Finnish Youth Riders Welcome New Horses in the Barn

Dressage

Finland

Two Finnish international youth riders - Peppi Kokko and Mikaela Sinda - have welcomed a new horse in the barn.

Don Royal 8

The 16-year old Peppi Kokko has received the ride on the 12-year old Hanoverian Don Royal (by Dannebrog x Rubin Royal).

Previously owned by Joanna Robinson, the chestnut was first competed by Finnish Sofie Soderback in the young riders classes at the 2022 CDI's in Exloo, Hagen and Meerle, before Robinson climbed on board herself for one Prix St Georges test at the 2022 CDI Troisdorf

Kokko made her international show debut on 2021 in the Children division aboard Helios (by Flemmingh x Magini) and Damasco Daniciera (by Tornado). In 2022 she moved up into the junior division with the latter horse and with Windsor V (by Welser x Lobster). Her last international start was at the 2023 Nordic Baltic Championships in Drammen, where she placed 13th in the Kur to Music. They won bronze at the 2023 Finnish Junior Championships.

Hagels DeBeers

The 14-year old Mikaela Sinda has welcomed the 10-year old Finnish warmblood Hagels DeBeers (by San Amour x Donnerhall) into her barn.

DeBeers is bred by Stella Hagelstam's mom Heidi and was trained to small tour level by Stella. He has not competed internationally, but was successful on domestic soil, winning the young horse derby as a 5-year old as well as the 7-8-year old championship. He qualified for the 2020 World Young Horse Championships as a 7-year old but the event was cancelled due to covid.

Sinda began her international career in the children's division as a vaulter in 2022. In 2023 she rode her first CDI children's tests in Ypaja on Silulona (by Revan x Continue), whole as of May 2023 she campaigned Chaos (by Carismo x Now or Never M). DeBeers will take her into the junior ranks.

"Mega grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to what's ahead," Sinda took to Instagram. "Timppa (DeBeers) and I plan to stay in Boe in training and set our eyes on the coming junior years!"