Meet the 1999 German Young Riders

Astrid Buer and What Joy

In Germany the official selection of the Young Riders team depends on the performances of the riders at three specific qualifiers: the "Preis der Besten" competition in Warendorf, the "Preis der Zukunft" in Hannover and the final selection show in Bad Honnef.

Previous achievements at national and international shows are also incalculated in the chef d'equipe and the German Equestrian federation's final decision. 

For years now Astrid Buer has been a steady beacon in various German Dressage Teams. Since 1994 she was the gold team medal winner at the European Pony Championships with her approved stallion Dressman I (by Dandy), an achievement which she would repeat in 1995. After a one year break, in which she made the difficult switch to horses, she was again part of the Golden Team at the 1997 European Junior Rider Championships in Moorsele, Belgium.

In 1998, Astrid and What Joy earned the silver individual spot next to team gold. At this year's championships she just missed the individual bronze and claimed fourth position in the finals. The team gold was again honoured to Germany. One week after the show in Ksaiz, Poland, Astrid Buer would win the national Young Riders' title in the home town of her riding club, Wurselen-Pley.

Nadine Maiwurm and Don Fredde Robinson

21 year old Nadine Maiwurm from Menden, Germany, is considered to be as successful as team mate Astrid Buer. Winning Team Gold in 1995 and 1996 at the European Championships for Junior Riders and receiving the same medal one year later in the Young Riders' division, Maiwurm can already look back on a glamourous career. With her steady mount Don Fredde Robinson, a twelve year old Westphalian by Damokles, she won team gold and individual bronze at the 1999 EUYRC in Ksiaz, Poland.

While studying at the National Sport Centre of the German Olympic Committee in Warendorf, Maiwurm and her horse Don Fredde are sponsored by the Robinson Club GmbH Touristic Enterprises. Ingrid Klimke, the ruling German Three Day Eventing Champion enjoys financial support from the same company. 

Christine von Oldershausen and Amica Farina

New member of the 1999 European Young Riders' Team is Christine von Oldershausen from Schenefeld. Trained by Jurgen Koschel, Christina established her first successes while riding Aquamarin. This year she saddled Amica Farina, an 8 year old Holsteiner mare by Ahorn Z, with whom she made her European debut at the Young Riders' Championships in Ksiaz. Amica Farina already participated in the 1997 German Young Dressage Horse Championships under Jurgen Koschel, so the bold mare new what show pressure would be like. Her performance in Poland turned out to be a huge success. Von Oldershausen won the individual gold, beating her team mates with a small difference and her fellow competitors far ahead.

During the German Young Riders' qualifiers, Von Oldershausen became second in the Preis der Besten and in Bad Honnef qualifier she went for second and third position. In Ksiaz, Christina was an important contributor to team gold. The 20 one year old, who goes to college, is engaged to her trainer's son, Christoph Koschel.