Breyer Celebration Horse 2026: Photographing Norwegian Fjord Dressage Star Flinka in Wellington, Florida

Breyer Celebration Horse 2026: Photographing Norwegian Fjord Dressage Star Flinka in Wellington, Florida

I first photographed Corgi Hill Flinka a few years ago right here in Wisconsin, long before the Breyer announcement and long before the national headlines. There was something about her even then. That forelock. That presence. The way she held herself like she already knew she was remarkable.

I kept one of those portraits as a sample piece at my Midwest Horse Fair booth, because when people stop and ask “whose horse is that?” that image does the talking.

So when I had the opportunity to photograph Flinka again, this time in Wellington, Florida, I already knew we were stepping into something special. What I didn’t fully expect was just how much the story had grown since that first session in Wisconsin.

A Wisconsin Dressage Story That Led to Wellington

Alexandria Andrasko calls Wisconsin home, but this year marked an exciting new chapter in her dressage journey. Determined to continue advancing toward her FEI goals, Alexandria brought Flinka south to Wellington, Florida for the winter season.

Wellington has become the epicenter of the U.S. equestrian world, drawing riders, trainers, and horses from across the country to train and compete during the winter circuit. For riders pursuing upper-level dressage, the opportunity to train and compete there can be invaluable.

It was there, surrounded by palm trees and the energy of the show season, that I photographed Alexandria and Flinka during a quiet in-hand portrait session.

As a Wisconsin equestrian photographer, I frequently travel to capture horses and riders across the country, and Wellington always offers something special. Between the world-class facilities and the incredible horses competing there, it’s one of the most inspiring places to photograph equestrian athletes.

But sessions like this one are often my favorite. The quieter moments. The moments between the ribbons and the test scores. The moments where the true bond between horse and rider shows itself.

The Norwegian Fjord Mare Who Defied Expectations

In a sport dominated by tall warmbloods, Flinka is an unlikely dressage star.

She is a 15-year-old grey dun Norwegian Fjord mare, a breed most commonly associated with driving horses or trail partners rather than FEI dressage competition. But Flinka didn’t follow the usual script.

Lexie and Flinka found each other in 2014. At first they experimented with a variety of disciplines. They tried jumping. They tried driving. Eventually they discovered dressage, and something clicked.

They went on to compete at national championships, earning titles including the US National Pony Cup at Fourth Level and Prix St. George. Along the way, Flinka helped Lexie earn both her USDF Bronze and Silver medals, with the Gold medal already in progress.

Then came another incredible milestone.

Flinka was selected as the 2026 Breyer Celebration Horse, representing BreyerFest’s Midsummer Fair theme inspired by Nordic culture. The mare has now been immortalized as a Traditional 1:9 scale Breyer model.

For horse lovers who grew up with Breyer models lining their shelves, being selected as a Breyer Celebration Horse is something truly special.

Photographing Flinka: A Portrait Session Years in the Making

In-hand horse portrait sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph.

Without a rider in the frame, the horse becomes the entire story. And with a mare like Flinka, there is so much personality to capture.

She has the classic Fjord dorsal stripe. A legendary forelock. And the kind of quiet confidence you only see in horses that know exactly who they are.

I saw it during our first portrait session in Wisconsin years ago. I saw it again during our session in Wellington.

Some horses simply have that presence.

And for the record, Flinka also loves bananas. National champion. Breyer model. Banana enthusiast. A horse with many talents.

The portrait I created of her during that original Wisconsin session has hung at my Midwest Horse Fair booth ever since. It stops people every year. The little grey Fjord mare with the massive presence.

Now when I tell people she’s the 2026 Breyer Celebration Horse, the reaction is even better.

A Full-Circle Moment for Horse and Rider

For Lexie, the Wellington portrait session was a chance to celebrate everything she and Flinka have built together.

Not just the ribbons or the national championships.

But the partnership.

The years of trust and training.

The unlikely story of a Norwegian Fjord mare becoming a national-level dressage competitor and eventually a Breyer model.

For me, it was a privilege to photograph a horse I had already admired years earlier and to witness how far their story had grown.

Some horses stay with you long after the session is over.

Flinka is one of those horses.

Equestrian Photography in Wisconsin and Beyond

Copper Arrow Photography is a Wisconsin-based equestrian photographer specializing in horse and rider and fine art equine portraits.

While Wisconsin will always be home, I travel nationally to photograph horses and riders in locations like Wellington, Florida and across the USA.

Every horse has a story worth telling.

Every partnership has a moment worth preserving.

My job is simply to find it.

If you are looking for an equestrian photographer, I would love to help capture your horse’s story.