Carina Bachmann and Tarantino, A Pair to Watch for Germany

Dressage

F.O.C.U.S.

The German dressage establishment at top level remains unchanged for the past two years. A small group of the same riders consistently floats to the top and only regularly a shooting star is able to break that glass ceiling.

One of Germany's new rising stars and one to watch in the show arena is Carina Bachmann.

She made her international show debut as a pony rider, but competed in less than a handful of CDI's between 2007 and 2008. She only hit the big time 11 years later representing Germany at the 2019 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, the same year she broke through with her Grand Prix horse Tarantino

Pony Beginnings

Orpheus Junior, a 1999 born German riding pony stallion by Burstye Orpheus x Ernesto, was the pony that marked Carina's first steps into more serious dressage rider. With him Carina did two internationals: Beek and Babenhausen.

At the 2007 German Pony Championships she was 7th in round two, but did not compete in the third and final round. At the 2008 German Pony Championships she was 19th in round two.

In 2008 she also rode two ponies in the 6-year old division of the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, Holsteins Wilaro and Dorn. The former placed 7th in the Finals.

"My parents have always tremendously supported me. I started in the Developing FEI pony rider classes and made it to the German Championships with Orpheus Junior," Bachmann told Eurodressage.

Professional Rider

After completing high shool, Bachmann has originally planned on studying at university, but she didn't really find a place where to go.

"I covered that wait period for a college place with horses and in 2012 I began as a working student for Norbert van Laak in co-operation with breeding stable Sterthoff in Hamm, Germany," Bachmann reminisced. "There I also got my jumping training and I rode my first big horses at the Bundeschampionate."

In 2014 she completed her riders' degree and received the Stensback plaque. She became independent and began her collaboration with Fabian Scholz

"The plan of going to university was by then something from the past," she joked.

Riding for Scholz

Bachmann has stayed with German horse dealer Fabian Scholz and the connection was not only successful on a professional level, but also romantically as the two have become life partners and Carina is now pregnant with her first child.

"Fabian and I are happy to get a little girl in January," said the proud pregnant mom-to-be.

Bachmann has a nice string of horses to ride with Quadrophenia, an 8-year old Hanoverian mare by Quasar de Charry x Hochadel, bred by Klaus Hermann Ehlen, and Tarantino, a 13-year old Hanoverian by Toronto x Carbid, bred by Hans Günther Böhl, as the highlights in the barn.

With Quadrophenia she placed 13th in the Finals of the 7-year olds at the 2019 World Championships in Ermelo. One week later she made her CDI debut aboard Tarantino at the CDI Verden and scored 69.804% in her first Grand Prix. Three months later she produced a similar result at the CDI Oldenburg

However, the pair unlocked a new level in 2020. At the CDI Lier in February, right before the corona lockdown, they showed what is in the tank: 70.717% in the Grand Prix and 72.298% in the Special.

Tarantino

Tarantino is Carina's first horse at Grand Prix level. She has been riding him for the past 4 years.

"I got the ride on him at the end of 2016 and to me he is a very special horse with all potential. We started small and made the first steps together; from Inter A to Short Grand Prix to the Special and since last year international shows," Bachmann explained. "We learnt so much together and hopefully we haven't reached the end yet."

The past few years she has been training with Martin Küpper, but since last year she has been working with Holga Finken on Tarantino and with Michael Klimke, for Quadrophenia. At home Fabian is the eyes on the ground. Recently, Carina also started trailering to Monica Theodorescu for fine-tuning.

With her scores steadily climbing over 70%, beginning in Lier, her efforts of the season culminated at the 2020 CDI Hagen in July, where they got 71.435% in the Grand Prix and 73.100% in the freestyle. At the national show in Hagen two weeks before, they got 71.567% in the Grand Prix and 75.327% in the Special.

Carina and Tarantino at the 2020 CDI Hagen

"Tarantino is in super form," said Carin. "We have been working hard and I'm super proud that those efforts are paying off. 'Tobi' is a real friend and a top partner at shows. He is always tremendously motivated, he gives his all till the end and loves to present himself. We are growing together from show to show and still learn, after so many years together, that there is room for even more. The movements needs to come easily.

"First of all I hope that both of us stay healthy and that we can grow step by step at this level," she said about her partnership with Tarantino. "I have been very fortunate that we take decisions about horse sales together as well as about the training of the horses for the long term.""

Bachmann's stellar rise on the German firmament will be arrested by her pregnancy and delivery, but her riding will only come to a temporary halt. Carina is excited about the future.

"I want to ride for as long as I feel good," she said. The goal is the German Championships in Balve and I will start after the birth hopefully in a normal season without corona."