Svenska Ridsportförbundet

What Svenska Ridsportförbundet does

Svenska Ridsportförbundet is the national governing body for equestrian sports in Sweden, operating as a non-profit association (ideell förening) affiliated with the Riksidrottsförbundet. The federation's origins trace to 1912 in conjunction with the Stockholm Olympic Games, and the current entity was formed in 1993 through the merger of four equestrian organisations. It governs a national network of approximately 840 affiliated riding clubs, 19 regional districts, 450 riding schools operating roughly 5 million riding hours annually, and more than 150,000 individual members. Sweden is described as the second largest youth sport after football, and the federation's elite riders have delivered Olympic gold and silver in 2021, double gold at the 2022 World Championships, and team gold at the 2023 European Championships.

The federation's product and service portfolio is structured across four pillars. First, governance and competition: it sanctions events from local to international level, manages national team selection, and represents Sweden in bodies such as the European Equestrian Federation. Second, education and certification: a tiered pathway running from Basutbildning for new leaders, through Ridlärarutbildning at three levels (SRL I, II, III) aligned with IGEQ international standards, to Tränarutbildning for C-tränare, A-tränare, and Master Coach qualifications, with roughly 900 coaches certified annually. Third, youth engagement through the CUS/DUS/US layered structure, plus digital and physical programs including Folksam Poängjakten, Vi i stallet, Käpphästar, Ridborgarmärket, and the safety initiative Trygg i stallet. Fourth, recognition and quality assurance, including the Kvalitetsmärkt ridskola certification and annual awards such as Årets Ridskola, Årets ridlärare, and Årets ridskolehäst presented at the Ryttargalan. The technology backbone consists of the ridsport.se website and the newly launched Kunskapsarenan (Knowledge Arena) digital education platform, with no public APIs or AI capabilities disclosed.

The federation's revenue mechanics combine recurring member and club fees, education and certification fees, competition entry fees, three tiers of corporate sponsorship (Folksam as main sponsor, ATG and StoraEnso as federation sponsors, plus minor sponsors including Granngården, Pikeur, LeMieux, Bucas, NEH, Equisport, Equitours, Alfab), and government support routed through Riksidrottsförbundet. Distribution is decentralized through clubs, schools, and districts rather than direct-to-consumer, and pricing at the riding school level is set locally with federation quality standards providing the unifying framework. The federation's headquarters and the national riding school are co-located in Strömsholm, approximately 100 kilometers from Stockholm, with a second training academy at Flyinge.

Name

Svenska Ridsportförbundet

Legal name

Svenska Ridsportförbundet

Website

https://ridsport.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Svenska Ridsportförbundet is Sweden's national non-profit federation governing equestrian sports, serving 150,000+ members across 840 riding clubs, 450 riding schools, and 19 regional districts, delivering competitions, education, coaching certification, youth programs, and the Kunskapsarenan digital learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Federation Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Equestrian sports federation
• Riding school services
• Riding instructor certification
• Equestrian education programs
• Youth equestrian activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Strömsholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The federation generates revenue through membership fees from approximately 840 riding clubs and more than 150,000 individual members across Sweden.
2. Education and training courses: Revenue from various educational programs including riding instructor certifications, coach training (C-tränarutbildning, A-tränare), youth leadership courses, and continuing education for riding teachers and trainers. The federation certifies approximately 900 licensed coaches annually.
3. Competition entry fees: Fees collected from organizing and participating in equestrian competitions at various levels from local to international championships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Svenska Ridsportförbundet is the national governing body for equestrian sports in Sweden, serving approximately 840 riding clubs and 150,000+ members. It organizes competitions, certifies riding instructors and coaches (SRL I-III, C/A/Master coach), provides youth leadership programs, runs the Kvalitetsmärkt ridskola quality certification for the country's 450 riding schools, and operates the digital Kunskapsarenan learning platform.

Product overview

Svenska Ridsportförbundet operates a platform-based ecosystem centered around its digital presence at ridsport.se, featuring Ridsportens kunskapsarena as the primary education portal for courses and training. The organization provides structured programs across multiple levels: youth engagement through CUS/DUS/US youth sections; riding school services including the Kvalitetsmärkt ridskola certification program; and recognition programs such as Årets ridskola and Årets ridskolehäst awards. Educational offerings span from Basutbildning foundation courses through professional certifications including Ridlärarutbildning (SRL I-III) and Tränarutbildning (C/A/Master). Youth activities include Vi i stallet knowledge competitions, Folksam Poängjakten digital competitions, Käpphästar stick horse activities, and Trygg i stallet safety initiatives. The federation also manages achievement programs like Ridborgarmärket. Approximately 840 riding clubs and more than 150,000 members are affiliated with the federation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ridsportens kunskapsarena (Equestrian Knowledge Arena) Digital learning platform that is the federation's home for knowledge and education, providing access to courses, training resources, and educational materials for equestrian sports, available to members and the public.
• Ridl\u00e4rarutbildning (Riding Instructor Certification) Professional riding instructor education with three levels (SRL I, II, III), where SRL III is the highest. The certification corresponds to the same level within IGEQ international standards.
• Tr\u00e4narutbildning (Coach Education) Coach training program including C-tr\u00e4nare (C-coach), A-tr\u00e4nare (A-coach), and Mastertr\u00e4nare (Master Coach) levels for equestrian sports development, with approximately 900 coaches certified annually.
• Basutbildning (Foundation Leadership Course) The first step in the federation's leadership training pathway, offered through district offices to introduce equestrian sports leadership.
• Ungdomsledarkurs (Youth Leader Course) Youth leader course for young people aged 15-20 interested in developing youth activities within the Swedish Equestrian Federation, with international recognition.
• Kvalitetsm\u00e4rkt ridskola (Quality Marked Riding School) Quality certification program for riding schools recognizing excellence in horse welfare, safety, and educational quality across Sweden's approximately 450 riding schools.
• Equestrian Competition Organization Federation-organized and sanctioned equestrian competitions at local, regional, national, and international levels, including Nordic Baltic Equestrian Championship, Swedish championship series, and Sweden International Horse Show.
• Centrala Ungdomssektionen (CUS) Youth Program Central youth section where young people work strategically and operationally to strengthen youth roles within equestrian sports, supported by 19 district youth sections and club-level youth sections.
• Ridborgarm\u00e4rket (Rider Badge Achievement Program) Beloved traditional club-based competition where clubs compete to earn the most rider badges and win prizes from sponsor Ydre Grinden.

