In future, particularly talented dressage horses will be trained by Dorothee Schneider in Syke, Germany and promoted to the highest level of international sport. ‘I am very much looking forward to continuing my passion, training horses, at this beautiful equestrian facility in Syke,’ explains the championship rider. ‘And I am looking forward to working with Maik Kanitzky, who shares my vision of promoting horses in sport.’ Schneider will sell her equestrian facility in Framersheim/GER and move to Lower Saxony with her husband, family and riding horses – including, of course, Olympic retiree Showtime. ‘I will continue to pursue my passion for horses as a self-employed trainer, but I will no longer have to worry about the entire management of my own facility and can concentrate fully on the horses – that is the basic idea behind my decision.’
Kanitzky is a passionate horse breeder who has been working with Dorothee Schneider for around three years. He owns Maxi Krati’s Barcelo OLD, for example, who won last year’s Nuremberg Burg Cup final under the professional trainer. ‘I am incredibly proud and excited that Dorothee is taking this step with me,’ emphasises Kanitzky. ‘There are many good riders and trainers in Germany, but I think Dorothee’s riding style is fantastic.’
Twenty-five years ago, master horse trainer Dorothee Schneider took over the family business, the St. Stephan stud farm and riding facility in Framersheim, Rhineland-Palatinate. Since then, she has been juggling the training of horses, riders and trainees with the complete management of the facility. “Over the years, I have put a lot of energy and effort into my riding facility in Framersheim. It is my home, which I have built with a great deal of passion. I have trained here for many years, celebrated great successes, culminating in three Olympic appearances, and I have trained many horses here. It is very difficult for me to give this up now and leave a piece of home behind. It is a huge step that I have thought long and hard about, but it feels good and right. I will continue to be independent, I can continue to work with long-standing and new partners, and at the same time I can look forward to the horses, the team and the equestrian facility in Syke.”
Maik Kanitzky grew up with horses, was briefly active in the saddle himself, but then devoted himself entirely to horse breeding. Among his greatest breeding successes are the stallions Sir Donnerhall I and Sir Donnerhall II. With the establishment of the dressage centre in collaboration with Dorothee Schneider, Kanitzky is now significantly expanding his sporting commitment once again. At the M.K. Ammerland stud farm in Wiefelstede, which is also owned by Kanitzky, horses bred on the farm and young horses purchased elsewhere are raised and broken in. Particularly talented horses are then sent to Syke for further training. ‘Syke will be based on three pillars,’ explains the horse expert. ‘The training of exclusive dressage horses by Dorothee Schneider is the first pillar. The stallion station under the management of Detlef Utecht van Dijk is pillar number two, which will operate in close consultation with Dorothee. And pillar number three, which refers to the promotion of one or two young riders, is also under Dorothee’s care.’
Dorothee Schneider and Maik Kanitzky – joining forces at Famos Stud in Syke from 1 January 2026.
Source: Dressur Sport Press Release, edited by Equestrian Life
