Strong Collaboration: Emilia Bergåkra and NorCordia Aim for European Championship Qualification

Sales and Training

Swedish Emilia Bergåkra is preparing to compete at the 2025 Swedish Young Riders Championships, taking place 5-8 June, with strong support from NorCordia and a promising young mare at her side.

Riding the 8-year-old Dantana (by Dragon Hill x Totilas), co-owned by NorCordia and Ingrid Olsen, Bergåkra will aim to secure a coveted qualification spot for the 2025 FEI European Championships for Young Riders & U25, to be held in Germany from 10–13 July.

Serial Medalist

Bergåkra, 21, is no stranger to high-level competition. With seven Swedish Championship medals-four of them gold-and international experience at both European and Nordic-Baltic Championships, she approaches the upcoming Nationals as a strong and experienced contender.

Most recently, Emilia and Dantana enjoyed a successful season in Wellington, Florida supported by the NorCordia Team. At the 2025 Global Dressage Festival, the pair showed significant progress and delivered impressive results. In March, they achieved personal bests in two of three tests at the CDIY- placing 4th in the Young Rider Team Test, 2nd in the Individual, and 3rd in the Freestyle. They concluded the season with a win in the FEI Young Riders Team Test at the Global CDI, scoring a personal best of 69.6%.

A Strong Partnership with NorCordia

Emilia riding for NoCordia in Wellington, FL

With locations in Kolding, Denmark, Wellington, Florida and Califon, New Jersey, NorCordia is recognized not only as a professional selection and training group offering unique sport horse investment opportunities for investors and enthusiasts, but also for its deep commitment to developing the next generation of riders.

“At NorCordia, we are passionate about helping young riders grow and creating meaningful opportunities in the sport. Emilia is a great example of that mission in action. Her dedication, curiosity, and feel for the horses make her a rider with great potential. It’s been a pleasure to watch her develop over the last 18 months,” says Catherine Haddad, Dressage trainer & elite-level competition rider, and CEO and co-founder of NorCordia USA.

From Swedish Roots to International Ambitions

Originally from Hälsingland in northern Sweden, Bergåkra grew up on her family’s farm, where an equestrian tradition has been passed down through generations. She has been a member of the Swedish national team since the age of 13, and for the last 18 months she has been part of the NorCordia team, training within its high-performance approach focused on long-term development for both horses and riders.

In addition to pursuing her own competition goals, Emilia also rides and develops several of NorCordia’s carefully selected sales horses.

“The partnership is mutually rewarding horses like Dantana receive valuable training and show exposure as they are prepared for the right buyer, while Emilia continues to grow her skills at the top level of the sport,” emphasizes Haddad, who is in charge of Development at NorCordia.

"Through NorCordia’s support, I have access to world-class horses and expert guidance from, among others, my trainer Catherine. You can truly feel our shared passion- it drives us all forward. I’m incredibly grateful for the dedicated NorCordia team behind me. Their support has been a crucial factor in my rapid development over the past few years,” says Bergåkra.

“There are so many talented young riders out there, and I wish more of them had the backing of a strong partner like NorCordia—just as I do,” Emilia adds.

Ulrik Clemmensen, co-founder and CEO of NorCordia, explains:

“Most young talents are heavily dependent on sponsorship deals with major international brands just to be able to compete at top-level championships. But time and again, we see these sponsorships suddenly disappear - leaving the riders with nothing. That’s exactly the kind of culture we at NorCordia are determined to change.”

Eyes on the European Stage

Emilia and Dantana at the 2025 CDI Ocala

With the Swedish Nationals just around the corner, Bergåkra’s preparations are in full swing. Backed by NorCordia and partnered with the talented Dantana, her sights are firmly set on this summer’s European Championships—and her path forward looks increasingly promising.

You can follow Emilia and Dantana's preparations as well as their participation in the upcoming championships in Instagram here: Instagram or NorCordia official Instagram here: NorCordia Instagram

Learn more about NorCordia here: Homepage - NorCordia