Working with young horses is a challenge
(az). Show jumpers and dressage horses have enjoyed professional training on the farm of the Rietbrock family in Sottrum since 1978. What Gerd and Kristin Rietbrock started is now being continued together with their daughter Anja. The 36-year-old has already achieved numerous successes with the horses she has trained. So also on the weekend at the World Championships for young dressage horses in Verden.
There, the rider of RV Sottrum was successful with three horses: With Royal Prince (by Rohdiamant / Prince Thatch xx) and Wild Dancer (White Magic / Furioso) she qualified for the Bundeschampionat, which took place from September 4th to 6th in Warendorf will take first and second place. In the winner’s prize she finished fifth with Royal Prince and second with Wild Dancer. So she will compete in Warendorf with three horses – the five-year-old stallion Dunhill is already qualified. Against the strong international competition, she also achieved third place on the weekend with her eight-year-old successful horse Rossini in an M-level dressage specially designed for stallions. The two were able to achieve the same placement at the state championship. A great success for the horse management master, who received her golden riding badge in 1992. Many of the horses she trains are sold on when they are young. “Still, it’s a great experience to train a three-year-old at a high level,” she says. Working with young horses is always a challenge. “Many owners are amazed at what their horses can do after just a week of training.” Around 25 horses are currently housed in the Rietbrocks’ stable for training. She rides five to six of them herself every day – and her parents and two apprentices also help out. Husband Michael Hollmann-Rietbrock, a full-time building contractor, also likes to sit in the saddle – but only in his free time. The special thing: Anja Rietbrock rides both dressage and jumping up to class S. What does she like better? She shrugs her shoulders. “I like to do both.” “It is especially important for young riders to ride both disciplines,” she says. That trains the balance. She looks after some riding students at her riding facility. Two of them proved at the weekend that the constant training was worth it: Katharina Freytag won the Junior Champion Cup in Verden with Rietbrock’s pony stallion Rocky Twist, Anna Freytag was sixth in the equestrian competition with Adrina. Rietbrock’s big goal: to ride a Grand Prix with Rossini, who will also be used as a stallion from next year. “Even if it is very difficult for a rural rider,” she knows. After all, you don’t just need a world-class horse for this. In view of the good performance, she should have come a lot closer to a start at the German championships next year.
