MustadMagazine Issue 5 / May 2014 A new product: Rapid trotting shoes Ă…ke Svanstedt - Report from USA We review the facts about Elitloppet
Mustad Magazine #5 2014
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WE ARE HAPPILY TROTTING TOWARDS THE SUMMER! The fact that we at Mustad are extra passionate about trotting is no secret. That is why we are particularly happy at this time of year, when it really is high season at all of Sweden’s trotting courses. Maybe you are at Elitloppet at the moment? In that case, please feel free to drop in and say hello to us at our tent by the stables, where we will be staying during the whole weekend. If you can’t make it this time, you will have many more chances because we will be at many trotting events during the summer. You can see the exact places on page 7. Please take us at our word when we say come and visit us! The development of the sport is largely due to fantastic, enthusiastic people like you who share our passion for horses. And it certainly is moving forwards, both in terms of speed on the track and at the Mustad R&D department. The latest in product development is our Rapid trotting shoe. It’s a real hit which we are really impressed by, as are many of you out there on the tracks. Don’t miss more about this innovation on the next page. On top of this, what better time than during the high season for the story of our Swedish trotter-trainer legend, Åke Svanstedt? Read about his life in USA – and don’t miss the link to the film in this magazine. Enjoy your reading!
Mia Almroth Marketing Manager, Mustadfors Bruks AB
MustadMagazine
www.mustad.com
PUBLISHER Mustadfors Bruks AB S-660 10 Dals Långed Tel +46 (0)531-71400 RESPONSIBLE EDITOR Mia Almroth Tel +46 (0)703-37 67 00
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Mustad Magazine #5 2014
TEXT AND DESIGN Booster Reklambyrå AB APP TECHNOLOGY Paperton CONTACT US magazine@mustad.se
News from the Mustad
R&D TEAM
Rigorous testing on different types of surfaces, wear resistance, weight characteristics, sole relief – everything has been analysed, documented and evaluated before final production” Mia Almroth, projektledare, Mustad
Our latest innovation:
RAPID TRAVSKOR Innovation and product development is always our guiding principle in the Mustad group. We are constantly working to improve, develop and think in new ways so that horses, trainers and farriers can perform at their best. The latest new product from our factory at St Croix in USA is a perfect example of this. Allow us to present Rapid creased trotting shoes in steel. RAPID TROTTING SHOES Optimal positioning of nails. Recommended nails are EXL, LiBero ARC, FJ, E and ESL. The hind shoe, which is first out, has an extra strong grip to give security to the step and not least to gain extra hundredths of a second, which could otherwise be lost. This is thanks to a deep crease where the inner edge is lower than the outer edge. The crease also contributes to the shoe’s low weight, which is vital when it comes to competition. Like all shoes from St. Croix and Mustad, Rapid also has sole relief to lighten the load on
Optimal positioning of nail holes. Recommended nails: EXL, LiBero ARC, FJ, E och ESL.
the hoof and minimize the risk of sole pressure – a welcome benefit, not least for sensitive hooves. One aspect we believe is appreciated by horse and farrier alike is the optimal positioning of the nails, specially adapted for E-head nails. It provides better conditions when shoeing the horse and also means that the nails remain in place better. Through our contacts and many hours spent with trainers, veterinarians and farriers, we have had requests for developing a shoe that is lightweight but still very du-
rable. The result is the Rapid shoe, where 15x5 is a mix of 15x5 and 16x6, where the outer edge is approximately 6.5 mm high, but the inner edge only 5 mm. ”In doing so we have made a very durable, lightweight product,” says project manager Mia Almroth. ”Personally, I believe that this will be our future best-seller and we hope that you in the field will be as impressed as we are by our tests of this shoe. As usual, we would like to hear your opinions, so please don’t hesitate – give us feedback!”
Mustad Magazine #5 2014
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With over 6000 wins and almost 250 horses in training, Åke Svanstedt was the greatest trainer ever in Swedish trotting. He won big prize money year after year. But in the autumn he made a major decision to move with his family and business to Palema Trotting in Florida, USA, which he purchased together with a good friend.
One of Sweden’s greatest has become
NUMBER ONE!
