Portrait of Heike Kemmer

Heike Kemmer's career

Heike Kemmer, born on April 24, 1962 in Berlin, is one of Germany's best-known dressage riders. With her impressive riding style and passion for horses, she has made a name for herself worldwide. A graduate in business administration, she began her career early and has achieved numerous national and international successes over the years.

Early years and first successes

Heike Kemmer's equestrian career began at the tender age of four. Her horse-loving father put her on a horse in front of him, and so began her love of the noble animals. Having grown up in Berlin, the Kemmer family soon moved to Winsen in Lower Saxony, where they founded a large breeding facility, Amselhof Walle.

Heike gained her first competition experience on school horses and her own pony "Polly". She later rode the black mare "Waidfee", with whom she achieved fifth place at the German Youth Championships in 1978. She began her remarkable career in dressage with horses such as "Gottberg" and "Lotus". In 1983, she won the runner-up title at the German Junior Championships with "Gottberg" and won the individual and team titles at the European Junior Championships in Munich-Riem on "Lotus".

Rise to the top of the world

Heike Kemmer made her breakthrough into the absolute world elite at the end of the 1990s. With her horse "Albano", she won a silver medal at the German Championships in 2000, which earned her another appointment to the German A squad and a nomination as a substitute rider for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In 2001, she won a bronze medal at the national championships and secured team gold at the European Championships in Verden.

Successes with Bonaparte

A significant milestone in Kemmer's career was her partnership with the Hanoverian chestnut gelding "Bonaparte 67". Together with him, she won the team gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and repeated this success at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In Beijing, she also won a bronze medal in the individual competition. For her outstanding achievements, she was awarded the Silver Laurel Leaf, one of the highest honors for athletes in Germany.

The Amselhof and breeding

Amselhof Walle, founded by Heike's parents, became a central point in her life. Here she bred and trained numerous successful horses. The Amselhof was and is not only a center for breeding and training, but also a place where Heike passed on her passion for dressage to future generations. She organized clinics and offered lessons for riders of all ages to pass on her knowledge and experience. In the ClipMyHorse.TV Academy, she also passes on her knowledge to hundreds of riders, for example in this article in which she explains 3 exercises for suppleness:

Heike Kemmer's successful horses

Heike Kemmer has worked with many remarkable horses over the course of her career. In addition to "Bonaparte" and "Albano", her most famous horses include "Feleciano", "Royal Rubin 5", "Quantico" and the legendary "Lotus". Each of these horses has contributed in their own way to Heike Kemmer's impressive track record. The most famous horses are

Feleciano (* 1995)

• Sex: Stallion
• Pedigree: Sire: Florestan I, dam's sire: Barbados

Bonaparte 67 (* 1993; † 2023)

• Gender: gelding
• Parentage: Sire: Bon Bonaparte, dam's sire: Consul
• Note: retired from sport in 2011

Bonaparte, a Hanoverian gelding, was born in April 1993 and is by Bon Bonaparte (son of Bolero) and Consul (by Akzent II). He spent his early years on the spacious pastures of Amselhof in Kehdinger Land, where he arrived as a weanling and spent his youth. His dressage career began in 1996 under the care of Heike Kemmer.

Bonaparte was known for his pleasant nature and ideal temperament, which made it easier to train him as a dressage horse. He learned quickly and mastered the basics as well as the higher dressage lessons without much difficulty. In addition to training, he enjoyed rides in the surrounding countryside, exploring the landscape with ears pricked and attentive.

His attentiveness and reliability in training and at competitions made him a valued partner. He was always committed and was always fully involved. Bonaparte was easy to handle on a daily basis, but was also sensitive and had a keen sense of smell, which occasionally made him reserved towards unknown people or smells.

After his retirement at the 2011 German Classics in Hanover, Bonaparte enjoyed his retirement at Amselhof Walle to the full. He was allowed to let off steam in the pasture as he pleased and was ridden almost daily until the summer of 2014, before giving himself over completely to a relaxed retirement.

Bonaparte was honored with several important awards during his career, including winning the "Nürnberger Burgpokal" in 2001, the "Otto Lörke-Preis" in 2002 and team medals at the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008. His success and reliability made him an outstanding representative of the Hanoverian dressage sport.

Special awards:

• 2001 - Victory in the "Nürnberger Burgpokal", Frankfurt
• 2002 - Awarded the "Otto Lörke Prize" in Stuttgart
• 2004 - Honored as "Hanoverian of the Year" during the German Classics in Hanover
• 2004 - Team gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens
• 2008 - Team gold medal and bronze medal in the individual competition at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong

Albano 7 (* 1987; † 2012)

• Gender: gelding
• Pedigree: Sire: Argentinus, dam's sire: Grundstein I

Albano, a sensitive Oldenburg horse, came to Heike Kemmer at the age of seven. Right from the start, he showed himself to be a combative character with a strong forward drive, which helped him to find his way into the championship team. Under Heike's guidance, he successfully went through training from St. Georg level to Grand Prix level, where he shone with his ambition and quick perception.

