For the month of March we had the chance to highlight Stonebridge Sporthorses, a small and specialized dressage business based in Wellington, Florida, founded by Swedish equestrians Stina and Karin.
Stina, originally from Norrköping, moved to the United States in 1994, first settling in California, then New York, before eventually moving to Florida. Having grown up on a farm with horses from an early age, riding has always been a natural part of her life. While she initially rode broadly, her focus shifted more toward dressage during her years in New York.
Karin grew up in Hudiksvall and later moved to Stockholm, where she worked professionally with horses and trained internationally, including time in Germany. After several years working in IT and banking, she realized that a traditional corporate career was difficult to combine with high-level riding. In 2013, she made the decision to move to the United States full-time and return fully to the equestrian world. Through her friendship with Stina, Stonebridge Sport Horses was born shortly thereafter.
Stonebridge Sport Horses specializes in scouting, importing, training, and selling high-quality European dressage horses for the American market, with a particular focus on Swedish and Scandinavian warmbloods. The business model is intentionally small-scale and hands-on, and horses are sourced in Europe, often from elite auctions, trained with care, and matched thoughtfully with riders in the U.S. In addition to sales, the company also offers coaching and training across the country.
What sets Stonebridge apart is their boutique approach and long-term perspective. Rather than focusing on volume, they prioritize craftsmanship, horsemanship, and close relationships with both clients and horses. Over the past decade, they have trained and sold a select number of horses, emphasizing development and quality.
Like many in the equestrian industry, their biggest challenges involve risk and investment, from purchasing and vetting horses in Europe to transporting them to the U.S., navigating tariffs, and managing the unpredictability of working with horses. Differences in veterinary standards between Europe and the U.S. add more complexity. Despite these challenges, their dedication and experience have allowed them to build a strong reputation in a competitive market.
Among their proudest moments are competing for Sweden in the Nations Cup in Wellington, where both Stina and Karin earned bronze medals in different years. They have also achieved significant individual success, including regional championships, national rankings, and seeing horses they developed go on to compete internationally, which are moments that truly reflect the full circle of their work. One particularly standout achievement was the success of a horse imported and developed by Stonebridge Sport Horses, who in 2016 became Reserve National Champion in the Young Horse Finals for five-year-olds and was also named “Horse of the Year” in his age group, having achieved the highest average score among all five-year-old horses in the United States that year.
Being based in Wellington, Florida, plays a crucial role in their success. Sometimes referred to as the “Winter equestrian capital of the world”, Wellington attracts the global elite in dressage, jumping, and polo. The concentration of top riders, trainers, veterinarians and support services creates unique opportunities and makes Florida a natural home for their business.
As members of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce Florida, Stina and Karin value the importance of networking, relationships, and the shared Scandinavian business culture. Their company reflects Nordic values such as flat hierarchy, collaboration, trust, and long-term relationships, which are principles that guide both their business and their approach to horsemanship.
Looking ahead, Stonebridge Sport Horses are entering a new phase of their growth. The team is developing investment partnerships and syndicates to spread risk and allow for higher-level horse acquisitions. On the sport side, they are rebuilding with young horses, with long-term goals that include national championships and, one day, the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses.
If you are interested to see more from Stonebridge Sporthorses, check out their Instagram:
@stonebridge.sport.horses
