How Sweden’s long era of peace shaped a cavalry culture that once dominated the equestrian world — and how that legacy still echoes today.
Since Sweden had not been at war since 1814, the country had more time for cavalry exercises and competitions than anywhere else in the world.
This unique military riding culture laid the foundation for Sweden’s extraordinary success in equestrian sports, especially in the major championships, where Swedish riders dominated for more than fifty years.
After the Second World War, other nations gradually caught up, and the era of uninterrupted Swedish dominance came to an end.
But the tradition never disappeared — it evolved. And in the modern era, Sweden has once again risen to the very top of international show jumping:
2021 Olympic Champions (Team)
2022 World Champions (Team)
2023 European Champions (Team)
A historic triple crown that echoes the excellence of Sweden’s early cavalry roots.
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.