Albano showed an enormous willingness to work and anticipation on a daily basis, often waiting eagerly in his box, ready to pursue his desire to move. His sensitivity was also noticeable in his perception of his surroundings; he detected changes early on and was able to benefit from a walk around the arena before competitions in order to concentrate better. At competitions, he enjoyed the attention of the audience and liked to put himself in the limelight.

Despite his youthful appearance and lively nature, Albano was still fit and active at the advanced age of 18. After ending his active career, he enjoyed his retirement at Amselhof, where he explored the pastures with his long-time box neighbor Caesar. Unfortunately Albano passed away due to a severe colic in December 2012, shortly before Albano's death his breeder Mr. Robert Wilkens was able to visit him one last time.

Lotus (* 1973; † 2003)

• Gender: gelding
• Parentage: Sire: Lotse, dam's sire: Wulf

Lotus, a Hanoverian born in May 1973, was a unique horse for Heike Kemmer, who had a decisive influence on her dressage career. In September 1983, they won the double European Championships for young riders together, just two months after Heike rode him for the first time. This success marked the beginning of their rise to the highest echelons of the national dressage scene.

When Lotus moved into the senior category, he proved his class and enabled Heike to enter the Grand Prix arena. They won the Intermediaire II and placed successfully in the Grand Prix, even challenging internationally renowned riders such as Kyra Kyrklund and Christilot Hansen-Boylen at the Hamburg Derby. This led to Heike's appointment to the German dressage B squad.

Lotus' extraordinary personality and fighting spirit made him an outstanding partner. Even when they became German vice-champions in 1986, they continued to hold their own at national and international level. In the Berlin stable, Lotus held a special position, enjoyed the best box and was treated as a personality. After his active career, he spent his well-earned retirement in the spacious pastures of Amselhof Walle, where he enjoyed his days together with Golo.

Lotus was not only a successful sports partner for Heike, but also a teacher who gave her the necessary drive to always look ahead and develop further, even in difficult times.

Royal Rubin 5 (* 1998)

• Sex: Stallion
• Pedigree: Sire: Rubinstein I, Dam's sire: Brandenburger

Royal Rubin, a stallion from Saxony-Anhalt, was purchased as a foal by Joachim Kemmer and raised at Amselhof. He proved to be well-behaved and pleasant to handle, without typical stallion behavior. After a successful licensing and a strong 70-day test, he entered the show scene under Heike Kemmer, qualifying for the Bundeschampionat and taking eighth place at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses.

His career continued to develop steadily, proving himself in both dressage competitions and show performances, including at Equitana and at international Grand Prix level. He was particularly impressive in the horse evaluation at the 2008 Hamburg Derby, where he was voted best horse with 71.63%. His willingness to work and his ability to learn made him a valued partner of Heike Kemmer.

After his active sporting career, Royal Rubin moved to England to work as a stud stallion. He has already successfully covered mares at Brownscombe Farm and it will be interesting to see whether he can pass on his outstanding qualities to his offspring, while continuing to be regarded as an important representative of the dressage world.

Heike Kemmer's greatest successes

Heike Kemmer can look back on an impressive list of successes that underline her place as one of the leading dressage riders in the world.Heike Kemmer is a successful German dressage rider with an impressive career. Her greatest successes include:

1983: Double European Champion in the Young Riders category

1984: Victory in Intermediaire II, placings in Grand Prix, appointment to the national B squad

1985: First Grand Prix victory, appointment to the A squad

1986: German vice-champion

1991: Silver at the German Championships

1992: Victory in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special in Munich-Riem

1994: Start of success with "Albano" at Grand Prix level

2000: Silver at the German Championships with "Albano"

2001: Gold at the European Championships with the team in Verden, new world record

2003/2004: Leader in the Dressage World Cup with victories in Kaposvar and Maastricht

2004: Gold at the Olympic Games in Athens (singles) with "Bonaparte"

2005: Silver at the German Championships, gold at the European Championships in Hagen with the team

2006: German Champion, Team World Champion in Aachen

2008: German vice-champion, gold at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong (team) and bronze (individual)

Further successes: Numerous placings and victories in national and international competitions, continuous participation in World Cup and championship competitions, as well as the successful training and presentation of various dressage horses at Grand Prix level.

Heike Kemmer has established herself as one of the most successful German dressage riders over several decades and has won numerous important titles and medals, including Olympic gold and silver medals as well as European and World Championship titles with various horses. She is one of the most renowned German dressage riders of her time.

Legacy and influence

In addition to her active career as a rider, Heike Kemmer was also involved in various equestrian committees and organizations. She was a member of the Lower Saxony licensing commission and campaigned for the interests of her colleagues as the dressage riders' active spokesperson.

With her commitment, dedication and impressive successes, Heike Kemmer has shaped the sport of dressage and inspires numerous young riders. Her life and achievements are an impressive example of what can be achieved with passion, hard work and perseverance. Heike Kemmer remains an outstanding personality in the sport of dressage and a source of inspiration for future generations.

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