Sweden, Västerås - Dressage and working Equitation
Beautiful Lusitanos graze peacefully in the pastures, surrounded by meadows, forest, and a lake for swimming that encircle the horse farm.
It is an oasis far removed from the noise and impressions of the city. Here, you can truly relax, breathe out, and just enjoy.
When Jenny and her family arrived here twenty years ago, they saw the potential in this beautiful natural area despite the dilapidated buildings. Since then, they have renovated, built a fine stable and a beautiful residence, several guest cabins, and a riding arena.
Jenny has extensive knowledge of horses and riding. She has broken in and trained all her horses herself, and several can perform advanced dressage movements such as piaffe and passage. She is intelligent, humble, and analytical, and believes that it's not just she who educates her horses — they educate her as well. When she sees her students on horseback, she knows exactly how to guide them to develop their riding skills and feel.
Jenny’s mother, Therese, makes sure you’re well-fed with tasty and nutritious meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No one leaves the table hungry here. There’s a warm and welcoming atmosphere on the farm, so you’ll feel at home and comfortable in no time.
Program
Working Equitation
In Working Equitation (WE), the partnership between horse and rider is developed, along with the horse’s self-carriage and strength, suppleness and obedience, and the rider’s use of aids, seat, and balance. Add a bit of speed and excitement, and you get a really fun and rewarding training for both horse and rider.
Ponies and horses compete against each other, as do children and adults. This means that adults can compete on ponies, as long as the combination is proportionate. In other words, WE truly is a sport for everyone!
WE consists of three parts: dressage, obstacles (technique), and speed.
• The dressage test is comparable to standard dressage programs but includes more lateral movements and rein-back.
• The technical phase involves navigating 10–15 different obstacles. This may include riding one-handed, opening gates, crossing bridges, or riding slalom with flying changes.
• Speed is similar to a jump-off; just like in showjumping, the goal is to ride fast and take smart lines without knocking anything down. As the name suggests, this phase is timed and requires the horse to be agile and responsive.
Here, you’ll have the opportunity to train on the following obstacles:
1. Drum/single barrel
2. Three-barrel pattern
3. Simple slalom
4. Parallel slalom
5. Bell in corridor
6. Spear in/out of barrel
7. Ring pick-up
8. Bridge
9. Gate
10. Jump
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Dressage and WE – 4-Day Program
Includes: 3 nights, 4 days of riding (6 sessions), full board
Day 1: Arrival in the afternoon around 2 PM with coffee, program briefing, and first dressage session.
Day 2: Dressage lesson in the morning followed by a lovely trail ride in the afternoon.
Day 3: Dressage lesson in the morning, WE session in the afternoon.
Day 4: The course concludes with a WE course at an appropriate level. Departure after lunch.
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Dressage and WE Weekend Program
Includes: 2 nights, 3 days of riding (5 sessions), full board
Friday: Arrival in the afternoon around 2 PM with coffee, program briefing, and first dressage session.
Saturday: Dressage lesson in the morning and a WE session in the afternoon.
Sunday: Dressage lesson in the morning, followed by a lovely trail ride in the afternoon. The weekend concludes around 4 PM.
Accommodation & Food
The farm consists of a modern main house and an older turn-of-the-century house, small guest cabins, a large stable with a lounge and bathroom, and a riding arena — all surrounded by 20 hectares of meadows and forest.
You’ll stay in simple double rooms, either in one of the guest cabins (without shower/toilet) or in one of the main houses. Shared shower and toilet facilities are available in the stable and the houses. You’ll need to bring your own bed linens. Weather permitting, the lake is also perfect for a swim.
All meals are served in the beautiful main house. The kitchen has an open floor plan with a vaulted ceiling. On warm days, you can sit outside on the large terrace with a view of the lake. Therese is in charge of the cooking. Breakfast is generous, and lunch and dinner are delicious homemade meals. Every day, you're treated to a truly tasty dessert.
You are welcome to bring your own wine or beer and store it in the stable’s lounge, which has a refrigerator. If you get hungry between meals, there is always coffee, tea, and sandwiches available for you to help yourself.
One of the small guest cabins
Horses
Lusitanos
The farm is home to around 20 horses — 16 of them are Lusitanos, along with one Anglo-Arab and one Hispano-Arab. Among these are six stallions and a few young horses. Fourteen of the horses are used in the riding programs. Most of the horses have been imported from Portugal. There are horses suited for both experienced riders and those with less experience.
The horses stand around 150–165 cm at the withers and are of a more compact build, primarily suited for Working Equitation. All are trained in leg-yielding, shoulder-in, and haunches-in, and they are easy to ride in collection. Several are also trained in high school movements such as piaffe and passage.
Riding & your trainer
Your trainer, Jenny, focuses on you as the rider — ensuring your seat and position are correct and that the timing of your aids is spot on. She has broken in and trained all her horses herself and knows them very well. This makes it easy for her to see what you need to adjust or do differently to get the horse to respond as you want.
The goal is for you to do less and get more in return from the horse. Jenny is highly analytical and detail-oriented. Breaking things down into smaller parts makes it easier to understand why the horse reacts (or doesn’t react) in a certain way.