Quantifiable outcome

• Olympic gold and silver 2021, double gold at 2022 World Championships, team gold at 2023 European Championships

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FolksamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor (Huvudsponsor) of Svenska Ridsportförbundet. Provides sports insurance for equestrian activities and sponsors awards including Årets Ridskola. Collaboration includes support for safety initiatives, youth activities, and riding school quality programs.
• ATGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerForbundssponsor (Federation sponsor) providing betting and racing-related sponsorship. ATG Riders League is mentioned as a competition series.
• StoraEnsocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerForbundssponsor (Federation sponsor) that also provides leadership scholarships for youth, sponsors Årets ridskolehäst award, and supports equestrian sports through various initiatives.
• LFC (Lövsta Future Challenge)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the federation, associated with future challenge initiatives in equestrian sports.
• PikeurminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing equestrian clothing and apparel for the federation.
• LeMieuxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing equestrian products and apparel.
• NEHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing profile products for the federation.
• EquitoursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSponsor and potential channel partner for equestrian tourism and tours.
• BucasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing equestrian blankets and horse care products.
• AlfabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the federation.
• GranngårdenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner offering 12% discount to affiliated clubs. Co-sponsor of Årets ridlärare award.
• Stiftelsen Göteborg Horse ShowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing approximately 300,000 SEK annually in scholarships for elite-sports young riders aged 16-25, in collaboration with Svenska Ridsportförbundet.
• European Equestrian Federation (EEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean federation through which Sweden participates in international competitions including Longines EEF Series and manages youth leadership course programs expanding to other countries.
• Försvarsmakten (Swedish Armed Forces)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for leadership training, offering joint training days for youth leaders in riding clubs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Dansk Ride Forbund: Danish national equestrian federation. Comparable as a Nordic neighbor federation with analogous riding club network, education programs, and competition pathway, but serving Denmark.
• Norges Rytterforbund: Norwegian national equestrian federation. Comparable as a Nordic national federation with similar club, youth, and competition structures, but operating in a different national market.
• Suomen Ratsastajainliitto: Finnish equestrian federation. Comparable as another Nordic national federation with similar member club structure, instructor certification, and competitive discipline management, but operating primarily in Finland.

Direct peers

• British Equestrian (UK): National equestrian federation for the United Kingdom, governing riding clubs, riding schools, coach certification, and elite teams. Directly comparable as a national federation with membership, education, and competition functions mirroring Svenska Ridsportförbundet.
• Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN): German National Equestrian Federation governing clubs, coach education, and competitive disciplines. Comparable in scale and structure as a national federation with strong youth and grassroots membership and professional certification pathways.
• US Equestrian Federation: U.S. national governing body for equestrian sport, overseeing member clubs, competitions, coaching credentials, and elite athlete programs. Directly comparable as a national federation serving riders, clubs, and trainers.

Broad incumbents

• Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI): International equestrian federation governing world and Olympic disciplines. Comparable as the global governing body under which Svenska Ridsportförbundet operates, providing standards, rules, and event frameworks.
• Riksidrottsförbundet (Swedish Sports Confederation): Umbrella organization for all Swedish national sports federations, including Svenska Ridsportförbundet. Comparable as the broader Swedish sport ecosystem that allocates public funding, sets governance standards, and federates the country's 70+ special sports federations.
• European Equestrian Federation (EEF): Regional umbrella body representing national equestrian federations across Europe. Comparable as a higher-order governing layer that organizes continental competitions (e.g., Longines EEF Series) and youth programs in which Svenska Ridsportförbundet participates.

Emerging players

• Pony Club UK: UK-based youth equestrian organization focused on education and grassroots participation. Comparable as a youth-focused equestrian body with structured training programs and badges, overlapping with Svenska Ridsportförbundet's youth engagement mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SvenskRidsport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SvenskRidsport/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/svenskaridsportforbundet
• Instagraminstagram.com/svenska_ridsportforbundet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Svenska Ridsportförbundet