Back in the Saddle: Anna-Julia Kontio’s Return to the World Cup Stage

When Anna-Julia Kontio entered the World Cup arena in La Coruña, it marked a meaningful return. After a three-year break from top-level sport and the birth of two children, the 34-year-old Finnish rider reappeared on the World Cup circuit—calm, focused, and deeply connected to the horses that have always defined her career.

“It’s very nice to be back at this level and to compete at a high level again,” Kontio says. “But for me, the main thing is still to be with the horses and to see them shine.”

Horses in Her Blood

Kontio’s journey into international sport began long before big arenas and championship courses. Horses were part of her everyday life from the very beginning.

“My parents and my family are into horses,” she explains. “My dad is very well known as one of the best harness racers in the world, and my mom competed in show jumping at national level. My sisters too—we always had a stable at home. It was just natural for me, and I loved it from the first day.”

That upbringing shaped not only her riding skills, but also her work ethic and respect for the horse as a true partner.

Lessons That Shape a Rider

When asked which horse had the biggest influence on her development, Kontio doesn’t hesitate.

“Probably Fardon,” she says. “He taught me so much. He was not the easiest horse, and he really taught me my current way of riding—of course together with Thomas Fuchs, but mostly I learned it from the horse.”

The partnership required patience, listening, and persistence.

“I really had it in me that I wanted to make it work,” she adds. “And I really had to listen to him. You learn so much from the horses, and Fardon really wasn’t an easy one.”

That partnership ended in the way every rider hopes for.

“He’s retired with us and lives in our stable,” Kontio says. “That’s a dream ending that every rider would wish for.”

Motherhood and a New Perspective

By the time of the La Coruña interview, Kontio had returned to the World Cup not only as an athlete, but also as a mother of two—a change that reshaped her priorities and approach.

“Of course things change,” she says. “You learn every day through the years, but now it’s more fine-tuned. I really have to concentrate more on a smaller amount of what I do.”

Her focus became sharper—and more intentional.

“I really concentrate on the horses I ride,” she explains. “These days, I feel very quickly if I have a special connection with a horse and if I want to build it further. That’s very important for me.”

Trusted Partners and New Beginnings

At the time, one of her key horses was Jay Jay van de Mottelhoeve, a long-time partner who played a crucial role in her comeback.

“I’ve had Jay Jay for four and a half years,” Kontio says. “He brought me twice back to 150 classes after having the baby.”

Now 16, Jay Jay represents experience and trust rather than pressure.

“He’s not doing his maximum level anymore,” she says. “But he’s always having a good time, and I don’t want to take the last bit out of him anymore. I hope he stays good for a couple of years still.”

Alongside him, Kontio was beginning a new partnership with Cayadina, a mare she had only since spring.

“I haven’t had her that long,” she says. “But she takes every new challenge in a very good way. Of course, after just a bit more than half a year, we are still in the beginning.”

La Coruña marked a milestone for both rider and horse.

“Tomorrow she will do our first World Cup,” Kontio said at the time. “So we’ll see.”

Back Where She Belongs

Returning to the World Cup ring after three years naturally came with nerves—but also with perspective.

“Of course it’s exciting, and of course I’m nervous,” Kontio admits. “You’re always nervous when you go into the ring. But I also tell myself that even if it’s not the best day, we keep working. She feels ready for it.”

In La Coruña, Anna-Julia Kontio’s return wasn’t about proving anything. It was about continuity, trust, and the quiet confidence that comes from experience—both in sport and in life.

And above all, it was about the horses—just as it has been from the very beginning.

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