The Finnish equestrian federation has announced its team for the 2025 European Dressage Championships in Crozet, France on 26 - 31 August 2025.
The Finnish team will be captained by Finnish Dressage Committee member Tanja Takkula.
Finland is represented by
- Henri Ruoste - Tiffany's Diamond
- Jenni Matilda Schmechel - Zagal Azores
- Joanna Robinson - Glamouraline
What about the Routiniers?
Finland has been struggling to field the minimum amount of riders for a team, three.
Many of Finland's experienced Grand Prix riders have not been competing at high performance level with horses absent or sidelined. Olympian Emma Kanerva parted with her main supplier of horses and has not competed internationally in 2025. Stella Hagelstam has sold Kiss Me to Denise and Sidney Lipar in the USA at the end of 2024. The Lipars also bought Ingrid Klimke's Firlefranz at that time.
Yvonne Osterholm has not shown Ironman H in 2025, while Elisabet Ehrnrooth did only one CDI on Daytano in April 2025. Mikaela Soratie rode La Vita (by Galaxie x Sandro Hit) to two 64% Grand Prix scores at the CDI's in Sopot and Deauville, while Invincible (by Charmeur x Holland's Golden Boy) posted 63.304% in his first and only CDI of 2025 so far, last February in Le Mans.
Team New Comer
Finland is fielding a team of three to Crozet, of which two riders rode at the 2024 Olympics and one is a total newcomer: Jenni Matilda Schmechel
The 35-year old Schmechel is based in Spain and made her international show debut in 2021 at small tour level with the now 12-year old PRE bred Zagal Azores (by Gnidium x Morbo), owned by Czech Anna Homolova Forstingerova.
Jenni and Zagal moved to Grand Prix level in March 2025 and showed in Jerez, Las Cadenas, and Deauville to clinch her spot on the team.
Photo © Lily Forado
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 European Dressage. Championships
Finnish Olympic Team Selection for 2024 Paris Troubled By Issues with FEI Ownership Deadline
Yvonne Osterholm Pulls out of Finnish Olympic Team Race