Watch the film about Åke Svanstedt Lovely view over the training facility outside Orlando, Florida
”The main reason for leaving Sweden was to work in a more pleasant climate, but also because the competition season is more seasonal than in Sweden, which gives more time for training at home. On top of that, living in a place like Vero Beach in Florida, just outside Orlando, is also worth a lot towards the end of my career.” On 11 May, just a couple of weeks ago, Åke Svanstedt made a really good impression in one of his first competitions in USA. He came equal to the world record with a superb horse, Sebastian K. One week later they clinched the final race, too. If anyone thought that Åke Svanstedt’s arrival in USA would go unnoticed, they can eat their hat. The first man in the stable, veteran Björn Norén, tells Mustad Magazine that there was a great deal of interest. ”The opposition in the competitions has been tough, and even though our horses are not in peak form yet, they won on pure strength. At home at the training centre, too, it is full speed ahead. The aim was for us to have 20 - 30 horses in training in the first year, but we already have more than 50 here now! And among them there is a whole group of exceptional two- and three-year-olds. Things are looking good,” says Björn Norén, better known as Bernie in trotting circles. Best-selling documentary Another indication that Åke Svanstedt is
>>
A normal day with Team Svanstedt – in February!
one of the greatest is, of course, the fact that a very personal documentary about him has recently been launched in Sweden. Around 10,000 copies of the film have already been sold, almost entirely without marketing! The producer, Oscar Croon, tell us why they made a film about Åke: ”He’s the greatest and has been so for many years. When he was working in Sweden he trained the largest number of horses by far, and he combined that with an amazing amount of competitions. What gives it a real punch, of course, is the fact that he chose to stop when he was on top and move to USA. It’s a bit of a Björn Borg story. There are not many people who have the courage to step off when things are at their best. And even though Åke Svanstedt is one of the greatest personalities in Swedish trotting history, he has been very good at avoiding the media over all those years. When the opportunity came up to make a personal documentary about him, there was really no question about it,” says producer Oscar Croon. The film project was completely privately funded (by Mustad, among others) which made it possible to have a very objective and honest perspective, which in turn has produced a more interesting result. Oscar also reveals that there are plans to make an extended version of the film, in which his
life in USA will also be part of the content. Whether or not it will happen remains to be seen! Celebrated and remembered With the help of social media, Swedish trotter enthusiasts can continue to follow Åke Svanstedt’s adventure in USA. His fans are kept well informed of his successes through a very active Facebook page and an equally updated Twitter account. There is a huge amount of interest – every new post on Facebook is given about 1000 thumbs up! For those who can’t wait to see the star of the sulkies live again, there are good odds that he will appears at Solvalla Race Course in exactly one year. The stables manager, Bernie, makes his prediction: ”We would have been very happy to be in the Elitloppet this year, but the journey would have been too much for Sebastian K, the horse we would have competed with. But we’ll be back next year and then we aim to win with Your So Vain!” Bernie sounds pretty sure about it. With the experience he has, it is probably wise to bet on his stable tip when the time comes!
Åke Svanstedt on internet: facebook.com/Svanstedtstableinusa Svanstedt Stable USA
Mustad Magazine #5 2014
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SUMMER TROTTING FESTIVAL!
Use the hashtag #sommartravet when you tell your friends! Pontus Gille, ATG
for people on holiday. It is also an enjoyable For horse lovers, Sommartravet is as good as way to get to know the sport of trotting. At it gets. For seven weeks during the summer, the same time it is all about V75 races, which one V75 race is completed each week in the makes it interesting for trotting enthusiasts,” Sommartravet arrangement. The trotting says Pontus Guild from circus visits seveDo you also want to help to raise the ATG, the organisers of ral of the smaller atmosphere at this year’s Sommartravet? the event. but picturesque Dress in green! If you are among the courses in the first 200 arriving at the trotting In addition to the excicountry. As well as course you will be allowed in free. ting V75 races and the top class trotting, prize money, the horses are also competing every event in these summer weeks includes for the large, coveted green cup. As always, it lots of other happenings and entertainment. is awarded during the final races in Rättvik on This makes Sommartravet equally appealing 2 August. The Swedish summer, folk festivals to families on holiday who want to spice up their time off as to keen trotting connoisseurs. and nail-biting trotting races all make for a fantastic atmosphere during the summer tour! ”Sommartravet is a celebration for everyone, as it should be. It makes a different excursion
