Erika Sjostrom

Erika is a 24 year old event rider from Sweden, competing up to CCI4* level and currently based in Dorset with Australian Event rider Christopher Burton,

The first time she attended an Eventing competition and saw her friend riding through a water complex she told her Mum “This is what I want to do” and so the journey started.

Erika started riding at age 5, and she got her own first Pony, at age 8. The pony was a chestnut mare that thought she was a 17hh horse… Erika and her friend played a lot with their ponies jumping fences their parents told them not to, cantering in the woods in southern Sweden and just having fun with their happy Ponies. Since then Erika has been totally focused and completely dedicated to Eventing.

Erika made an early switch to horses after pony picked up a string of injures. With her new partner in crime, HAKUNAMATATA, she quickly set about making a name for herself in Eventing winning the Swedish Junior Championships title twice and then added two Swedish Young Rider Championship title her tally. These achievements got her the call to the Swedish National Team selectors and she has represented Sweden no less than five times at Europeans Championships for Juniors and Young riders. Erika made her CCI4* debut at the Nations Cup in Strzegom, Poland in 2015 with HAKUNAMATATA.

In order to pursue her Eventing dreams and to take the challenging step from promising Young Rider to established Senior, Erika decided in 2017 to relocate and headed to the UK arguable the undisputed country for Eventing. Erika based herself with Christopher Bartle in Yorkshire for three years with the ambition to learn from one of the best. She is forever grateful to Chris for his coaching and the team at Yorkshire Riding Center for the experience and coaching she got there.

Erika is now in the process of establishing herself as Top International Eventer whilst building a sustainable business, and is very happy to have been given the opportunity to set up her yard in Dorset with her number one role model, Christopher Burton. Not only is Chris a fantastic trainer and mentor, the facilities offered by Ellie Guy Equestrian are fantastic as well.

Towards the end of the 2018 Erika suffered a knee injury as result of a fall at Allerton Park that required surgery and forced to withdraw her talented 7yo, DANTINO B, from World Championships at Le Lion d’Anger as result. With the knee still not quite right and hampering the riding 2019 became a year of limited capacity, the highlight of the year was winning the Intermediate with DANTINO B at Allerton Patk. After the end of season, Erika had further corrective surgery on her knee and is now is ready to give 2020 her best.

In 2020 Erika plans to establish herself and 9yo Dantino B at CCI4*, with the aim of earning herself a place on the Swedish National Senior Team. In 2020 Erika will also riding TEMPRNILLO (5 year old), GHF ON THE BUTTON (7 year old) plus a couple more 5 year olds who will be starting their Eventing education ready for the future.