Marina Mattsson Leaves Hannell and Brink After Decade Long Collaboration

Dressage

Sweden

Swedish professional dressage rider Marina Mattsson has decided to leave her employer of 13 years, Hannell Dressage, and long-time coach Jan Brink.

Marina Mattsson

Marina Mattsson was one of Sweden's most successful youth riders in the late 2000s-early 2010s, competing at four consecutive European Pony Championships between 2008 and 2010 on Champgner W, Verdi RP, and B Capriole. She rode at the 2011 and 2012 European Junior riders Championships on family horse Beckham.

Her talent did not go unnoticed and she signed up to be the head rider for Swedish investor Patrik Hannell in 2010. Aboard his Cassio she rode the 2013 European Young Riders Championships and was named Comet of the Year at the 2013 Swedish Riders' Gala.

She was Swedish Young riders champion in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and Swedish Under 25 Champion in in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

As a Grand Prix rider working for a sales barn, Mattsson saw her best horses sold each time: Cassio in 2014 to Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and Quatermain in 2021 to Beatrice Marienau. In January 2022, Marina gave birth to daughter Lexie. In 2023 she returned to the international stage after an almost four year break. Aboard Hannell's 11-year old KWPN gelding Helix (by Apache x Jazz) she became reserve for the Swedish team for the 2023 European Championships.

Saying Goodbye

For 15 years Marina was trained by Jan Brink, who recommended her to business partner Patrik Hannell. Both these collaborations have now come to an end.

"Marina Mattsson is leaving our team to seek new challenges," Hannell and Brink stated on social media. "Marina came to Jan as a 14-year-old and enlisted to get a place in ”Plantskolan”. Jan saw Marina's talent and with a driven and supportive mother and various solutions with help from Jan, Marina got hold of the horse Beckham which took her from pony rider to various junior and Young Rider medals nationally and internationally and finally international U25 Grand Prix in Aachen. With Beckham and the collaboration with Jan also came the opportunity for employment and a serious competition venture at Hannell Dressage Stable, which Jan has been running together with the owners Camilla & Patrik Hannell since 2010."

A New Start

Mattsson told Eurodressage she will be making a brand new start in Sweden with a new trainer.

"We have decided to go seperate ways due to Hannell Dressage Stable's change of direction in the future," said Marina. "I’m beyond grateful for everything we have achieved together and the knowledge I’ve gained on this journey with guidance from Jan Brink."

Marina doesn't plan to move abroad as most Swedish team riders do.

"I’ll stay in the area and start my own business from November 1st," she told Eurodressage. " Everything isn't settled yet. I’ll start from scratch and start collaborations with new horse owners. I’m really looking forward to see what the future will bring."