Hard work never goes unnoticed – Victoria Aro moved to Finland and worked her way up through the highly competitive equestrian world
Victoria Aro and Hagels Rosophia are true athletes. After representing Finland at the World Championship, they are ready to take on more sporting challenges ahead.
Tuiaara Linnala
Sercan Alkan
Published 09.01.2025 2:25
Updated 09.01.2025 2:34
A soft morning light paints the landscape, as we approach the Boe Gård near Porvoo. The large, old farmhouse is surrounded by fields, where horses graze and roam.
This is a home for future sport horses. Here the youngsters learn the basics and start competing in smaller competitions to build confidence and gain experience for larger, more demanding events.
As we arrive, there is no competition going on. The horses seem well-versed in their morning routine – some peer curiously from their stalls, while others stand patiently, waiting for their meals.
Victoria Aro greets us warmly in front of the stables. Her job at Boe Gård is the basic training of future dressage horses.
Dressage is a highly disciplined form of equestrian sport where horses perform a series of memorized, intricate movements, guided by their rider. Often referred to as the “art of dancing”, dressage requires years of dedicated training and trustful partnership between horse and rider.
In Aro’s training, the horses learn to understand and execute the basic dressage commands, such as “stop”, “walk”, “trot”, and “gallop”, ensuring they became safe and manageable for riders.
After the horses have finished their morning meals, we join Aro in her daily routine of preparing and saddling a horse for a short ride. Inside, the stable feels bright and spacious, filled with the earthy scent of hay and the clatter of hooves on the ground.
Aro’s deep knowledge of the stable’s residents is apparent as she shares insights about each horse – their age, potential for sport, and unique personality traits. She points to a young horse named Hagels Rosophia and smiles knowingly.
“She’s spicy,” Aro says with a laugh. “Definitely not for beginners.”
A life with horses
Aro was only two years old, when she first sat on a horse. Since then, horses have been part of her life.
First, she was trained by her father, Valeriy Martyshev, a professional rider and Olympic equestrian. From him, Aro learned the foundations of her craft.
At the age of 13, Aro fell while trying to jump with a horse. The accident was a reminder of the risks involved in a life with horses.
It did not cause her to abandon that life but played a role in her decision to choose dressage as her main sport. While challenging, dressage is less dangerous than jumping.
In 2014, Aro relocated to Finland due to family reasons. From the beginning, she was sure that she wanted to work with horses in her new country of residence.
At the time, Aro did not speak Finnish. Like many other immigrants, she began with a Kotoutumiskurssi (integration course), where she learned the basics of the language. Then Aro enrolled in a work practice program at a small stable.
“There I spoke only Finnish. Even though people knew I spoke English well, I insisted that we use only Finnish. Otherwise, I would have never learned the language.”
At the stable, Aro took on any task, even those others refused to do – like training problematic horses considered dangerous to ride. She was driven forward by her determination and belief in her ability to shape her own success.
“When people see that you are ready to do a lot for success, they have the motivation to help you. The point is that you put your soul, time, and energy into it. If you really want it, you take it and do it, and everything else is useless excuses.”
The point was proven six years ago, as Aro met her current employer, Stella Hagelstam.
“I was looking for a job, and Stella was looking for a stable worker,” Aro recalls.
Initially, Aro’s role was focused on training young horses. However, as time passed and Hagelstam witnessed the results of her hard work, she entrusted Victoria with greater responsibilities. This included opportunities to grow as a rider.
“Stella also trains me in dressage, and I am incredibly grateful for the time and effort she invests in my growth,” Aro says.
The world championships
In September 2024, the effort and hard work paid off. Aro represented Finland for the first time in World championship level. She rode Hagels Rosophia, a six-year-old dressage horse at the World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo, the Netherlands.
The pressure was intense, Aro remembers.
“The first day didn’t go as smoothly as planned. But on the second day, we secured 11th place out of 31. I think it’s a good result, especially considering that I didn’t have much time to train during the summer.”
Aro emphasizes that her priority was to ensure that her young horse had a positive experience during the competition.
“If a horse gets scared during an event, future competitions can become associated with negative emotions, which may complicate everything.”
Fortunately, everything went well, leaving both rider and horse with a feeling of accomplishment.
“After this experience, I realized there’s nothing to fear,” Aro says confidently. “Next time, we’ll train harder and aim for the finals.”
Horses – for better and worse
Horses are beautiful, yet large and powerful creatures. If they are frightened, their behaviour can become unpredictable. Those who work closely with horses, understand that accidents are always a possibility.
For Victoria Aro, the unexpected happened two years ago. She was trimming a horse’s fur – a routine task she had done countless times. Also the horse was familiar with the procedure. But on that particular day, things went differently.
“I can’t know for sure what made her kick, but perhaps her back legs scratched, and she suddenly kicked, but definitely there was not any intention behind this act,” says Aro.
In any case, the horse kicked. Straight into Aro’s face.
She didn’t have the time to notice what happened. The force of the kick knocked her unconscious immediately. The next thing she remembers is waking up surrounded by medical staff.
Aro was lucky, since the accident only caused a concussion. The result could have been much worse.
“I could have died back then without even realising it. So, it makes live precious. I live now and here. Every moment, every day counts,” Victoria says now.
When asked whether the accident caused her to fear horses or reconsider her profession, Victoria is unwavering. Quitting was never an option.
“Equestrian sport is my lifestyle, it defines who I am. What would I even do without horses?”