Thursday, February 26: “Daniel’s Training System”
Participants:
Anna von Wendt – Fiona
Anna has competed at the international Grand Prix level and won the Finnish Championships in 2016 on Denzel and in 2020 on Sir Fashion. She also has victories and top finishes in international competitions.
The mare Fiona is 8 years old, by Foundation, out of BH Hotline, by BH Don Romantic. She was bred by Anna von Staff-Reitzenstein and is owned by Björkboda Bruksgård.
Anna got her when she was just a foal. Back then, no one could have imagined she’d grow up to be as big as “Fionasaurus.” She has raced sparingly at the demanding B level.
Siiri Kyrö – Scarlett O’Limelight
Finnish Championship gold medalist in the pony class. Competes in classes ranging from young horse events all the way up to the Grand Prix level.
Has represented the FWB studbook four times at the World Championships for young horses. Siiri has numerous victories and successes in quality evaluations and Breeders’ Prize competitions.
Scarlett O’Limelight, a 6-year-old FWB mare, has been with Siiri since late 2023. The mare won the 2025 5-Year-Old Derby and placed fourth in the Quality Assessment the previous year. Her sire is Secret, her dam’s sire is BH Romanov, and her dam’s dam’s sire is BH Cavan. She was bred by Limelight Horses Oy and Anne Porevirta and is owned by Limelight Horses Oy.
Stella Hagelstam – Hagels Prince Nassak
Five-time Finnish champion. Represented Finland twice at both the World and European Championships from 2013 to 2022.
The 9-year-old Hagels Prince Nassak, representing the fifth generation of Hagelstam’s own breeding line, sired by Pin Rocks Black Velvet, not Fernet, nor Havel. He was bred by Heidi Hagelstam and is owned by Passion for Dressage Oy. The horse competed in the World Championships for Young Horses at ages 5 and 6 and is now beginning his Grand Prix career.
Ville Vaurio – Merry Francis
Three-time Finnish champion (2023, 2024, 2025) and Nordic champion (2023). He was also a member of the European Championship team that same year. As a point of pride, Ville notes that he won the silver medal in the Shetland pony dressage championships in the early 2000s.
Merry Francis, also known as “Kenttis,” is a 10-year-old FWB (sire: Pin Rock’s Black Velvet; dam: Duendecillo P; granddam: Roi du Ballet). She was bred by Kotalan Talli/Raisa Francis and is owned by Ville Vaurio Oy.
The pair’s shared hobby is eventing, and they’ve already competed in one event. This year, the pair is aiming to participate in at least some eventing training sessions and cross-country obstacle practice.
On Friday, February 27, there will be a Mini Clinic, where Daniel will ride Ettan Ehrnrooth’s horse.
Heslegård’s Fürst Louis is a 10-year-old Fürstenball, sired by Heslegård’s Luna and out of Heslegård’s Louis. He was bred by Heslegård Stutteri and is owned by Equiettan Ab.
Saturday 28.2. “Young Horses” , where Daniel also rides horses
Participants
Siiri Kyrö – Scarlett’O Limelight
See the introduction above.
Kati Nuutinen – So Dazzling Diamond, also known as “Schnappi”(
), a 5-year-old Hanoverian mare, won the 2025 Quality Evaluation for gaited horses with a total score of 8.18. At Woikoski, she also won the 4-year-old Paccelli Cup heat with a score of 85.80%. I. So Unique, not by Florencio and not by Dormello. She was bred by Christina Pilger and is owned by Kati Nuutinen. Schnappi moved to Finland in June 2025.
Camilla Verkkoniemi – May Day’s Domino
Domino, a 6-year-old, is a descendant of Fasino, Quarz, and Cassini II.
Camilla is his breeder and owner. The pair won the 5-Year-Old Cup final last summer. The previous year, she placed fifth in the Quality Assessment. A few years earlier, in 2022, she won the “Kyvyt Esiin” gait final with an average score of 8.97.
