Matthias Alexander Rath: A portrait of the dressage rider from Schafhof

Who is Matthias Alexander Rath?

Matthias Alexander Rath is a German dressage rider who has been successful in dressage since his youth. Born on August 2, 1984 in Lübeck, he comes from a family that is deeply rooted in equestrian sport. He was introduced to the world of equestrian sport at an early age by his stepmother Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, herself a successful dressage rider and Olympic champion.

Rath celebrated his first major successes as a youngster in the dressage saddle. He made his breakthrough to the top international level with the Oldenburg stallion "Sterntaler-Unicef", which he took over from his stepmother. With Sterntaler-Unicef, Rath was part of the German dressage team in 2009, 2010 and 2011, which won team bronze and two team silver medals at the European Championships and the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

A significant phase in Rath's career began in 2010 when he became the new rider of the famous dressage horse "Totilas", who had previously enjoyed great international success. Under his leadership, Rath and Totilas won several international Grand Prix competitions, including the Nations Cup in Aachen, and contributed to the German team's silver medal at the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam. In 2015, they were part of the German team that won bronze at the European Championships in Aachen. After an injury to Totilas the stallion was retired from active sport, which ended this phase of Rath's career.

Parallel to his active riding career, Matthias Rath is increasingly involved as a tournament organizer. He has been organizing prestigious dressage tournaments at the Linsenhoff-Rath family's sheep farm in Kronberg for several years, including the European Young Rider Championships, which were held there for the fourth time in 2023.

Rath has been riding the promising stallion "Destacado FRH" since 2017, whom he trains together with his father Klaus Martin Rath. He has achieved numerous successes with Destacado FRH, including winning the 2020 Nuremberg Burg Cup and qualifying for the 2021 Louisdor Prize Final. The pair have established themselves as one of the most successful young dressage horses in recent years and were awarded the Otto Lörke Prize in 2022.

Rath last continued his career at international level in 2023 with "Thiago GS", a descendant of Totilas. Together they took part in the European Championships in Riesenbeck and contributed to the team silver medal for Germany.

Matthias Alexander Rath has established himself as one of the leading German dressage riders through his successes and his commitment to dressage.

Rath's horses of success

A decisive moment in Rath's career was the acquisition of the legendary stallion Totilas Totilas, who had previously broken numerous records under Edward Gal, became probably the most famous dressage horse in the world. The partnership between Rath and Totilas attracted enormous media attention. Despite the high expectations and enormous pressure, Rath managed to achieve numerous successes with Totilas. Other notable horses in his career include Thiago GS and Foundationwho also made significant contributions to his sporting successes.

Matthias Rath's greatest successes

Over the course of his career, Matthias Rath has won numerous national and international titles. His most important successes include victories at the German Championships as well as outstanding placings at World Cup finals and European Championships. The years 2011 and 2012 in particular, when he was in the spotlight with Totilas, marked highlights in his career. We have summarized all of Matthias Alexander Rath's successes in the following table:

Controversies and challenges

Matthias Alexander Rath has caused a stir in his career not only through his successes, but also through a number of controversies and challenges. Rath was the focus of intense debate, particularly in connection with his time as rider of the famous "wonder stallion" Totilas.

Takeover of Totilas and high expectations

After the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Rath took over the Dutch warmblood stallion Totilas, who had previously achieved worldwide fame under Edward Gal. The takeover was characterized by high expectations, as Totilas had set world records under Gal and won numerous international titles. Although Rath achieved successes with Totilas such as victory in the Nations Cup in Aachen and the silver medal at the 2011 European Championships, they were unable to match the previous records and spectacular performances. This led to criticism and comparisons in the dressage scene, as some fans and experts compared the new duo's performances with those of Gal.

Totilas' health problems

During Rath and Totilas' time together, the stallion repeatedly suffered health problems, which led to longer breaks in training and ultimately to a premature end to his career in 2015. Critics questioned whether the way Totilas was used in training and competition could have contributed to these injuries. The premature end to his career was seen by some as an unfortunate end for a horse that had previously celebrated great success.

Public pressure and media attention

The immense media attention that accompanied the takeover of Totilas put Rath under considerable pressure. As a prominent dressage rider, he was constantly in the spotlight, which led to a polarized perception. While some critics accused Rath of a lack of experience and uncertainty in dealing with Totilas, others praised his courage and dedication.

Organizational decisions and tournament events

As a tournament organizer and member of an influential equestrian family, Rath was also active in the organization of dressage tournaments. This occasionally led to discussions about possible conflicts of interest and the dominance of certain names in the sport. Some voices within the equestrian community expressed concerns about the intertwining of private commitments and sporting careers.

Current criticism

Rath recently faced intense criticism again after a video of a training session with his horse Thiago was published on social media. In the video, Thiago was tense and showed a head-neck posture that some observers found problematic. Rath explained that Thiago was nervous at first, but relaxed as the training progressed. He emphasized that the brief moment in the video did not reflect his entire training methodology and that he would face criticism in order to make continuous improvements.

Matthias Alexander Rath has established himself in the dressage scene through both his successes and various controversial phases. The challenges surrounding the takeover of Totilas, health problems, public and media attention as well as organizational issues have shaped his career. Despite the criticism, Rath has continued his career and proven himself as a committed rider and show organizer.

Personal philosophy and training methods

Rath always emphasizes the importance of harmony between rider and horse in his work. His training methods are based on patience, trust and a deep connection with the horse. He is convinced that real top performance is only possible through a close partnership with the horse. He attaches great importance to ethical behavior in equestrian sport and is committed to fairness and the welfare of horses.

Conclusion

Matthias Alexander Rath's impressive career in dressage, particularly his successes with horses such as Totilas and Thiago, have earned him a firm place in the international dressage scene. Despite the huge media attention and the associated challenges, especially during his time with Totilas, he has continued to develop. With his commitment as a show organizer and his role as a family man, Rath shows that he is not only successful in the saddle, but is also an inspiring personality away from the competition. His passion for dressage and his close connection to his horses characterize his path and make him an outstanding figure in German equestrian sport.