RACE DATES HALMSTAD
5 JULI
ÅRJÄNG
12 JULI
AXEVALLA
19-20 JULI
BOLLNÄS
26 JULI
JÄGERSRO
29 JULI
RÄTTVIK
2 AUGUSTI
ELITLOPPET
Absolute world-class trotting Sweden is a superpower in the sport of trotting and Elitloppet is one of the world’s largest trotting races. The last Sunday in May is just as holy for trotting enthusiasts as the first Sunday in March is for cross-country skiers wanting to ski in Vasaloppet. At Solvalla Race Course, around 30,000 enthusiasts gather to enjoy world-class trotting races. Elitloppet has an impressive history that goes back to 1952, when the first competition was held under the name Jubileumsloppet to celebrate Solvalla’s 25-year jubilee. Timoko Björn Goop France
P3
vinn
19
er
199
Copiad Erik Berglöf Sweden
6
97 19
1998
1999
2000
2001
200 2
3
200
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
Mustad Magazine #5 2014
Copiad Erik Berglöf Sweden
1995
1.09,9 20
92
91
1983–2013
artid
Torvald Palema 009 Åke Svanstedt 2 Sweden Exploit Caf Jean-Michel Bazire Remington Crown L’Amiral Mauzun Steinlager Italy Victory Tilly Varenne Varenne Gidde Palema Gidde Palema From Above Jean-Michel Bazire Per Oleg Midtfjeld Åke Svanstedt Åke Svanstedt Örjan Kihlström Giampaolo Minucci Giampaolo Minucci Åke Svanstedt Joseph Verbeeck France France Norway Sweden Italy Italy Sweden Sweden Sweden
6
19
199 0
1989
1988
1986
1985
1987
1994
ELITLOPPET WINNERS
TOP
1.09,8
Iceland Johnny Takter Sweden 2010
1984
1983
14 1.10,1
Sea Cove 93 Joseph Verbeeck Germany
19
13 20
Commander Crowe Christophe Martens Sweden 20 12 Brioni Joakim Lövgren Germany 2011
With a crowd of around 30,000, Elitloppet is one of Sweden’s most popular and largest
annual sporting events in terms of spectators. Every year there are 16 specially invited horses in the centre, which compete in two semifinals where the top four reach the final. Since 1965 the race is trotted for a distance of one English mile (1609 metres). Among the biggest names in the list of champions through the years is Sweden’s most beloved trotter, Ego Boy, who won the victory cup in 1973. Talking about the cup, it now goes along with a 3 million SEK cash prize!
Napoletano Mack Lobell The Onion Mack Lobell Meadow Road Utah Bulwark Rex Rodney Ianthin Stig H. Johansson Thomas Nilsson Peace Corps Paul Delanoe Stig H. Johansson Torbjörn Jansson Kjell Håkonsen Stig H. Johansson John D. Campbell Stig H. Johansson Sweden Sweden Sweden USA Sweden Sweden Norway France Billyjojimbob Sweden Murray Brethour Canada
20 Nahar Robert Bergh Sweden
This year’s race is on 25 May and the Swedish driver Robert Bergh, with his superstar Nahar, is the reigning champion and will defend his title. Only five horses have ever managed two successive wins in the past. Among them was the Swedish Copiad, who won the Elitloppet in 1994 and 1995. The last horse to pull off this achievement was the almost unbeatable Italian, Varenne, which won in 2001 and 2002.
Coktail Jet Jean-Etienne Dubois France
Gum Ball Stig H. Johansson Sweden
Moni Maker Wally Hennessey USA
SOURCE: Wikipedia (nationality refers to the horse owner)
MUSTAD ON TOUR
Meet up with us in the summer! This summer, we will be travelling around the trotting courses of Sweden and Norway more than ever. We have a passion for our work in the field and we look forward to meeting you all. So take the opportunity and visit us if you have any questions, or if you just want to chat a little – we are out there for you!
Rune Holmen Consultant, Farrier +39 335 627 07 27 rune.holmen@mustad.com
Magne Delebekk Consultant, Farrier +47 900 35 272 magne@mustad.se Agneta Hell Market/Sales +46 (0)531 714 06 agneta@mustad.se
Mia Almroth Marketing Manager +46 (0)703 37 67 00 mia@mustad.se
Camilla Karlsson Market/Sales +46 (0)531 714 33 camilla@mustad.se
28/6, 30/8 BERGSÅKER
7-8/6 BJERKE Oslo Grand Prix
26/7 BOLLNÄS Sommartravet
12/7 ÅRJÄNG
2/8 RÄTTVIK
Sommartravet
Sommartravet
12-13/7 JARLSBERG
23 – 25/5 SOLVALLA Elitloppet
31/5 MANTORP
19-20/7 AXEVALLA
Sommartravet
16/8 ÅBY
Sommartravet
3/7, 5/7 HALMSTAD
Sprintermästaren och Sommartravet
22/6 KALMARTRAVET 29/7 JÄGERSRO Sommartravet Mustad Magazine #5 2014
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