Johan Svensson Leaves Hannell Dressage, Starts Own Business

Dressage

Sweden

Swedish professional dressage rider Johan Svensson has decided to leave his employer, Hannell Dressage, and start his own business in Halmstad on the Swedish west coast.

Almost Fifteen Years in Germany

Certain that a career in horses was his path in life, Svensson won the 2000 Swedish Junior Rider Championships on Jolly Roger and moved to Germany, aged 16.

He started his professional career as rider at Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's Schafhof in Kronberg, where he completed his training as "Bereiter" in 2003. In those years he got trained by Siefried Peilicke and Klaus Balkenhol.

In 2004 he rode at Michael Schmidt's breeding station in Lippetal and trained with Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen. In 2005 he made his international show debut as a young rider aboard Checkpoint-Charly at the CDI Hagen. He then moved to Gestüt im Niedern and afterwards to Hofgut Liederbach, where he got to ride Barclay II (Sven Rothenberger's former GP horse) in one international show in Frankfurt 2008.

In May 2009, Svensson began working as head rider at Gestut Wiesenhof in Krefeld. He successfully competed young Trakehners Kentucky and Edelmut.

He left Wiesenhof to briefly be on his own at Gut Römerhof. His last shows in Germany were in 2013 and 2014, competing for instance licensed stallions Bentamo (by Belissimo x Florestan) and Firenze (by Fidertanz x Wanderbusch II).

Back to Sweden

In 2015 Svensson returned to Sweden to work at Hannell Dressage in Falkenberg, Sweden.

"I became responsible for the training, competition, and sales of dressage horses worldwide," Johan told Eurodressage. He received training from Hannell's business partner Jan Brink.

The rider actively competed a large string of horses, mainly youngsters, at national level in Sweden. In Sweden he showed Kai van Wittenstein P, Buster, Rosmarin, Amsor THE, Avicii, and K-Sir Metallic amongst others.

Svensson and Hannell's Swedish bred Avicci (by Hohenstaufen II x First Wish) were the silver medal winners at the 2016 Swedish Warmblood Young Horse Championships.

During his time in Sweden, Johan never competed internationally.

New Start

The 36-year old Svensson has already moved to Bäckarorp Gård in Halmstad, Sweden, where he has set up his own business.

"I am looking forward to continue to work with what I have always done, develop talented dressage horses for the sport," he said. "I'm excited to be able to do it together with my girlfriend, Louise Ridderbjelke, and include my family in the daily business."

When asked which young horses he will be focusing on now, Svensson did not give a concrete answer or name them. He said, "for next year I will have really interesting young horses and the goal will be the Falsterbo Horse show."