Dorothee Schneider: An icon of the dressage world

Dorothee Schneider's career

Dorothee Schneider was born on February 17, 1969 in Mainz and grew up in Wiesbaden. She comes from a family of horses; her father Hans Eberhard Schneider rode himself up to advanced level, judged up to Grand Prix level and was a passionate Trakehner breeder. Until the end of the 1980s, he ran a farm on the 180-hectare Mechthildshausen estate near Wiesbaden, where Dorothee also learned to ride.

Dorothee Schneider was introduced to the world of horses from an early age. Even as a child, she practiced vaulting, always taking the top position in the freestyle exercises. Her first horse was a small twin mare called Gondola II, which was pulled by her father. Her riding career began in her red street boots with zippers.

Her father took over her education for many years, but only sporadically and through struggle. Her parents never put any pressure on her, instead letting her try things out on her own and learn by doing. Riding lessons had to be fought for, as her father hardly had time. She therefore began to teach herself many things at an early age and to critically question her own riding. After graduating from high school, she initially decided to do an apprenticeship at a bank in order to learn business know-how for her future self-employment. This was followed by an apprenticeship in horse management with a focus on breeding and husbandry, as well as the examination to become a master of horse management. Finally, she passed the rider's examination and trained as an inseminator in order to be able to look after the insemination station at the stud farm.

Due to her calm, concentrated manner and the repeated critical self-reflections after the rides, a touch of perfectionism was felt around her. Despite this characteristic, she also worked with a personality coach, which makes sense in top-class sport. Equestrian sports are often less advanced in this respect than other sports.

Today, she runs the training stable and insemination station in Framersheim, where around 60 horses are looked after. Her passion for training horses from breaking in to advanced level or even Grand Prix is still palpable and unbroken.

Dorothee Schneider is not only a successful rider, but also a passionate trainer and coach. Her ability to encourage young horses and shape them into international stars makes her one of the most respected trainers in dressage sport. Her dedication to training and deep understanding of the needs of each horse are the foundations of her success.

But what does Dorothee Schneider actually do when she's not at the stables with her horses? We accompanied Dorothee Schneider on a shopping tour to get to know a different side of the dressage icon. But see for yourself:

Dorothee Schneider's successful horses

An outstanding horse in Dorothee's career is the Hanoverian gelding Sammy Davis Jr., with whom she achieved numerous victories and placings in international Grand Prix competitions. Another important partner was Showtime FRH, with whom she won the gold medal in the team competition at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and came sixth in the individual competition.

Showtime FRH (*2006)

• Gender: gelding
• Breeder: Heinrich Wecke
• Pedigree: Sire: Sandro Hit, dam: Rosaria (by Rotspon)
• Owner: Gabriele Kippert

Showtime FRH is one of Dorothee Schneider's most outstanding partners. With him, she won the gold medal in the team competition at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and numerous Grand Prix competitions. Showtime FRH is characterized by his exceptional quality of movement and his calm, focused manner, which make him an ideal dressage horse. But Showtime is much more than just a sport partner - Dorothee Schneider reveals what makes Showtime so special in this interview:

Sammy Davis Jr. (*2006)

• Gender: gelding
• Breeder: Heinrich Sauer
• Pedigree: Sire: San Remo, dam: Wenita (by Wenckstern)
• Owner: Ursula and Jürgen Sosath

Sammy Davis Jr. was another guarantee of success for Dorothee Schneider. Together they achieved numerous victories and placings in international Grand Prix competitions and were part of the German team that won the silver medal at the 2018 World Championships.

Faustus (*2008)

• Gender: gelding
• Breeder: Johann and Ute Heitmann
• Pedigree: Sire: Falsterbo, dam: Forrestine (by Forrest xx)
• Owner: Stall Schneider

Faustus is another outstanding horse in Dorothee Schneider's stable. She has placed successfully with him in numerous national and international competitions, proving her versatility and ability to train and present horses at the highest level.

Van Deyk (*1984)

• Sex: Stallion
• Breeder: Ewald Meier
• Pedigree: Sire: Patricius xx, dam: Vanessa (by Traumgeist xx)
• Owner: Hans Eberhard Schneider

Van Deyk, a Trakehner stallion, was one of the most important horses in Dorothee Schneider's career. The dark bay son of the thoroughbred Patricius xx was reverently called "the boss" by the family due to his intelligence and talent. Dorothee Schneider made the leap into the Grand Prix class with Van Deyk. Despite a stable fire and serious injuries, Van Deyk fought his way back into life and into top-class sport, which brought him and Dorothee over 60 victories and placings in advanced dressage up to Grand Prix level. In 2005, Van Deyk was named Trakehner Stallion of the Year. He died in 2018 at the age of 34, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the dressage world.

Kaiserkult TSF (*2001)

A very special horse from Dorothee Schneider, who is still enjoying his retirement with her. Dorothee Schneider shows us how Kaiserkult is enjoying his retirement:

• Sex: Stallion
• Breeder: Gestüt Ammerland
• Pedigree: Sire: Van Deyk, dam: Karabesse (by Gajus)
• Owner: Gestüt Ammerland

Kaiserkult TSF, a son of Van Deyk, was another outstanding horse in Dorothee Schneider's stable. He won the Dressage Horse Bundeschampionat for the first time, took second place in the prestigious Burg Cup Final and went on to win World Cup freestyle competitions. Kaiserkult TSF also helped Dorothee to her first appointment to the German national squad.

First Romance (*2010)

• Gender: gelding
• Breeder: Bernd Lütkenhaus
• Pedigree: Sire: Prince Romancier, dam: Raissa (by Day Dream)
• Owner: Gestüt Peterhof

First Romance by Fürst Romancier, is a remarkable 14-year-old Württemberger gelding who is successful in dressage under rider Dorothee Schneider. He particularly made a name for himself in the 2018 Nuremberg Burg Cup Final and has since been continuously developed to Grand Prix level.

At the beginning of his career, First Romance had difficulties stabilizing at Grand Prix level, which was less due to physical problems than to a maturing process on a psychological level. He was easily distracted and needed time to focus. Since 2022, however, he has undergone a remarkable development and is now showing his skills at tournaments.

In 2023, First Romance shone at important events such as the CDI5* in Fontainebleau with two second places behind the world champion pair Lottie Fry and Glamourdale. He also impressed at the tournament in Munich, particularly in the Grand Prix Special

Greatest successes and milestones

Dorothee Schneider has achieved numerous significant successes throughout her career. Her outstanding achievements include:

• 2012 Olympic Games in London: silver medal in the team competition
• 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro: gold medal in the team competition, sixth place in the individual competition
• World Championships 2014 in Caen: silver medal in the team competition
• World Championships 2018 in Tryon: silver medal in the team competition
• European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg: gold medal in the team competition, bronze medal in the individual competition
• European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam: gold medal in the team competition, silver medal in the individual competition
• German Championships: Multiple medal winner in the individual classification

In addition to these impressive successes, Dorothee Schneider is known for her ability to nurture young horses and shape them into international stars. Her dedication to training and her deep understanding of the needs of each horse make her one of the most respected trainers in dressage.

Conclusion

Dorothee Schneider is a dressage icon whose career has been characterized by extraordinary successes and a deep commitment to her horses. Her dedication, talent and ability to encourage young horses make her one of the most respected personalities in equestrian sport. With numerous medals and countless successes at national and international level, she has truly earned her place in the history of dressage. Her passion and commitment not only inspire riders worldwide, but also show what can be achieved with hard work and dedication.