Although just recently reaching the senior classes, Semmie is no stranger to the top sport having represented Germany in 11 youth European Championships from pony to U25 since 2011 and coming away with numerous medals. With her sister Sanneke also a successful young rider, her father and mother representing Germany and Netherlands and brother Sönke part of the gold medal winning German team in Rio, she is part of a dressage dynasty. In 2019 she won the FEI Rising Star award. I caught up with Semmie at Aachen where she won the 4* Grand Prix Freestyle with Farrington.
We chatted about her current top horses Flannel and Farrington, being part of the Rothenberger family, daily training, finding the way, changing tact with each horse and how every horse has shaped her as a rider, the little steps along the way and growing together with each horse.
We touch on Pilates, social media and more. And why does she get so worried when no one talks while she’s training?
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Although just recently reaching the senior classes, Semmie is no stranger to the top sport having represented Germany in 11 youth European Championships from pony to U25 since 2011 and coming away with numerous medals. With her sister Sanneke also a successful young rider, her father and mother representing Germany and Netherlands and brother Sönke part of the gold medal winning German team in Rio, she is part of a dressage dynasty. In 2019 she won the FEI Rising Star award. I caught up with Semmie at Aachen where she won the 4* Grand Prix Freestyle with Farrington.
We chatted about her current top horses Flannel and Farrington, being part of the Rothenberger family, daily training, finding the way, changing tact with each horse and how every horse has shaped her as a rider, the little steps along the way and growing together with each horse.
We touch on Pilates, social media and more. And why does she get so worried when no one talks while she’s training?
Even though still in his 20s, German dressage star Sönke Rothenberger has already had massive success in the competition arena. Following numerous successes in Pony and Young Rider Championships, the German has continued on in the Seniors with Team gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 World Championships as well as the 2017 and 2019 European Championships. He also received individual silver in the Special and Freestyle at the Europeans in 2017. I caught up with him at Aachen where he rode his new star Fendi in the 5*Grand Prix. Having recently beaten Dalera at the German Championships, all eyes were on the duo and although the test didn’t go quite to plan, we talked about learning from situations and changing conditions for the horse while keeping things in perspective and viewing the whole journey. Competition pressure, Cosmo’s amazing freestyle and how Cosmo and Fendi compare. The benefits of training your horse to Grand Prix rather than buying the finished product; buying foals, daily training, the honesty of family, Young Riders versus Seniors and perhaps the most important point, keeping your horse’s personality alive. Sönke has THE BEST analogies…he’s a joy to listen to. Don’t ride a pug at Aachen!
The Horse Podcast
Although just recently reaching the senior classes, Semmie is no stranger to the top sport having represented Germany in 11 youth European Championships from pony to U25 since 2011 and coming away with numerous medals. With her sister Sanneke also a successful young rider, her father and mother representing Germany and Netherlands and brother Sönke part of the gold medal winning German team in Rio, she is part of a dressage dynasty. In 2019 she won the FEI Rising Star award. I caught up with Semmie at Aachen where she won the 4* Grand Prix Freestyle with Farrington.
We chatted about her current top horses Flannel and Farrington, being part of the Rothenberger family, daily training, finding the way, changing tact with each horse and how every horse has shaped her as a rider, the little steps along the way and growing together with each horse.
We touch on Pilates, social media and more. And why does she get so worried when no one talks while she’s training?