Ridsport

Ancient Wisdom Will Save the Future of Equestrian Sport: "Must Not Be Lost”

July 12, 2023 Text: My Östh Gustafsson English Translation: Annikka Berridge

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Ingvar Fredricson has devoted his life to horses and is currently establishing a foundation to preserve his extensive knowledge and promote horse welfare. His two world-champion sons will join him in this endeavor and carry on his legacy.
-If I were 85 years old and a computer technician, they would have told me that I could go hide, says Professor Ingvar Fredricson, DVM, PhD

For as long as he can remember, he has loved horses. His earliest horse memory is from the garden of his grandparent’s home in Malmö. He was four years old and sat sipping juice when two sergeants who boarded at his grandparents rode by.

– One sergeant said to me, "Come here, my little påg, you who are so interested in horses, you can join me for a ride." But I didn't dare. I am still embarrassed by that, he admits with a chuckle.

But he got over his fear. Now he is releasing a memoir about his life together with horses.

– From the time that I was five years old, I was completely convinced that it was horses that mattered.I had a brief period of infidelity when I was graduating high school and applied to become a fighter pilot.  But I didn't get in, which was probably lucky, given that I usually think about several things at once. Soaring at 900 knots in a flying barrel at treetop height, I likely would have plummeted into a hill.

Instead, he became an equine veterinarian, and already by his third year at the Royal Veterinary College in Stockholm, he immersed himself in studying the biomechanics of the horse. His pioneering research led to the development of horse-friendly racetracks all around the world.

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There were many who doubted that he made the right career choice, however.  Technology and automobiles increasingly dominated society. When he was born in Malmö in 1937, there were approximately 500,000 horses in Sweden. By the 1970s, there were barely 70,000.

-But suddenly, and it’s hard to know why, things changed in the 1980s.  Everyone wanted to to learn to ride and have horses.  Today there are around 365,000 horses. So I devoted my life to the right things. In 1983, Ingvar left Sweden’s Agricultural University and became Director of the newly established Flyinge Foundation for fifteen years. His task was to transform the old national institution into a private center for breeding, sports, research, and education.

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the office in his home in Vitaby, he has spent many hours in front of the computer to complete the new book. Image: CHRISTIAN ÖRNBERG

Kajsa von Geijer, one of Peder Fredricson’s horse owners, finances together with Annikka Berridge both the publication of Fredric's new book and a new edition of his sold-out book about Flyinge. But they weren’t satisfied there.

-They contacted me again and convinced me to start a foundation in my name so that all the knowledge and understanding of horses would not be lost, and to promote horse welfare.

The board, along with the two initiators and himself, also includes Falsterbo Horse Show President, Jana Wannius, as well as two of the world’s best show jumpers - Invar Fredricson’s sons, Jens and Peder.

- They are very involved, and we talk about things like this together all the time.  They will drive this further.

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Fredricson together with his son Peder during the celebration of the Olympic medals in Tokyo. Image: CHRISTOFFER BORG MATTISON/BILDBYRÅN

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The foundation and its purpose come at just the right time, says Fredricson.  An unusually large number of eyes have been directed at equestrian sports in recent years. During the Olympic Games in Tokyo, equestrian sports came into the spotlight. But it wasn’t just due tributes to the historic gold show jumping team. Several incidents sparked a big debate about the welfare of horses in top sport.

The images of German pentathlete Annika Schieu as she tearfully whipped the horse that refused to jump went viral. Just as pictures of show jumper Cian O'Connor jumping obstacle after obstacle while blood gushed from his horse’s nose. And an accident had a fatal outcome - the Swiss eventing horse Jet Set fell in the cross country and had to euthanized. Several animal rights activists called for equestrian sports to be dropped from the Olympics.

Is equestrian sport threatened?

-I don't want to believe it. But in Europe, there are activists who chain themselves to racetracks or storm showjumping arenas. You can’t just sit still and hope for better times.  All equestrian organizations and federations must take this seriously, according to Ingvar Fredricson, who continues:

-The most important thing when working with horses is knowledge of and communication with the animals.  There are many people who do not understand horses but still have opinions.  And therefore you must spread the knowledge that exists.  This Foundation will do just that.

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It's fantastic to see the bond that can develop between horse and human. It's something magical," says Ingvar Fredricson. Image: CHRISTIAN ÖRNBERG

As long as Ingvar Fredericson lives, he will fight for the horses’ welfare.  And in the future, his legacy will carry on through his foundation.  His basic message is, and always will be, to learn as much as possible about the horse and always put it first.  

- It’s called horsemanship.  It’s not just riding, there is much more to it.  There is proven experience and scientific research.  Together, it is a huge knowledge base that is being forgotten.  It cannot happen.  The art of horsemanship must not be forgotten.

FACTS

Ingvar Fredricson

Age: 85 years Lives: Vitaby

Family: Married to Stina, father of Peder, Jens and Anna. Seven grandchildren

Work: Veterinary Professor and Former Director of Flyinge.  Currently working on a new book and with the newly established Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation.

The board consists of Ingvar Fredricson, Kajsa von Geijer, Jens Fredricson, Peder Fredricson, Jana Wannius and Annikka Berridge

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