New logo for the Nordic-Baltic Equestrian Championships – youth teams chose the winning entry from Finland

The Nordic-Baltic Equestrian Championships (NBECH) has unveiled a brand-new official logo, selected through a creative design competition that attracted 53 entries from all seven participating countries.

The winning design, created by Finnish graphic designer Annika De Kooter, was chosen by the youth national teams in show jumping and dressage from the four organising countries.

“I am really excited and honoured that my logo was chosen as the winner, and I must admit that I was moved to tears by the news. If I could give the logo a name, it would be Peace,” says Annika.

The logo will be used as the visual symbol for the 2025 championship in Ypäjä, Finland, and was inspired by tradition, harmony and shared values. Annika explains:

“Horses and equestrian competitions have always been close to my heart. I work as a graphic designer, so the subject of the logo design was very appealing to me. I did background work to find a common identity and visual for the Nordic and Baltic countries,” says Annika De Kooter.

“I was inspired by the value of the sport, the connections between a horse and a rider, the visual symbolism and the traditional culture of the Nordic and Baltic countries. However, the greatest influence for the original design was the peace and harmony between these countries. An important starting point was to design a distinct and timeless logo that reflects the dignity of the sport and the cooperation between the countries. I chose minimalistic modern lines with a little touch of Viking symbolism and the traditional ‘Taalainmaahevonen’. I chose the flag colours of all the participating Nordic and Baltic countries to create an harmonic design.”

The aim of the competition was to create a logo that reflects the unique collaboration between Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. The design needed to be simple yet expressive, modern yet timeless, and work in both short and full versions. The evaluation focused on creativity, clarity, and the ability to visually convey unity and cooperation.

In addition to the honour, Annika receives a €400 prize and a VIP experience at this year’s championship in Ypäjä, held during week 26.

For more information on the championships, click here

About NBECH
The Nordic-Baltic Equestrian Championships (NBECH) is a prestigious regional competition that brings together seven nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. While the championship has been held for over two decades, 2024 marked a historic milestone as the event was officially recognised as a Regional Championship by the European Equestrian Federation (EEF).

The host country rotates between the Nordic nations and the championship includes three disciplines: Jumping, Dressage, and Para Dressage. Classes are available for a wide range of levels and ages – from ponies and children to juniors, U25, seniors, and para grades I–V.

Beyond competition, NBECH plays a vital role in athlete development and serves as a platform for strengthening the bonds within the Nordic-Baltic equestrian community.