Uta Gräf: The revolutionary of the dressage world - A life for horse-friendly horsemanship

From hobby to vocation

Unlike many other professional riders, Uta Gräf does not come from a horse-loving family. Nevertheless, her passion for horses developed early on. At the age of seven, she put her foot in the stirrup for the first time at riding school, and her enthusiasm continued. She got her first horse at the age of twelve and her father patiently drove her to competitions. When she made her debut in the advanced dressage class at the age of 18 and graduated from high school, she had no intention of turning riding into a career for fear of losing the fun. Instead, she decided to study social pedagogy. But the university place was a long time coming, and so Uta continued to ride - with growing pleasure.

At the age of 24, she finally made the decision to turn her hobby into a career. She began training as an equestrian with a focus on riding at Renate and Franz-Josef Dahmen's renowned dressage stable in Aachen. She completed her training with the coveted Stensbeck award and received a scholarship from the Federal Association of Professional Riders. She completed this with the Dutch Olympic medal winner Ellen Bontje and her trainer Conrad Schumacher before gaining her championship title.

The road to success

After her master's examination, Uta Gräf moved to Gut Rothenkircherhof in Kirchheimbolanden in 1999 together with her partner Stefan Schneider, where she has been training dressage horses of all ability levels and successfully showing them at competitions up to Grand Prix level ever since. Uta Gräf first attracted attention in 2004 when she took bronze at the German Championships for Professional Dressage Riders behind the renowned riders Hubertus Schmidt and Rudolf Zeilinger.

Another important milestone was her partnership with the licensed Holstein stallion Le Noir. With him, she achieved national and international success at Grand Prix level from 2010 onwards, including high placings at prestigious shows such as Aachen and Wiesbaden. With Le Noir Uta has finally ridden herself into the limelight of the dressage world. Her charismatic appearance, her cheerful nature and her wild hair make her an unmistakable personality on the show grounds.

Philosophy: The happy dressage

Uta Gräf's approach to equestrian sport differs significantly from that of many other professional riders. The well-being of her horses is at the center of her work. For her, riding must above all be fun - for both the rider and the horse. The finest possible communication with the horse is her top priority. She emphasizes that every horse is an individual that needs to be trained in very different ways. It is not the human who sets the path, but the horse itself. We asked her if she could explain this again:

Her training approach is characterized by patience, trust and consistency. She often works with positive reinforcement and integrates varied elements such as rides and ground work into the training plan. Her horses should not only be encouraged physically, but also mentally, so that they develop into balanced and happy partners. Uta Gräf is convinced that only horses that are allowed to mature in their personality and live out their natural needs are successful at the highest level.

At her Rothenkircherhof estate, she keeps her horses in a herd and gives them sufficient access to pasture. This holistic approach is in stark contrast to many traditional riding stables, where horses are often kept in stalls.

Commitment as a trainer

In addition to her own career, Uta Gräf has also made a name for herself as a trainer. Her role as national coach for dressage riders with disabilities, including Paralympic champion Britta Näpel and world champion Dr. Angelika Trabert, is particularly noteworthy. With her specialist knowledge and empathetic manner, she has accompanied many riders with disabilities on their path to success.

The person behind the success

Uta Gräf is not only exceptional as a rider, but also as a personality. With her open and friendly manner, she has made a name for herself as a rider who thinks and acts differently to many of her colleagues. Her unconventional approach has helped her to build a broad fan base that is inspired by her philosophy. She is known for representing the often strict and serious dressage sport in a refreshing way, be it at shows, seminars or demonstrations.

Conclusion

Uta Gräf has earned a firm place in the dressage world thanks to her unusual and horse-friendly approach. Her cheerful dressage philosophy focuses on the welfare of the horse and offers a refreshing alternative to traditional methods. With her successes, personality and commitment as a trainer, she has made a lasting impact on the sport of dressage and inspires riders all over the world.

‍