A 25-year-old Swede you’ve probably never heard of just outpaced some of the biggest names in show jumping. In a thrilling jump-off at the Gothenburg Horse Show, Adam Carey proved he’s a force to be reckoned with. Want to know how he did it?

“This has been my goal since last summer when I won the first qualifier in the ATG Riders League,” said Adam Carey.

He has lived both in Ireland and Sweden and holds dual citizenship. When he didn’t get many opportunities to compete internationally in Ireland, he decided to become Swedish.

“Being here in Scandinavium is a lifelong dream,” said Adam, surprised when he learned he was the best-placed Swede in a class that included Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson.

His horse, Quebello, a fifteen-year-old stallion, was sold from the Carey family’s stable a few years ago but later returned. He is a special horse with strong opinions.

“We suit each other very well,” Adam summarized.

Lighting Fast

Jeroen Appelen won Thursday evening’s class after a lightning-fast jump-off with 15 riders. Jeroen rode the same horse, Dancing Wolf, with whom he would also compete in the World Cup. “We have no chance of qualifying for the World Cup final in Basel, so we’re here to gain experience,” said Jeroen, who has no intention of holding back.

The victory was Dancing Wolf’s fifth five-star win. The previous ones were at the 1.45m level, while today’s jumps were set at 1.50m. Jeroen and Dancing Wolf have been competing together since October 2024.

Mr Vain G Popular Breeding Stallion

The sponsor, AJ Produkter, had two reasons to celebrate in the evening’s highest-ranked class, as the second-best Swedish horse, Mr Vain GJ, is owned by family member Gustaf Johansson.

Gustaf watched nervously from the stands as Wilma Hellström and the popular breeding stallion took on the course. The result was a double clear round. “Show jumping brings extra excitement; it’s almost unbearable,” said Gustaf, who is usually more associated with dressage.