Ingrid Klimke and Vayron, winners of the CDI4* Grand Prix Special this year at CHIO Aachen. Image by LL Foto.
Olympic gold medallist Ingrid Klimke returns to Australia on 1 November for a special masterclass at QSEC. Reflecting on special horses and lifelong mentors, Ingrid shares insights into championship preparation, her passion for classical horsemanship, and her mission to inspire the next generation of riders.
Ingrid Klimke is without a doubt an eventing legend. The 57-year-old has competed at five Olympic Games, four World Championships (formerly the World Equestrian Games), and eleven European Championships, collecting a total of sixteen medals – including four Olympic team golds. She has also competed at eight World Young Horse Championships and has numerous wins and placings at five-star level.
While much of Ingrid’s success has been in eventing, dressage has also played a significant role in her career. She competed at her first FEI Dressage World Cup Final in 2002 and returned to the event again in 2023. In 2022, she made her first FEI World Championship dressage team, representing Germany with the stallion Franziskus FRH (Fidertanz 2 x Alabaster 29) and helping secure a team bronze medal. Most recently, she was named on her first European Championship dressage team and is now set to ride Vayron NRW (Vitalis x Gloster) in Crozet, France later this month.
Ingrid has been named on the German team for the 2025 FEI European Dressage Championships with Vayron. Image by Rebecca Ashton.
PREPARING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
One of the most important aspects of preparing for big events, Ingrid says, is maintaining a consistent routine.
“The important thing is that you don’t change anything before a very special championship,” she explains. “If you think, ‘I will train this and that and the next,’ then I’m afraid I will overdo it because I’m so excited.
“I have in my mind a sentence I learned from coach Paul Stecken: ‘less is more’. You must really make sure the recovery periods are enough, and the horses are physically full of energy, with a mindset that says, ‘yes, I’m ready for the next adventure’. That’s the most important thing because at a championship, there are situations you’ve never had before — and afterwards, you could write a book about what happened that you never dreamt of.
“You and your horse must be full of ‘Yes – here we are, now we can show what we can do, what we’ve worked to learn, and now we’ll show it on the big screen.’”
While the accolades are many, for Ingrid it’s about the journey with each horse — not just the destination.
“To feel the deep confidence, trust, and connection between the horse and you is the greatest gift. To bring young horses into the sport means that step-by-step, with lots of positive experience, you grow together — until finally you can go together through the fire.”
‘I JUST LOVE HORSES’
Ingrid made her first German team at the 1999 European Championships with a grey gelding named Sleep Late and has enjoyed a hugely successful career since. Despite decades at the top level, she says it’s easy to stay inspired and passionate about the sport.
“I just love horses; I love to ride, and I love to be with horses. This pleasure gives me all the energy I need to stay focused and enjoy competition. Horses are just the most wonderful animals — they always give their very best and they give you their heart.”
One horse that taught Ingrid a great deal was Wilhelm Holkenbrink’s popular stallion Franziskus, who was retired from competition last year.
“At home he could already do piaffe, passage, and transitions, but in the ring — for some reason — I couldn’t really show it to the public or judges. It took us quite a while, with struggles. I trained him from the end of his five-year-old season until he was 13. Then, all of a sudden, he enjoyed it.
Ingrid and Grand Prix stallion Franziskus. Image by Leanjo de Koster for the FEI.
“He began not only doing his famous medium trots and canters, but also swinging in the passage and piaffe.
“Jonny Hilberath, my main trainer, always gave me the confidence and said, ‘Believe in him, one day he will show it. Trust yourself.’ And then at the World Championships in Herning, he did his best Grand Prix ever — right when it counted — and we won the team bronze medal.”
Another horse Ingrid reflects on fondly is FRH Butts Abraxxas, her Olympic partner in Beijing and London.
“If I could go back and create a mixture of a horse, it would be my wonderful black Braxxi. He was so good in cross country — so fast, so bold, with the biggest heart ever. But in the jumping, he just wasn’t a natural talent. I wish I could’ve had him with the carefulness and scope of a top jumper.”
Ingrid and FRH Butts Abraxxas competing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
Although Ingrid has already achieved more than most riders dream of, her goals remain ambitious — particularly when it comes to education.
“My goal is to give everything I learned from great teachers like my father, Paul Stecken, Chris Bartle, Hans Melzer, Jonny Hilberath, and many others.
“Some of my greatest teachers were also horses: special characters and talents that taught me so much. My aim is to pass on as much as I can to the next generation, and to people who want to learn more about the classical way of riding and horsemanship — and how much pleasure and fun it brings to communicate with your horse using fine aids.”
Ingrid is now looking forward to returning to Australia and sharing her knowledge with dressage and eventing enthusiasts here.
“My aim is to pass on
as much as I can to
the next generation…”
“I really like the Australian mentality — the people, the riders, and the horses.
“In earlier years when I did clinics in Australia, I really felt it wasn’t just me riding from the ground — the spectators rode with me. It was so silent when it was really exciting. They’re so keen to learn, ask great questions, and we had lovely discussions.
“Every time I fly back, I think: ‘Wow, that was something very special.’ I enjoyed it so much.” EQ
Ingrid Klimke returns to Australia for a very special masterclass at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre on 1 November. Find out more and book your tickets here.
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