Michael Klimke’s joy is in helping young riders

Success on the world stage for Germany’s dressage riders is no accident according to rider and trainer Michael Klimke. Instead, there is a well-established system that guides riders from the junior level through to international competition.

“In the last 20 years, you see a lot of young riders coming up through our championship teams. There is a clear system in place, which we are proud of, as well as knowing that other countries also have good organizations,” Michael said. Beyond training and structure, luck has a role to play. “Every rider is only human, and without a good horse, it’s difficult to succeed. The right combination of horse and rider is crucial.”

Many young German riders have gained experience competing in the Nations Cup in Wellington before making their mark in Europe. Michael cites names such as Evelyn Eger, 27, who burst on the Wellington dressage scene this winter by claiming the individual gold medal during ‘Friday Night Stars’ in the FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Grand Prix Freestyle. Evelyn and Hof Kasselmann’s Tabledance 3 stole the show with a Shakira-inspired performance which gave them a personal best of 77.235% as the pair made their debut at the Global Dressage Festival. The victory came the day after the duo led Germany to the Nations Cup team gold with another winning career high score in the Grand Prix.

Evelyn’s performance echoed that of her compatriot Felicitas Hendricks who made a similar statement last year at Global aged 23, taking the Cup individual freestyle gold. This year she and the 14-year-old Drombusch OLD took silver with 75.13%.

“We have won the Nations Cup now five years in a row in Wellington,” said Michael, mentioning milestones from the past such as Lars Ligus riding in his first CDI Grand Prix in the Nations Cup in Wellington, as well as the list of additional German riders who have contributed to the winning streak such as Christoph Koschel, Frederic Wandres, Kevin Kohmann – who now rides for the USA – as well as Felicitas whose uncle is Christoph, and has been on four Nations’ Cup teams, as well of course, Michael himself.

“But this is just on this side of the ocean,” said Michael. “I would say in Germany we have Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock, Carina Scholz and a couple of other young, good riders coming up.” He also has great respect for his compatriot Isabell Werth as well as Great Britain’s Carl Hester. “I have great admiration for them both,” he said.

Michael is newly a father to his seven-month-old daughter Toni – who had her own credentials at Global this season and may one day compete there. In the meantime, Michael values the opportunity to mentor younger riders. “I like to compete, train, and share my experience with the next generation,” he said. He emphasizes the importance of experience in equestrian sports. “You cannot take shortcuts in training,” he said. “Horses need time to develop their physical ability, and riders must refine their skills over time.”

Michael remains committed to the sport, despite acknowledging that at 55 he is no longer part of the “young generation.” He continues to compete and develop top horses such as Harmony Sport Horses’ Dante’s Peak with whom he won the 3* Grand Prix in week three of Global as the nine-year-old gelding made his CDI debut, scoring 68.087% for the victory.

“I think Dante is a world-class horse, and I have high hopes for his future,” Michael said of the nine-year old. “I decided not to put him in the five-star this winter but to build him up slowly and the plan is to come back next year when he is a bit more educated. He’s young, he has a big future.” He also sees significant potential in Harmony’s Fado, an eleven-year-old Oldenburg gelding and is focused on carefully building both horses’ experience at the Grand Prix level. Also competing at Grand Prix level, Michael has 11-year-old gelding, Harmony’s Zomancier and 12-year-old gelding, Bocca DI Bacco.

Dante is a powerful horse, demonstrated by an exuberant performance when in the Jog at Global. “He is often looking and can be a little bit spooky,” said Michael. “This insecurity is this huge horse with a little heart.” Michael works alongside his groom of five years, Nico Weinnstooer to improve Dante’s self-esteem.  “We try to give him confidence every day. Sometimes it’s more difficult to get him around the arena than to execute a passage or a flying change. Once he’s in the actual ring, he is much better. My drive as a trainer and rider is to get the best out of the horse and find a language to talk to him.”

This sensitive approach Michael learned from his father Reiner Klimke who won six gold medals and two bronze medals in dressage. His sister Ingrid Klimke is also a leading dressage – and event – rider. “My father always said, ‘The horse is the athlete, not the rider.’” Michael explained. “Our job is to sit quietly and guide them, not overpower them.”

Michael learned to ride from an early age, trained mainly by his father. But, as well as working with horses, after his father passed away, he joined his law firm Dr Klimke and Partners and Michael continues to work there specializing in equestrian issues.

Michael knows from personal experience that success is the result of a strong support team. “It is crucial to have a good owner, a great team, and a strong trainer. Without them, you have no chance of winning,” he said.

He arrived for his first winter season in Wellington in 2014, with the backing and support of  Leslie and John Malone from Harmony Sport Horses, who have been instrumental in the trajectory of his career, providing a base in Wellington at Four Winds Farm, where he trains alongside his Harmony ‘teammates’ Holland’s Luuk Mourits and Great Britain’s Susan Pape.

“I give thanks to Leslie and John Malone from Harmony Sports horses. They gave me the chance to keep horses on a high level, when before I had to sell them to make my living and finance my riding. Now I’m in a position where I can keep the horses for many years.” he said. “It is very important to have a team, to have a good owner, to have a good group of people around you, to have, of course, a good trainer. In the Grand Prix for six minutes, in this 20 by 60 [meter] arena, you are alone. But it needs a team around and when you have no good team, you have no chance to win.”

As the sport evolves, Michael believes that horsemanship remains a fundamental aspect of dressage. “There’s a growing emphasis on horsemanship and understanding the horse, which I think is a positive development,” he said. While Michael’s competitive aspirations remain strong, his goal is to continue training and developing top-level horses while sharing his wealth of knowledge with the next generation. “At the end of the day, dressage is about patience, experience, and a deep understanding of the horse,” he said. “That’s what drives me every day.”