Where Are They Now? Astoria

Focus

F.O.C.U.S.

Once hailed as one of Swedish most talented, up and coming Grand Prix horses, the Swedish warmblood mare Astoria was triple World Young Horse Championship participant and member of the Swedish team at the 2022 World Championships in Herning. She disappeared from the scene in the spring of 2023.

Where is she now?

Bred in Sweden

Astoria is a 2012 born Swedish warmblood mare by Sir Donnerhall II out of Aquarell (by Quaterback x Rubinrot x Donnerhall). She is bred by Christina Olsson, who still owns her to this date.

She did the mare inspection test in 2015 and saddle test in 2016. In the latter she scored 8.5 for walk, trot, canter and temperament and 9 for jumping technique.

Between 2015 and 2023 she was covered five times (four times embryotransfer) and two foals were born, one in 2021 named Abigail (by Bon Coeur) and one in 2024 named Arwen (by Racoon). Abigail made her show debut this summer with Kim Götesson.

Triple WCYH Participant

Astoria made her show debut in Sweden in 2016 under Maria Eriksson. She finished 8th in the Swedish Breeders' Trophy for 4-year olds.

As of 2017 Swedish 2014 WEG team rider Jeanna Hogberg began competing Astoria and qualified her on the Swedish team for the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where they were 4th in the consolation finals. The pair returned to the WCYH in Ermelo in 2018, to finish 12th in the Finals and in 2019 to place 10th in the Finals after winning the 7-year old consolation class.

At the Swedish Young Horse Championships, Astoria was 8th in 2016 with Eriksson and under Hogberg she won triple gold in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Swedish Team Horse

After the 2019 World Young Horse Championships, Astoria disappeared from the international scene for more than two years to return in October 2021 at international Grand Prix level at the CDI Herning, where she scored 71.782% to place second in the Grand Prix. She confirmed her 70% scoring potential three weeks later at the CDI Randbol.

At the 2022 World Championships in Herning

In 2022 the pair campaigned in Herning, Zakrzow, Kristriansand, Compiegne and Rotterdam to be nominated on the Swedish team for the World Championships in Herning, where Sweden finished fourth. Individually they were 57th in the Grand Prix with 68.664%.

After Herning they motored on with CDI starts in Tallinn and Hesinki, claiming three wins out of four tests. From there they continued through the winter of 2023 in Gothenburg and Herning to start their outdoor season campaign for team selection for the 2023 European Championships by starting in Hagen, where they got 71,00% in the Grand Prix. A week later at the CDI Troisdorf the score was 67,239% in the Grand Prix and 68.319% in the Special.

It was Astoria's last international competition.

Where is She Now?

Two months after Troisdorf Hogberg and Astoria showed at the 2023 Swedish Grand Prix Championships in Stromsholm in June 2023 but after 68.174% in the Grand Prix (15th) , they did not ride the freestyle.

Hogberg explained to Eurodressage that the mare had a long break from competition because she felt off and it took a long time to find out what the problem was.

"We thought for a long time that it was a gut problem but was a severe infection in the uterus," Hogberg explained. "It made me feel really sad that we didn’t understand where her problems came from. She is such a positive and lovely horse!" Hogberg added in January 2025, when we interviewed her, that, "of course we hope that she is coming back to the sport and really believe so! But she needs to feel 100% fine!"

Astoria, fortunately, took a turn for the better and returned to show fitness. Her comeback to the competition ring was with 16-year old Swedish pony rider Milla Blomqvist, who represented Sweden at the 2023 European Children Championships in Kronberg on Sandro (by Sandakan x Bernstein).

"Astoria got problems after embryotransfer with severe uterine inflammations," owner Christina Olsson told Eurodressage. "Milla's father is a very skilled veterinarian, where Astoria is stabled now so she hopefully can recover. Meanwhile his young daughter Milla can ride her."

Blomqvist and Astoria had their debut in Hässleholm on 16 March 2025 at Medium B:1 level (junior level). Two weeks later the pair showed at the Ängelholms riding club at the same level, followed by one more start in april at Laholms riding club. It was their last show so far. Blomqvist trains with Johanna Due Boje.