Ronja Kardos Wins 2025 Swedish Pony Championships

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2025 Swedish Dressage Championships

Two years after clinching the Swedish Pony Champion's title, Ronja Kardos was back on the highest step of the podium at the 2025 Nationals hosted by the Kimstad riding association on 29 May - 1 June 2025.

The Swedish pony championships runs quite differently compared to other nations. The ponies are divided in categories by height (C and D-size), while the riders are categorised by age. Group 1 is FEI pony age (between 12 - 16), while group 2 is for 17 - 20 year old riders on ponies. Riders on B-size ponies cannot be older than 13.

Kardos Back on Top

The 15-year old Kardos saddled her 2023 champion pony Nice One, a 15-year old Swedish Connemara by Sjodalens Magnet x Rolls Royce. They were the only pair to score over seventy percent in all three rounds, topping the board in the team test with 71.809%, winning the individual with 73.784% and besting the Kur with 74.965%.

The silver went to last year's silver medal winner Wilma Bornhager, who rode a different pony this year: the 9-year old Swedish bred Frans Isak (by Sibelius x Vermont RP). They improved throughout the weekend with increasing scores: 69.571% in the team test, 71.442% in the individual test, and 74.73% in the Kur.

Last year's winner, Josefine Lindstedt and the 12-year old Dutch Welsh pony bred Falco (by Leuns Veld's Winston x Hagelkruis Valentijn) settled for bronze with 70.476%, 69.504%, and 73.68%.

In the C-size FEI pony category Amelia Helene Lilliehöök and the 8-year old Westfalian Moviestar Lady (by Movie Star x Dance Star) won the gold, while Oliver Brink and the 17-year old Weber af Konigshoj (by Dressmann II x Marchi) were good silver and Nellie Furuskog on the 16-year od View Mount (by Verdi x Okand) got bronze.

Pilot Project

The Swedish equestrian federation ran a pilot project at the Swedish Pony Championships with an additional assessment of "harmony" in the first round for the category C and D FEI ponies.

"Even though it was not included in the official assessment, it feels like the harmony assessment is right for the time," said Swedish pony team captain Anette Svanberg. "If we are going to be able to influence how you are as a rider, it should be done early when the children or horses are still learning."

Results - 2025 Swedish Pony Championships - Kimstad

1. Ronja Kardos - Nice One - 71.809 - 73.784 - 74.965 --- 220.558
2. Wilma Bornhager - Frans Isak. - 69.571 - 71.442 - 74.73 --- 215.743
3. Josefine Lindstedt - Falco - 70.476. - 69.504 - 73.68 --- 213.66
4. Angelina Brink - Ceramonte B - 70.429 - 69.64 - 73.015 --- 213.084
5. Samantha Arnbäck - George Clooney B.S. - 70.953 - 68.198 - 72.74 --- 211.891
6. Annie Walfridsson - Dogge Doggelito. - 68.143 - 68.739 - 72.72 --- 209.602
7. Agnes Österlöf - Tovdal´s Sir Sullivan - 67.619 - 68.063 - 70.605 --- 206.287
8. Ella Jerlin - Piri Piri - 68.333 - 66.622 - 70.23 --- 205.185
9. Engla Svärd - Hamiltons I did it My Way - 63.714 - 67.162 - 69.605 --- 200.481
10. Iris von Ekensteen - Steendieks Cunningham - 64.333 - 65.541 - 67.695 --- 197.569
11. Lina Nääs - Dancer Boy - 64.286 - 65.451 - 65.975 --- 195.712
12. Olivia Laustsen - Klooster’s Eltino - 63.048 - 65.856 - 66.29--- 195.194
13. Alice Wallin Minigårdens - Kapten Krok - 63.238 - 65.09 - 63.505 --- 191.833
14. Amanda Zettervall Fredriksson - Hej Goleuddydd - 62.238 - 64.37 - 64.025 --- 190.6.
15 Elissa Ek - Dreimalhoch S - 63.19 - 65.045 - 61.31 --- 189.545

Complete results here