Emma was born in 1985, in Mikkeli, Finland. When Emma’s family moved to Hyvinkää she started as a part-time student at the riding school of Riitta Holopainen. Emma received her high school diploma in 2004 and she graduated as an equestrian coach in 2006. That same year she moved to Germany where she is currently working towards a riding coach degree under Hubertus Schmidt.

Emma’s career as a horse racer started in her “pony-years” with a pony called Fatuhiva. The horse and rider won the Finnish championship and a bronze medal in the Nordic championships. After her “pony-years” Emma had at her disposal a horse called Åtoftens Volanti. They won several Finnish and Nordic championships and a bronze in the European championships.

Her days at Hubertus Schmidt’s stable are filled with work. The 6-day working week starts at 7.30 am by feeding the horses. In the morning Emma rides four or five horses. In her two-hour lunch break she has time to ride her own horses. In the afternoon she has to do three or four rides. After the day ends at around 6 pm Emma still has her own students to coach and private horses to ride. A typical day also includes studying for the German riding degree.

Emma’s competitive career in Germany has started out well under Hubertus Schmidt’s coaching. Emma and Sini Spirit first competed at Prix St. Georges and Intermediare I level achieving many fine victories and place-finishes. The goal for 2008 was to participate in a national GP-level competition. This was reached already in the spring, much to everybody’s surprise. The achievement was rewarded with an outstanding score of 70.325 % and first-place finish.


In the fall of 2008, Emma and Sini Spirit participated in the Nordic championships in Denmark as part of the Finnish national team. This turned out to be Emma’s breakthrough in full length, international GP competitions. The result was 66.04 % and fifth place. Emma and Sini Spirit were the best of the Finnish national team over the three-day competition.


Besides training Sini Spirit, Emma also coaches the other young horse of the team, Sini Santos, towards the more demanding haute école classes. It does not come as a surprise that Sini Santos has already made several good appearances at competitions in Germany.

In Finland, Emma’s career is strongly supported by Team Sini Spirit and her coach from the days when Emma was starting out, Riitta Holopainen: “Emma is a true horse person. She never takes out her frustration on the horses. She is always emphatic towards them. Emma can read a horse. Hence, the horses trust her and a unique bond is created between them.”