Background & philosophy

Jonathan Bardun

I am a licensed harness racing trainer and driver based at Mantorp Travbana in Östergötland. The sport came into my life early — and my fascination with the power, intelligence and competitive spirit of horses has only grown since.

I have worked with horses at every stage — from young horses that have never seen a starting gate, to competition horses that have lost their form and need a new path forward. Every horse tells its story, if you just take the time to listen.

The owner relationship matters enormously to me. I want you to always know how your horse is doing, what we are training on, and what we are aiming for. Nothing is more important than your trust — and that is earned with honesty, not words.

See training packagesContact Jonathan
Jonathan Bardun — licensierad travtränare och kusk på Mantorp Travbana

Philosophy

How I think about training

The horse at the centre

No two horses are alike. Every programme starts with me getting to know your horse — temperament, strengths, history — and building from there.

Honesty with the owner

You should never have to wonder how your horse is doing. I reach out regularly — not just when things go well, but also when we encounter challenges.

Long-term thinking

Pushing for a quick result at the expense of the horse's health is not my style. The right foundation takes time — but delivers a safer and longer career.

Career

Milestones

  1. First licence

    Obtained driver's licence and drove the first races as a professional driver.

  2. Established at Mantorp

    Established a permanent training operation at Mantorp Travbana in Östergötland.

  3. First win in a Group race

    Drove to victory in a classified race at Solvalla.

  4. Expanded training operation

    Expanded the stable to 8 horses in training with owners from across Sweden.

  5. 100+ wins as trainer

    Passed 100 wins as a trainer, counting all horses in the stable combined.

Ready to put your horse in the right hands?

Whether you have a young horse that needs the right start or an experienced competition horse that needs to find its form again — get in touch and we will talk about your horse and what we can achieve together.

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