The Super Final of the National Dressage Winter Cup was held on the international arena at the Helsinki Horse Show on Sunday. In the Super Final, riders from the series’ various categories compete against each other with freestyle routines appropriate for their respective levels. The victory went to the Finnish horse pair Lassi Lehmusto and Vekardo. Second place went to Jasmin Sikström riding Clementine in the senior division, and third place went to the pony pair Aino Hallasaari and Fairytale Twilight.
The 14-year-old Vekardo (Herkko Hurmaus – Vestella) danced with Lassi Lehmusto from the very first greeting onward to the beat of a flawless routine set to a mix of radio hits and timeless classics. The pair earned a score of 73.045%, which secured them the victory in the final. The pair also won the dressage final organized under the “Superfinal” concept as part of the Helsinki Horse Show in 2024.
“Of course it feels really great—this is an amazing place to go horseback riding. I guess we’ll have to celebrate with a glass of champagne,” Lehmusto smiled.
Lehmusto and Vekardo, perennial favorites from Ypäjä, had completely revamped their freestyle routine for Finnish horses at the Helppo A level.
“Well, we were a little rushed putting the program together, but it turned out pretty nice,” Lehmusto said in his typically modest manner. There were also reasons to be satisfied with the course.
“I was personally satisfied with the half-passes today; they went well, and they’re our strength in the freestyle,” says Lehmusto, who is aiming for the Finnish Horse Dressage Championships and the Pohjola Series for the outdoor season.
Jasmin Sikström, who is originally from Vaasa but lives and trains in Helsinki, placed second in the finals and also achieved an outstanding score of 70.960% in her senior Intermediate A/B-level free program, riding Clementine, a spirited 19-year-old mare.
“I’m proud of my feisty mare; we had a really good time today. She’s still got plenty of power left—it certainly won’t run out—but of course, we’re taking it one day at a time, since Clementine is getting up there in age,” Sikström says. The facilities at Messukeskus earned praise from the experienced top Finnish rider.
“When my free skate music started playing, I paused for a moment to see if it was really my music—it sounded so amazing through the Messukeskus speakers that it gave me an absolutely incredible feeling on the ice!”
Third place in the Super Final went to the Tuusula-based pony team of Aino Hallasaari, 15, and Fairytale Twilight, a 16-year-old WPB gelding bred in Finland. The pair also delivered a successful performance in the Super Final, scoring 69.630%. The pair is aiming to compete in the Nordic Championships and European Championships as part of the national pony team this coming outdoor season.
“We had a great time on the course and gained a lot of valuable experience. My pony is quite a handful, but when it comes to working, it stays focused,” Hallasaari says. He got help from his family in putting together his freestyle routine.
“We watched videos of old freestyle routines online and drew inspiration from here and there. I came up with the choreography myself, and my sister, my brother, and my brother’s girlfriend helped put the music together.”
Dressage Winter Cup Super Final. Started 6th, finished 3rd.
1) Lassi Lehmusto – Vekardo, Ypäjän Ratsastajat ry 73.045%
2) Jasmin Sikström – Clementine, Korsholms Sportryttare ry 70.960%
3) Aino Hallasaari – Fairytale Twilight, Kymenlaakso Riding Club ry 69.630%
Full results: LINK
