Showjumping clinic by Jens Fredricson at Ypäjä 2025
The swedish showjumping star and master Jens Fredricson held a clinic for the finnish riders and horse enthusiast at Ypäjä Training Center in October 2025. The day consisted 5 groups of riders and at the end of the day, the star rode one horse himself. Here is a brief summary of the day.
Fredricson talked about his philosophy of training horses. Horses can never choose, they wait for humans to take care of them, so be the best version of yourself for your horses. "Nothing gets better in a bad mood, have fun and relax. Plan your day, so that you can enjoy your day." Fredricson said.
The rider is always connected and influencing the horse. When a horse spooks or is tense, give it time to relax. Don't go to the spooky corner too early, because it only builds more resistance on the horse. Don't start with a fight. When a horse stops breathing, start to focus on your own breathing. Don't do things you are not ready for, because the horse needs to feel safe. Learn to ride with feel, but without feelings. Horses feel when the rider is sad, happy etc. "You can be positive and serious at the same time." Fredricson also said to the audience, after politely joking about finnish people who usually look so grumpy.
Fredricson was very precised that all the riders could do flat work and get the horses between aids before they started jumping. There was two group of young horses between ages 5-6, a group with junior riders, a group with senior riders and a group with riders from riding school. Fredricson guided the riders not to stay near the wall (1m inside) when riding straight, because then horse starts to follow the riders aids better than just following the wall. The riders should also learn to stay on the same line and keep their eyes on the same point, so the horse also learns to follow their riders eyes. When coming out of corner, riders should always think forward and ride a bit forward, even 2 steps, if needed. So, the horse learns to think forward from every turn. This is important, because when you are moving forward from every turn, you can always wait for the distance to fences. You are always teaching the horse something.
Balance and quality of the gaits are important, because they make the horse to jump. So, basically every stride or transition counts, also in the flatwork. Straightening the horse makes it push evenly from the ground, when the weight is evenly on all four legs. Its not about the hands, its about riding forward and freeing horses neck. The horse uses its neck to balance itself and a free neck is needed when jumping. Still, have to keep in mind, that some horses loose confidence without contact in the reins. Riding is not black or white. You can never jump too small fences, use them to educate the horse to jump in a right way.
They whole day and Fredricsons philosophy were summarized, when he rode on one horse himself. He first worked on flat, to make the horse more supple with some leg-yelding and collected the canter almost to piroutte canter, to make the horse take more weight to the hind. After this, he let the horse canter forward from the corner and go straight forward. He let the horse strech its neck and rode in canter with long reins. In first small jumps he let the horse take more responsibility of jumping (which was quite a new thing for this horse). Gradually the jumps became better. He jumped a course with small fences and in the second round, you could clearly see how the horse "took" the fences and started to use its whole body better and better in the jumps.
Personally for me, it was a once in lifetime experience to take part in the event by sitting in the audience. I really respect the horse culture in Sweden, and it was privilege for me to get the chance to get a glimpse of the knowledge straight from the top in the sport.
Final quotes from the swedish star:
"Rider must be able to make the horse do collected work to let the horse to do the work in jumping."
"To do proper dressage is one thing and part, 2nd is to sit light and jump a round."
"As long as you do as good as you can, you never fail. You only fail when you quit."
Jens Fredricson – A Career in Show Jumping
Jens Fredricson, born in Stockholm in 1967, is one of Sweden's most respected show jumping riders. With a career spanning several decades, he has become known not only for his competitive achievements but also for his thoughtful approach to horsemanship and training.
Early Life and Background
Jens grew up in a horse-loving family. His father was a veterinary professor and a manager at the Flyinge, which gave Jens and his brother Peder Fredricson early exposure to horses and riding. He trained at Sweden's national equestrian centers, Flyinge and Strömsholm, surrounded by elite riders like Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Peter Eriksson. [horseshowjumping.tv]
Competitive Highlights
Olympic Games: Competed in the 2012 London Olympics. [en.wikipedia.org]
Swedish Championships: Jens has won eight Swedish Championship medals, including two golds in 2008 and 2012. [mn2s.com]
European Championships: Bronze medalist in 2013 and team gold in 2023 in Milan with his horse Markan Cosmopolit. [worldofsho...umping.com]
World Championships: Part of the gold medal-winning Swedish team at the 2022 World Championships in Herning. [worldofsho...umping.com]
World Cup: Took individual bronze at the 2022 FEI World Cup Final in Leipzig. [worldofsho...umping.com]
Training Philosophy
Jens emphasizes patience, balance, and education in horse training. He believes in developing horses holistically, starting with cross-country and dressage before focusing on jumping. His method is grounded in building strength, confidence, and self-carriage in horses. [horseshowjumping.tv]
Mentorship and Coaching
As a long-time instructor at Flyinge and Strömsholm, Jens is deeply involved in coaching young riders. He supports initiatives like the Young Riders Academy, helping to shape the next generation of equestrian talent. [worldofsho...umping.com]
Personal Life and Values
Jens is known for his grounded personality and strong family values. He runs a family-based yard with his wife Isabelle, a fellow rider and veterinarian. He prioritizes meaningful competitions over constant travel, choosing events that matter most for rankings and personal fulfillment. [bucas.com]
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