking Swedish research in equine biomechanics. From the pioneering efforts of the 1970s—when high‑speed cameras and manual measurements were the researcher’s tools—to today’s AI‑powered motion analysis and robotic hoof simulators, the audience was taken on a journey through decades of innovation. Professors Lars Roepstorff and Marie Rhodin, together with Associate Professor Elin Hernlund, shared their latest breakthroughs, followed by live demonstrations showing how AI and high‑precision sensors are transforming the understanding of horse–rider interaction. Moderator Jens Fredricson guided the dialogue and inspired exchange between researchers, while post‑event discussions with attendees helped build valuable bridges between research and practice.