Johansson, Löfgren, Aldenfalk - Recipients of the 2025 Ajax Stipend

Dressage

Sweden

Swedish dressage riders Jessie Johansson, Ella Löfgren, and Emilie Aldenfalk were three of four recipients of the annual Ajax Stipend at the 2025 Falsterbo Horse Show on 12 July 2025.

The Ajax Stipend

Ulla Hakanson, Swedish Grand Prix legend and long-time benefactor for the sport in Sweden, is the sponsor of the Ajax Stipend, named after her legendary first Grand Prix horse Ajax.

The Ajax Fund was established in 2005 and initially provided support to promising young dressage riders without the financial benefits to make it to the top. Riders have to be graduated from high school to apply for a grant from the "Ajax Fund".

Initially one rider per year was allocated a training grant, but that amount expanded to up to three a year and in 2018 there were even four recipients. This year four were named, one is a dressage rider. Each recipient gets a cheque of approx. 28,700 euro (300,000 SEK) to be spent on their training.

2025 Recipients

This year, Hakanson awarded four riders the stipend: three to dressage riders and one to a show jumpers.

The dressage riders are Jessie Johansson, Ella Löfgren, and Emilie Aldenfalk. Johansson and her 8-year old Swedish mare Flow (by Mr Vian GJ x Figaro R) showed at the 2024 World Young Horse Championships, while Emilie Aldenfaklk was very active on the international scene as a youth rider between 2013 and 2019. She hasn't competed internationally since September 2019. Ella Löfgren is yet to make her CDI debut.

"It feels just as surreal now as it did the day Ulla contacted me and told me that I was one of this year's fellows," Lofgren took to Instagram. "It is difficult to put into words the feeling - but a humble joy and great gratitude! And what possibility this entails. I don't take this for granted, and I promise to do my absolute best to manage this trust in the absolute best way possible."

Recipients over the Years (dressage)

The list of recipients over the years is very interesting. Many once considered Swedish stars for the future that received the stipend have disappeared completely from the international show scene

2024: Amanda Svanberg and Vendela Erikdotter Rubin
2023: Hedda Thunberg and Ellen Olsson.
2022: Ellen Hedbys and Linnea Holmgren
2021: Elin Mattsson and Mathilda Andersson Antelli.
2020: Alva Lander and Klara Svanberg
2019: Johan Wessner and Cecilia Bergåkra
2018: Denise Lungqvist, Jennifer Lindvall and Evelina Söderström
2017: Ida-Linn Lundholm and Lina Dolk
2016: Josefin Gyllenswärd and Amanda Eklund
2015: Lina Andersson and Carl Hedin
2014: Sandra Dahlin and Malin Nilsson
2013: Ellinor Magnusson
2012: Elin Aspnäs and Michelle Hagman.
2011: Ida Kristoffersson
2010: Mads Hendeliowitz and Marina Mattsson.
2009: Johanna Due-Bojeand Sofie Lexner.
2008: Charlotte Esping and Jeanna Högberg.
2007: Ida Eriksson, Marie Christiansson and Sara Henrietta Bergström Källström.
2006: Emma Karlsson, Ida Mattisson and Jennie Larsson.
2005: Mia von Essen

The past two years the dressage recipients were Amanda Svanberg and Vendela Erikdotter Rubin (2024) and Hedda Thunberg and Ellen Olsson (2023).