Swedish Olympian Ulla Hakanson (88) Hacking Former International Jumper

Dressage

Sweden

Swedish Olympian Ulla Hakanson, who celebrated her 88th birthday this year, is still in the saddle and welcomed a retired international show jumper to her yard as hacking horse.

Swedish team jumper Peder Fredericson sent his 18-year old 1.60m jumping Zaloubet (by Maloubet de Pleville x Robin Z) to Hakanson where he can be retired to the field as well as hacked by a still eager-to-ride Hakanson.

Hacking Horse

"Zalu is now 18 years old and it had been a couple of years since he competed. When I dropped him off at Ulla's he was very excited to be off. But Ulla immediately wanted to get up and ride. So we saddled up and Ulla sat outside the stable and rode off towards the field where the riding arena is," Isabelle Fredericson took to Facebook on 30 July.

"What a horsewoman she is, others would probably have started in the riding stable or lunged a little first on a lively and new horse. But not Ulla. With light, nice aids she rode Zalu so beautifully. Impressed and inspired! Grateful for the time I had with Zalu and happy that he found a home with Ulla. I get reports of nice rides in the forest over natural-colored jumps."

Tidningen Ridsport interviewed Hakanson about the new horse in her barn. The Olympian said about Zalu, "he's doing well. He's kind and decent. But he's big, he's 172 centimeters tall. Everything has gone well so far."

75 Years in the Saddle

Swedish publisher Bookstrap Publishing AB recently published a book with Hakanson's career overview titled "The Horses in My Heart."

The intro reads, "this is my life story. From falling in love with horses as a child, to successfully transforming a show jumping horse into a dressage horse and winning an Olympic bronze medal. I have been selected for seven Olympic Games, but have only been able to ride in four. During one of them, the worst thing that could ever happen happened. The horse in my heart died in my arms.”

In 2011 Eurodressage's Sile Rottermann wrote the following life story on Ulla Hakanson, titled Ulla Hakanson, an Evergreen on the International Dressage Scene.

Her published autobiography provides a unique insight into the world of horses and the development of equestrian sports from the 1940s to today's modern form; it is an exceptional personal journey, filled with both triumphs and challenges. But above all, the book is about what has always meant the most – the horses.

The book can be ordered here.