Zandra Birkeland is a twenty-nine-year-old dressage rider from Norway. Living in the Netherlands for the last three years, Zandra had been working as a rider for Van Olst Horses, but in December 2025, she started her new job as a rider for RS2 Dressage and says “I am so excited to be a part of this amazing team.”
What does a typical riding day look like for you?
I ride about eight to nine horses daily; they are from the age of four years old and up to the age of about nine years old. Each horse I have is so different, each one has their own unique personality and characteristics, and I am still in the phase of getting to know them all. For the last few years, I have ridden a lot of young stallions but now I have only mares and geldings and they are all amazing, so I am very excited to see what the future holds.
How did your journey transpire to dressage?
Growing up I always used to visit my grandparents, already right after I learned to walk, I used to crawl under the fence and into my grandparent’s neighbour’s horses. I was probably about two or three years old at that time, and they decided to go to a local farm every Saturday and Sunday where I could sit on a pony, riding a 20m circle in walk for 5€. Unfortunately for my mom and dad I loved it and one round wasn’t enough and it started to become expensive riding round after round every weekend. When I turned five years old my mom and dad got me signed up for the local riding school where I was the youngest one and when I was about six years old, I got my first pony. My mom had been riding all her life, but my dad was terrified of horses, so he always used to sit in the car outside of the stable for hours waiting for me and my mom, because he didn’t want to go near the horses. But unfortunately, for him, with time he came to love them too and has been my biggest supporter ever since.
My first few ponies where showjumpers, since my mom was and old eventer and we had our ponies at a local stable/riding school where it was mostly focus on showjumping. But for me to be allowed to participate in the showjumping lessons and shows my mom said I had to ride dressage and become a good rider during the flat work and my dressage lessons.
When I turned eleven years old, we had to retire of my ponies and my parents bought a three-and-a-half-year-old newly castrated gelding from Sweden, with super capacity as a jumper but also an incredible mover when it came to dressage. Since both him and I were so young it naturally became a very big focus on the dressage and with time it gradually ended up being the main focus and joy, he took me all the way to the Norwegian championships, Nordic championships and the European championships and I would say he is the main reason why I am where I am today.
After my years as a pony rider, I competed as a junior and young rider, where I was also incredibly lucky to ride some of my best friend’s horses and later on my mom and I went to the Netherlands and bought a young horse again. He was an amazing horse, winning almost all the shows he attended in Norway in each age category and being selected to represent Norway in the world championships for young horses.
After he got sold as a seven-year-old, I got offered a job in Germany by an Australian rider to come and work and ride for him. It was a scary decision to move from Norway, but I had always wanted to become the best possible rider and learn as much as possible so regardless of how scary it was I had to take the chance and try, because I could always go back home. After some time in Germany, I got the opportunity to join Van Olst in the Netherlands where I have been based for the last three years, riding and competing so many incredible horses and stallions.
Who do you train with?
I recently joined RS2 Dressage in December where I am training for Marieke Van Der Putten and Marion Schreuder. Even though this is very new and I am still finding my ways in the new training system, I am so happy to have these two amazing women training me and I really love their philosophy and passion for dressage. Marieke helps me with the horses most days as much as she has time and Marion comes to us every Tuesday and Friday morning
The last three years I have been training for Anne Van Olst, I have learned so much and she has really developed me as a rider and I will forever be incredibly grateful for her training.
What do you love about dressage?
Oh gosh. Everything. For me dressage is so special because it really creates a bond between you and the horse and everything you do is down to details. We are trying to teach an animal, who doesn’t speak our language to dance with us. And we are trying to dance with perfection, yet horses are living animals with their own thoughts and feelings.
There is so much trust and love needed between the horse and the rider, and we create this special bond, which makes dressage so beautiful and special to me.
Your proudest moments?
I still have so much to learn and so many dreams that I still think my proudest moments and achievements are yet to come. Hopefully.
Have you faced any challenging moments on your dressage journey?
Many. Working with horses is not like a regular job, it’s a tough industry with a lot of ups and downs. But I think it’s important to remember the love you have for the horses and to never give up on your dreams, regardless of how challenging it can be sometimes.
Do you have to deal with nerves when riding?
No, not anymore. I used to get very nervous when I was competing but if you practice enough and you are prepared for what you are going to do, you can only do your very best. I think it’s important to try to remember to enjoy the moments and the journey that you’re on. Practice makes perfect right?
You have ridden young Stallions; can you share your experience and how rewarding it is?
Oh, I love riding the young stallions and the young horses. To me it is so incredible to see how much the younger horses can develop and learn in such a short period of time and how they are always giving you their everything. I always find stallions to be very honest and direct with you and if you have their trust, they will always try their hardest for you. So young stallions especially will always have a very special place in my heart.
Your future goals and aspirations?
Gosh, if I am going to be completely honest having big goals are always scary to me because you can so easily get very disappointed if you don’t reach your goals and working with horses anything can happen. But with that being said I will always strive to become the best rider and the best version of myself that I can become. And who knows, maybe if I work hard enough and never give up, maybe I one day will be able to ride the bigger international shows representing Norway.
Your Top Tip
Never give up and work hard!
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Live in the moment, enjoy the journey you’re on because one day it will all be memories and you will wish you were more present.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
My mom and dad are my biggest supporters, have always been and will always be. My trainer(s), owners, grooms, physio (for me and the horses), farrier, vets, friends and all the people in my life who are there for me and the horses making it all possible every day.