Peder Fredricson

The Swedish flagbearer and four-time Olympic medallist tells Jennifer Donald about 2024's ups and downs, the key to social licence and silver linings

- Jennifer Donald

AS one of the most decorated showjumpers of all time and with a hugely respected, natural approach to horsemanship, Swedish showjumper Peder Fredricson is a superb ambassador and an Arcadian voice for the sport. When Peder talks, we all listen.

So it's no surprise that he's acutely concerned by the repercussions of a year of turmoil surrounding welfare issues within the equestrian world.

"It has rocked our world," offers the quadruple Olympic medallist. "We've all been affected by it.

"Respect for the horse is vital for our industry because the horse is our 'product', it's what we 'sell," he says as we sit down to chat between classes at one of the 24 international shows across three continents that this jet-setting rider has contested in 2024.

"The sport needs to be exciting, with clear rules, but with happy horses that are performing well and are well looked after. It just feels like a battle to get that across at the moment.

"We produce horses and we sell the experience of watching them, so we must invest in that experience to ensure we create something beautiful to watch that people enjoy without questioning it. We have to be careful how we move forward."

IT'S not just the sport he's so passionate about that has reached a future-defining crossroads; Peder is in a rebuilding phase himself after the retirement last year of his Olympic and European Championship hero H&M All In at the age of 17, followed by his other major grand prix winner H&M Christian K at the same age. One of Peder's greatest skills is coaxing enviable longevity out of his beloved horses.

"It was such a privilege to have a horse like All In and I will always be grateful for the career he gave me. But it's very difficult afterwards. The expectations on the other horses become really high.