The national team rider about the strong ties to the horse Cicci

For the unaccustomed viewer, unpleasant scenes unfolded at the Stockholm Horse Show at the Friends Arena on Friday.

Show jumping rider Wilma Hellström suddenly fell off her horse.

– We work with animals, sometimes things don’t always go as planned. There are very small margins. Like my mistake yesterday, when for a second I ended up too far out on a line. Then your distance will not be as planned, she says.

But usually Wilma Hellström succeeds with the very small margins.

Olympic jump

The International Olympic Committee has said that Sweden is allowed to send a national jumping team.

The European Championship gold last autumn was a great success, and the hopes of being selected for the Olympics are constantly resting in the back of Wilma Hellström’s mind.

– The plan is for me to go along, says Wilma and continues:

– It is clear that it is a big dream and a big goal. I am sure that our national team leader will bring out the best team. It is the best team that will go in the end.

One-eyed top horse Cicci

Five years ago, Wilma Hellström’s top horse Cicci had an accident in the box, which caused her to lose an eye.

– We were forced to spend a lot of time in rehab to get back. I think that time was very special for both of us.

Wilma tells pictures about when Cicci jumps for the first time after losing her eye.

– She is so happy! She means everything to me, this horse, says an almost teary-eyed Wilma.

Wilma further explains how she has a camera connected to Cicci’s box and that she can talk to Cicci via her phone when she is out travelling.

When I ride Cicci, it’s like time stands still

– I didn’t have my Cicci with me this weekend, says Wilma.

– When I ride her, it’s like time stands still. I’ve had Cicci for a long time and we have a very special relationship.

It is something that Wilma often highlighted. When she is asked if she can describe that relationship, she answers:

– It is a bit difficult to put into words. It’s like we think and speak the same language without speaking.

Wilma has had several horses before Cicci and has been involved in jumping for most of her life. But when she met Cicci for the first time, she understood that there was something special here.

– Cicci had a lot of integrity and was a tough nut to crack, but when I ride her it’s like time stands still, says Wilma. Some horses you click with very quickly and others take longer.