Franz Otto Damm's DSP Lifestyle Sold to Helena Schmitz-Morkramer

Dressage

Germany

Franz Otto Damm and DSP Lifestyle, one of Germany‘s most successful junior/young rider combinations, are no longer a combination. Damm has said goodbye to his competitive career and sold his top horse to fellow German young rider Helena Schmitz-Morkramer.

Lifestyle is an 11-year old German Sport Horse mare by Lord Fantastic x Samba Hit I x Champ of Class). She is bred by Joachim Bösecke.

Bundeschampionate Finalist

Lifestyle was purchased by Franz' father Andreas as a youngster and first trained by Julia Schönherr, Franz' coach and resident trainer at Stable Damm in Zerbst, Germany.

Schönherr competed the mare at the 2015 Bundeschampionate and finished 12th in the finals.

In 2016 Franz took over the ride for a few shows but by the summer, Julia was back on board and steered Lifestyle to an 8th place at the 2016 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.

As of 2017 Lifestyle was permanently allocated to Franz. The new pair became one of the most successful dressage combinations in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt.

Successful Junior Combination

Julia Schönherr and Lifestyle at the 2016 Bundeschampionate

Franz Otto Damm and DSP Lifestyle first came knocking at the door for German team selection in May 2017 by finishing sixth at the Preis der Besten in Warendorf, the first official team selection trial for the summer European Championships. A month later the pair travelled to the CDIO-J Uggerhalne in Denmark, where they were second in the team test and fourth in the individual, instead of going to the second team selection trial in Hagen in June.

Damm made a big splash by claiming the bronze medal at the 2017 German Junior Riders Championships, surprising the establishment in a field strikingly absent of German team riders that competed at the 2017 European Junior Riders Championships

In 2018, Franz rode the first team qualifier in Warendorf, followed by Wiebsaden, where he won both tests. At the end of the year he finished in a 13th place at the 2018 German Junior Riders Championships in Munich.

Moving Up to Young Riders

In 2019 Franz moved up to the Young Riders' division but did not go to the Preis der Besten in Warendorf, despite finishing third with 71.272% at the PDB qualifier in Kronberg. He did make an appearance at the second German team selection trial, the CDIO-YR Hagen, where was fifth in the team test (71.520%), 11th in the individual (67.843%) and fifth in the Kur (73.292%). At the 2019 German Young Riders Championships in Zeiskam he was 7th.

The good ranking in Zeiskam was an exciting stimulus for the 2020 competitive year, which Damm began on a high. He travelled to the CDI Le Mans in February 2020, where he placed second in the team test (69.363%), third in the individual (70.000%) and first in the freestyle (75.208%).

After Le Mans corona came and it put all competition to a halt.

The German team selection for the 2020 European Youth Championships were held during a three-day selection weekend in Warendorf (17 - 19 July 2020), but Damm failed to impress the German team trainer and was not considered for team selection.

The End of a Partnership

In 2020 Damm's long-time trainer Julia Schönherr left Stable Damm and the 19-year old decided to give up top sport riding.

Franz also began his college studies in Agricultural Science and focuses now on his education.

Between 2017 and 2020 the pair took their tally of regional and national victories at junior and young riders level to 44 wins.

Sold to Helena Schmitz-Morkramer

Franz had hoped to sell DSP Lifestyle through Isabell Werth but in the end former German Youth co-team trainer Oliver Oelrich brokered the sale and found the new owner and rider: The rising 19-year old Helena Schmitz Morkramer.

Helena Schmitz-Morkramer and Doraya at the 2018 CDIO
Uggerhalne

Helena made her international show debut as a junior at the 2018 CDIO-J Uggerhalne on Doraya (by Don Frederico x Prince Thatch xx). In 2019 she campaigned Florentine (by Floriscount x Alabaster) at the CDI-J Exloo.

Schmitz-Morkramer and DSP Lifestyle made their show debut at the CDN Elmshorn on 28 February 2021 and scored 67,03% in a national S-class. They train with Sonja Marie Ellerbrock.