Nine out of ten in equestrian sports are women, according to figures from the Swedish Equestrian Association.
This was tangible - and not always easy to relate to - for Carl Hedin, who had an early eye for equestrian sports when he was growing up.
- In my school class, I feel left out.
I have a hard time focusing.
I can't count and instead of reading the speeches I sit and think about what fantasy worlds I will build when I get home.
My classmates think I'm both silly and disruptive.
I talk way too much and can't read social situations.
Instead, I end up by myself in the classroom, he says in his summer talk.
- I'm a softie and my arms are as thin as boiled spaghetti.
I ride at the riding school in Borås every week and when I'm not at the riding school I play with stick horses.
As you can tell, I'm not exactly ready to be called cool, no matter how many scars I have.
"Gets a lump in my stomach"
In his summer talk, the 31-year-old also talks about the bus trips, at a young age, to the riding school.
- When the bus approaches the riding club, I get a lump in my stomach and start preparing lies in my head.
They are all different answers I should be able to give if someone on the bus asks why I get off at the stables.
I would say something like "I have a girl who rides," he says.
Carl Hedin is today an elite level dressage rider, and his merit list includes a SM gold in team dressage.
Last year he published the book "Hästpojken", together with the journalist Frida Bank, which is about growing up as a boy with riding as an interest.