Found His Future with the Amish: 'Gut Feeling'

Fredrik Persson, a seasoned Swedish four-in-hand driver, has rediscovered his passion for the sport, attributing his renewed energy to an unexpected inspiration linked to the Amish community. Persson, who made his World Championship debut 30 years ago, emphasized the crucial role of his family in his continued success.

“

The most important thing of all is to have a good team around you, and I have that. My wife and my daughter support me incredibly much, and I try to support them in various ways.

"The most important thing of all is to have a good team around you, and I have that. My wife and my daughter support me incredibly much, and I try to support them in various ways," Persson stated. He acknowledged the profound impact of their backing, admitting he becomes visibly moved when discussing their importance. "They are the ones who make me have the strength and desire to continue year after year. Without that support, it would have been difficult to manage everything," he said.

“

They are the ones who make me have the strength and desire to continue year after year. Without that support, it would have been difficult to manage everything.

Persson's journey in the demanding sport of four-in-hand driving, often likened to eventing in equestrianism, involves mastering three distinct disciplines. The competition begins with dressage, where drivers guide their four horses through a program requiring single-hand reins and backward movements. This is followed by the challenging marathon, testing the team's ability to navigate tight turns and tough obstacles akin to a labyrinth. The event concludes with a precision driving test, where the team races against time through a course of cones, with penalties incurred for dislodging balls.

“

I have probably been here 25-30 times, and Aachen is always Aachen.

Persson, who hails from Flyinge, has a decorated history in the sport, including a team gold medal in 2000 and a team bronze in 1996. However, as the sport rapidly evolved, he sought a new edge to compete for individual medals. The solution emerged indirectly through Instagram, revealing a surprising connection to the Amish way of life. "It's a long story," Persson remarked, explaining how a casual scroll during downtime in Norway led him to discover horses that ultimately reignited his competitive spirit, despite initial doubts about their accessibility from the United States.

“

It's a long story.