At the Helsinki International Horse Show, Katja Ståhl gets to combine her rock-solid professional expertise with her beloved hobby. Over all four days of the event, Katja will take the stage at the Messukeskus Hevosurheilu RATSASTUS program stage, hosting, interviewing, and discussing horses and riders—in her own distinctive, trusted, and much-loved style.
Katja first took part in the Helsinki Horse Show in the 1980s, when it was also held at the Messukeskus, though in much smaller facilities than today.
“I’m not entirely sure which year it was, but I remember that you could watch the top riders warming up. That was especially memorable. I also remember some champagne bar that I obviously had no business being in. I just thought, wow, some people actually have their own horses—and then they drink champagne too—how is that even possible? And back then I had this dream that when I become rich, I’ll get myself a horse,” Katja recalls.
“You Don’t Ask a Horse Woman How Many Horses She Has”
Now, a few decades later, Katja owns horses—though she refuses to reveal their exact number—and she is a journalist and producer known and loved by the entire nation.
“Someone just told me that you can ask a horse woman her age and weight, but not the number of horses.”
She does reveal that it’s around seven, and also emphasizes that she co-owns them with Anne-Leena Pellikka. And more foals are on the way.
The horses naturally include her own riding horse LeRocks, known as Lenni, who is a descendant of her foundation mare Up to Heaven, nicknamed Pullukka, several foals and young horses, a Finnhorse, and some competition horses made available to other riders. Katja prefers to keep horses in her ownership—because she can.
“I can juggle things and come up with solutions through my wide network. What matters more to me is that the horse ends up somewhere it’s good to be.”
In her own breeding, her goal is well-tempered, pleasant horses.
“Pullukka’s mare line has proven invaluable to me. The offspring are incredibly brave, kind, and good—and at the same time truly excellent performance horses.”
Does Any of This Make Sense…
The Horse Show has been a fixture in Katja’s calendar over the years, as the event is the social highlight of the year. In the corridors, you always run into old acquaintances.
“That’s such an important part of it all—that you bump into each other and squeal for a moment. Have a bit of coffee or a beer, marvel at how you’ve once again bought everything imaginable. And ask whether any of this makes sense, and then laugh.”
“And the peer support—like, so how’s your laminitis going? That’s so important, especially when the mud is knee-deep, it’s dark, and the horses are tearing each other’s and their own rugs. The only way to get through this is knowing that others are dealing with exactly the same thing. If not right now, then at least next year. Laughing together is how you survive this.”
Katja herself has recovered from a month-long bout of pneumonia that ultimately required hospitalization, and her horse from a borreliosis infection treated with a month-long course of antibiotics.
“And then, once I was better and the horse was healthy, the dog came down with kennel cough.”
Maybe this, too, will already be something to laugh about in February…
Katja Has Prioritized Horses and Her Dog in Her Life
Katja is currently best known as the charismatic host of Elämäni biisi. She also co-hosts the Saatan olla väärässäkin podcast with Kimmo Vehviläinen, as well as the Konsulttitoimisto Ståhl & Kuustonen podcast. At the beginning of the year, the Elämäni biisi tour will begin, and in June Katja will graduate as a workplace coach. How on earth does she also manage to take care of her horses and her dog Gösta?
“Just fine, because I’ve prioritized them. My dog and horses are vital to me. I don’t take on jobs that would prevent me from being with the horses.”
Acting Is Not the Only Way to Perform
Originally, Katja was meant to become an actress. However, a phoniatrician told her that acting would not be possible with her vocal cords. Her dreams had to be reshaped, and a couple of years later Katja applied to Laajasalo Institute to study radio journalism. Her career started with a bang when she was selected from among some 1,500 applicants to host the new youth program Jyrki—and to host its very first episode.
“In a way, since I’m a performer by nature, I realized that acting isn’t the only way to perform.”
Over the course of her career, she has worked at several radio stations and television programs, served as editor-in-chief of Suosikki magazine, and built a significant career in the music business. That opportunity opened up when she moved from Jyrki to the BMG record company. Katja has worked behind the scenes with major Finnish bands and artists such as Apulanta, HIM, Don Huonot, and Kaija Koo.
That’s why hosting Elämäni biisi felt like a perfect fit.
“In a way, it was a continuation of everything I’d done before. Of course, there’s the live aspect, which is something truly special—especially when the band is right there in front of you. It’s just incredibly powerful.”
“I’ve interviewed pretty much everyone imaginable over the course of my career. It brings a certain calm when you know how things work.”
Katja at the Hevosurheilu RATSASTUS Program Stage
Katja has worked at the Horse Show before. There was the Tallitähdet series, the riding challenge featuring Radio Nova hosts Oku Luukkainen and Esko Eerikäinen, as well as previous hosting roles and marketing communications. Now, Katja is producing the majority of the content for the new program stage.
“This is an element I’ve really been missing. A stage where the audience can listen to discussions on various topics and proper, high-quality interviews with top riders. Anyone can come and listen whenever a topic happens to interest them.”
Katja will interview both international competition riders and hobby horse athlete Ada Filppa, rally co-driver Reeta Hämäläinen, and Doctor of Animal Physiotherapy Heli Hyytiäinen. Dressage rider Daniel Bachmann Andersen will join Katja on stage on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Daily panel discussions will cover riding from the perspective of adult riders, feeding, horse breeding, and the future of dressage.
Every day, the audience can also enjoy Back on Track bingo hosted by bingo hostess Katja Ståhl, as well as saddle fitting. From Friday onwards, there will be a live podcast in which Katja and Teemu Ahtee discuss current topics—and a bit beside them too…
A New Fair Ticket Alongside the Show Ticket
Katja and the other content of the Hevosurheilu RATSASTUS program stage can be followed with both the Horse Show show ticket and the new fair ticket. The two ticket categories make it possible to attend the event just to enjoy the fair atmosphere, shopping, and a wide and interesting program—excluding only the international arena program and warm-up. The fair ticket is affordable and aimed especially at families with children, allowing them to get to know horses and riding at a low threshold.
“I think it’s absolutely great that the fair ticket opens up the opportunity for more visitors, including young people, to attend, and that the event isn’t solely focused on elite sport.”
Explore the full content of the Hevosurheilu RATSASTUS program stage:
https://helsinkihorseshow.fi/kavijalle/messuohjelma/
Program stage presentations can be followed with both show tickets and fair tickets.
