Cornelia Endres to Retire as German Pony Team Trainer

Dressage

Germany

Cornelia "Connie" Endres is retiring as the German Pony Team Trainer after almost 35 years on the job. She officiated at the 2020 European Pony Championships in Budapest a final time.

35 Years of Pony Glory

Active as a junior and young rider in her days, Endres began working for the German Equestrian Federation in 1977 as the director of the youth working group. In 1978 she became an apprentice of Günter Festerling in Munich. In 1987 she did her master test in equestrian management in Warendorf and began her work with pony kids. In 1989 she was officially hired as the German pony team trainer.

During her career as German pony team trainer, the German pony team won team gold 33 times (not in 2010, 2015 and 2019).

For her achievements Endres was decorated by the German Equestrian Federation with the German Riders' Cross in bronze in 1989 and in Silver in 2004.

A New Chapter in Life

The 66-year old Connie Endres used to be based at Eulenhof in Dulmen, now the home of Grand Prix riders Lyndal Oatley and Patrik Kittel.

After the passing of her husband, show jumping rider Franz Rosendahl, in June 2017 Endres announced that she would relocate to the Warendorf area, hinting at the DOKR headquarters, but ended up setting up her training and pony sales business at Hermann Gossmeier's yard in Marl, Germany.

In March 2019 Endres accepted the job at the Italian Equestrian Federation of consultant for the Italian pony team riders. Italy sent two individual ponies to the 2019 Europeans and this year the Italian pony team finished 11th out of 11 teams.

2020 is Endres' last year as German Pony Team Trainer. At the 2020 European Pony Championships she was celebrated with a champagne toast by her colleagues. When asked what the future held in store for her, she replied smilingly, "we'll see."

Caro Roost, who is team captain of the German Children riders, has been tipped as her successor.