Johan Sebastian Gulliksen at the FEI World Cup Finals 2026: Inside His Journey, His Horses, and His Rise in Show Jumping

At the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas last week, HSJ met with Johan Sebastian Gulliksen, one of Norway’s most promising show jumping riders. Competing with Equine America Harwich, Gulliksen capped off a breakthrough season that has firmly placed him among the sport’s rising names.

“The season has been unbelievable. Like, unreal, if you look back,” Gulliksen said. “From the start it was to try to qualify for the final and just see how it goes from show to show. And now I’m here. It’s just amazing.”

A Family Foundation in Show Jumping

Gulliksen’s journey into elite sport began at home, surrounded by horses and guided by generations of experience.

“Obviously my dad has been doing this for 45, 50 years,” he explained. “He built up a farm at home, so I got into horses naturally. But there was no push that I had to do it. I had to want it myself.”

As a child, he split his time between riding and skiing before making a clear decision.

“I was also into skiing a lot at the same time,” he said. “But then I was around 10, 11, and I really started to focus on the riding. Since then it’s just been development.”

The Road to the World Cup Final

This season marked a turning point, with consistent top results leading him to his first World Cup Final appearance.

“It’s always been a dream to do a final,” he said. “Now I’m here and hopefully I can do the best out of it.”

Riding against some of the biggest names in the sport added another layer to the experience.

“This is my first World Cup final, and the riders here are people I’ve looked up to for 10, 20 years,” Gulliksen said. “You can learn from everyone.”

Equine America Harwich: A Partnership Built Over Time

A key part of Gulliksen’s success is his partnership with Harwich, a horse he has developed over nearly three years.

“He’s not the easiest horse,” Gulliksen said. “He has his own technique, his own way to do things. But he has a heart of gold. He tries so hard every time.”

Their relationship is based on mutual understanding and patience.

“I know him very well now, and he knows me,” he said. “I just try to keep him fresh and happy. That’s the key for him.”

Interestingly, the partnership began unexpectedly.

“We bought him because my dad was going to ride him,” Gulliksen explained. “But I didn’t have a horse at that time, so I started riding him, and we kind of got into it straight away.”

Since then, their progress has been steady and deliberate.

“We did Europeans, we did some World Cups, and we’ve been developing all the time,” he said. “This year he’s getting faster in the ring. He’s a big horse, needs time over the jumps, but he’s improving.”

Looking Ahead: Colonello and Future Prospects

While Harwich remains his top partner, Gulliksen is already investing in the future. His other horse, Colonello, is one to watch as he builds depth in his string.

“I have another horse, Colonello, which really stepped up this year,” Gulliksen said. “I just got him before Oslo, and it was the first time we did an indoor season.”

The next step is gaining experience outdoors and strengthening their partnership.

“Now we’re going to develop into the outdoor season, which is going to be a great experience,” he said. “I still don’t know him so much yet, and that’s something I need to work on.”

Alongside Colonello, he is also bringing along younger horses for the future.

“I believe you have to produce them for this level,” he said. “It’s really hard to find them and also have the right match when they’re older.”

Advice for the Next Generation

Despite already competing at the highest level, Gulliksen keeps a long-term mindset and encourages younger riders to do the same.

“You have to be patient, work hard, and be dedicated,” he said. “Believe in yourself and what you do. It takes time. You have to think long term, not short term.”

He also stressed the importance of learning while staying true to your own system.

“You can learn from everyone,” he said. “But in the end, you have to make your own system and believe in it.”

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