All riding ultimately comes down to being able to communicate with your horse — whether it's dressage or jumping. You may ride one or several horses during the course, depending on what you need to change or improve.
The aim of the courses is to equip you with tools that you can take home and use at your riding school or with your own horse.
Travel Information
Riding Experience: Dressage level 2–5
Included in the price:
• 4-day program: 3 nights, 4 days of riding, and full board
• Weekend program: 2 nights, 3 days of riding, and full board
Not included: Travel to and from the riding center. Bring your own bed linens and towel.
Travel info: Fly to Västerås (30 km) or Arlanda (130 km).
Train or bus to Västerås Central Station, then continue with bus no. 21 to Skultuna. Bus schedules available via Västerås local transit.
Transfer:
Transfer from Skultuna (approx. 14 km) can be booked. Price: SEK 150 per person round trip, payable in cash on site.
Arrival:
• 4-day program: Arrival on Day 1 around 2 PM, departure on Day 4 after lunch
• Weekend program: Arrival Friday around 2 PM, departure Sunday at 4 PM
Season: Year-round, on selected dates
Single room: Single rooms cannot be booked. If there is an odd number of guests, one person will be placed in a single room at no extra cost.
Number of riders: Minimum 2, maximum 8–10. Max 5 riders per lesson.
Age limit: Minimum age 10 when accompanied by a parent.
Weight limit: Max 85 kg
Currency: SEK
Payment method: Swish
Wi-Fi: Yes
Electrical outlets: EU standard
Pool: No, but there is a swimming lake.
Dogs: Allowed if the center is not fully booked, or if two people are sharing a room.
Own horse: You may bring your own horse. A stall and feed are included.
Riding equipment available to borrow: Some riding helmets are available to borrow, but we recommend bringing your own.
Special dietary needs: Can be accommodated, but it is important to inform us when booking.
Feedback from our travellers
A Hidden Equestrian Gem!
"Delicious food and scrumptious desserts! Loved the social dining with the host and instructor! Jenny is an amazing teacher, incredibly dedicated, and deeply rooted in her horsemanship! She should have a YouTube channel :-) Supportive and encouraging! Such beautiful, well-trained horses!"
– Ann-Christine Skotte
Pure Joy of Riding and Fantastic Food!
"Plentiful, delicious homemade food — including great vegetarian options. The riding was absolutely amazing, and it was so fun to feel and see progress! We can't wait to come back and will book again as soon as we get the chance!"
– Charlotta Olsson
Passionate Instructor and Wonderful Horses!
"Jenny was an outstanding trainer! So engaged! I’ve learned so much! Very fine horses!"
– Kristin Heidenfors Skoglund
Educational Rides and Cozy Atmosphere!
"Fantastic food and incredible riding. I learned a lot on these lovely horses. Everything was cozy and wonderful."
– Marie Österberg
Personal Feedback and Great Progress!
"Jenny is a very skilled instructor who knows her horses well and can spot the small details that make a big difference in your riding. Since the groups are small, you get plenty of feedback. I feel like I’ve developed a lot as a rider in just a few days. Incredible horses that help you find the right feel in your riding. A huge thank you for a truly fantastic weekend! I’ll gladly come back!"
– Hanna Andersson
Family Atmosphere and Top-Class Horses!
"Delicious homemade meals with dessert — everything you need. Jenny knows her horses inside and out and gives the right coaching so you can improve your riding in the best way. Amazing horses! Highly rideable, social, and kind. A warm, family-like environment with magical horses. Feel, passion, experience, and knowledge."
– Helene Fägerblad
Inspiring Riding and Delicious Food!
"Simple but cozy accommodation. Really tasty homemade meals with lovely desserts for both lunch and dinner. Very rewarding lessons! And so much fun to try Working Equitation. Jenny is a very knowledgeable and inspiring instructor. Well-trained and extremely pleasant horses. A fantastically fun weekend! Looking forward to coming back in spring!"
– Katharina Lundström
The Best Horses I’ve Ever Ridden!
"All meals were well-prepared and tasty. Fantastic, sensitive horses and a very skilled instructor. The best horses I’ve ever ridden. This was my third time at this destination — that says it all!"
– Karin Lünnér
Variety and Quality in Both Riding and Food!
"The accommodation was as described — clean and tidy, which is important to me. Wonderfully tasty and varied food with delicious desserts. I liked every horse I rode. In six sessions, I got to try three different horses — all unique, cooperative, and lovely in their own ways. I had never tried WE before and would have loved to dive deeper into it, but of course, you need solid dressage basics first before tackling a full WE course. So much fun!!"
– Linda Höft
Warm Welcome and Unforgettable Riding!
"Warm and lovely welcome — Jenny and her mother Therese were fantastic. Maybe I expected a slightly higher standard of accommodation, but it was totally fine. Excellent food. Amazing riding, learned a lot on beautiful horses. Wonderful horses. Everything was super cozy and delightful! I love HorseXplore’s trips!"
– Maria Österberg
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