Riding at Uppsala University

Since 1663, Uppsala University has had a Department of Riding where students and employees can practice horse riding. In the 17th century, students were to be educated in so-called exercitia, or practical subjects. These practical subjects also included French, Spanish, Italian, fencing, dance, music and drawing.

Oljemålning som föreställer personer som sitter till häst utanför Skytteanum — John Georg Arsenius, to the right, was Academy Stable Master 1877–1888 and was the first to teach female students. Oil painting by John Arsenius himself. The painting now belongs to Uppsala University Museum.

Riding today

The Department of Riding has been located in different buildings over the centuries, and is currently situated at Upplands–Västmanlands Fältrittklubb in Kvarnbo, on the western outskirts of Uppsala.

The Academy Stable’s website

The Academy Stable’s email address is ridskolan@uvfk.org

Riding scholarships

Every semester the University hands out riding scholarships, which consist of 32 free riding lessons over 16 weeks.

Scholarships for current students

Student association

Uppsala Academic Riding Club (UARK) is a non-profit organisation for students interested in riding.

350 years of riding

Uppsala University is home to the second oldest riding institution in the world after the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. On 12 September 2013 the 350th anniversary was celebrated with a full day of educational and fun activities.

A jubilee book was published in time for the festivities with chapters written by University Library Director Lars Burman and Margareta Nisser-Dalman, Director of the Swedish Royal Collections.

Uppsala University marked the occasion by adding four new riding scholarships to the previous six.

Contact

Marianne Andersson
Inspector equitandi