He is an absolutely exceptional rider, a popular figure in Sweden and closely associated with the Holsteiner Verband: Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, who once made equestrian history with Casall and, this summer, riding Zuccero by Zirocco Blue-Caretino (Hanno Köhncke, Badendorf), line 4539, as the highlight of a meteoric season. He has also produced two further highly talented Holsteiner Verband stallions: ‘Charaktervoll’ by ‘Comme il faut’–‘Contendro I’ (Manfred von Allwörden, Grönwohld), line 474A, and Keaton by Kannan-Contendro I (Rudolf Schmitt, Wöhrden), line 4847, two further highly talented Holsteiner Association stallions in training. In this interview, he reveals a little about his future plans with the three stallions.

You’ve had a tremendous season with Zuccero – have you achieved your sporting goals?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “Zuccero has done everything right this year. With his victory in the Neumünster Grand Prix in front of a home crowd in February, 2023 got off to a really good start for him, after he’d gained his first experience at the very highest level – for example at Spruce Meadows – towards the end of last year. He continued in fine form with third place in Gothenburg and another victory in the Uggerhalne Grand Prix, which was also his first Nations Cup appearance. He also secured a top-two finish in Hamburg. Ahead of the Nations Cup in Falsterbo, he produced some exceptional rounds in Hörup. The standard in Falsterbo was already very high: there, he mastered his second appearance for the Swedish team with flying colours, and I was proud of his subsequent sixth place in the Grand Prix. We used the CSI Hof Waterkant in Pinneberg as our final preparation for the European Championships, and once again Zuccero confirmed his quality and form. And at the European Championships in Milan, the stallion showed that high hopes are rightly being pinned on his future.”

What hopes do you have for your future together?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “Hopefully, we can see Milan as a springboard for what might lie ahead for us next year (smiles). Zuccero has proven that he belongs at the very top. He definitely has the quality a horse needs to compete at the Olympic Games.”

What makes him such a top-class horse?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “His quality over the jump is exceptional: his stride, the development of his jump trajectory and his ability make him just as special as his courage, his natural caution and his outstanding sporting attitude. In Milan, he tackled five gruelling courses and, whilst he has relatively little experience at this level, he has once again demonstrated the necessary determination.”

You’re known for giving your horses time to develop and for consistently following your own plan. Yet you’re ambitious – how do you deal with pressure?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “The way I see it is this: if you’re well prepared and have prepared your horse step by step for a task, then negative surprises rarely occur. Of course, I also benefit from years of experience, which I bring with me with every horse. For me, pressure is more of a trigger that sparks further motivation.”

What’s next for Zuccero and you?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “Zuccero is set to continue gaining experience at the highest level and building up his strength. Next, I’m planning for him to compete in Stockholm at the end of November and to take part in the World Cup competition in London in December.”

A well-established winning duo: Zuccero by Zirocco Blue and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson

You’ve been riding Charaktervoll for just over a year now – how has he developed during this time?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “He’s a very easy-going stallion who has shown everything a six-year-old can show this year. He won bronze at the State Championships in Elmshorn, qualified for the National Championships with ease and recently, at his first international competition in Riesenbeck, produced three clear rounds and showed great self-confidence. He’s ready to compete at bigger competitions next year and to gradually make his mark on the international circuit via the Youngster Tour.” 

What do you particularly appreciate about him?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “Charaktervoll always gives me, as a rider, a good feeling over the jump. He has a great canter – in Riesenbeck I noticed that he jumps even better with a slightly longer canter. He’s already as springy as a rubber ball over the jump and takes off very well.”

Charaktervoll by Comme il faut won bronze at the 2023 State Championships in Elmshorn 

Keaton has been in your care for a few months now. What are your plans for him?
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “We’ve got to know each other quite well already and working with him is a real pleasure. He’s a very interesting horse and I’m proud to be able to ride him. I’m planning to enter him in a few indoor competitions this winter.”

When Keaton came to you, you revealed that you’d had your eye on him for quite some time…
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “That’s right. He’s a stallion for whom no jump is too high. He’s sensitive and responds to the slightest aids, which also speaks to his exceptional quality and caution. Because he always wants to get to the other side and avoid touching the poles – I like horses like him and I’ve actually got a good offspring of his in my stable myself, who’s just been broken in. A long-legged, rideable horse with a top-class temperament. I’ve heard that three of his sons have been accepted for licensing this year, which I find impressive for his second crop.” 

Keaton, a son of Kannan, has been undergoing further competitive training at the Bengtsson stables for several months.  

Photos: Stefan Lafrentz, Janne Bugtrup, Johanna Voth