Rudolf Zeilinger and Josephine Rosen Buy Ibikon Equestrian Centre in Switzerland

Dressage

Germany

German Grand Prix trainer Rudolf Zeilinger will move to Switzerland. Zeilinger and his Swiss life partner Joséphine Rosen have acquired Robert Lualdi's Ibikon equestrian centre in Rotkreuz, Switzerland.

The ownership deed will pass onto the hands of the dressage couple in February 2023.

Zeilinger - Rosen

An apprentice of the legendary Willi Schultheis, the 59-year old Rudolf Zeilinger was an international Grand Prix rider who celebrated his biggest successes on Livinjo. Previously based in Emsburen (GER), he then focused more on training students and was team trainer for Denmark and Spain.

Joséphine Rosen is an international Grand Prix rider who was Swiss squad listed from 2015 till 2017 with Crescendo (by Casall x Lord). The 36-year old Rosen last competed internationally in 2021 aboard Global (by Rhodium x Goodtimes).

The couple welcomed a daughter, Eléonore Rosen Zeilinger, born in July 2020.

Ibikon Equestrian Centre

The couple has now bought the Ibikon equestrian centre from renowned Swiss jeweller and dressage aficionado Robert Lualdi and they will move in as of February 2023.

"Our little daughter can now grow up in Switzerland closer to her grandparents," Josephine Rosen explained. "That we were able to buy the centre from Mr Lualdi was serendipity for all."

Lualdi bought the property 35 years ago and transformed it into a renowned equestrian centre.

"A lot of blood, sweat and tears as well as beautiful memories were part of it, but now the time has come to start a new chapter in life," said Lualdi, who wants to continue to support Swiss dressage sport. "In the future I'll be living less than twenty meters away from the center so I can still be happy with horses."

Self Sufficient

The Zeilinger couple plans to do some renovations and then run a "self sufficient" facility. They are bringing 16 sport horses and some broodmares with them.

"In Ibikon we want to train out own and clients' horses. The offspring of our broodmares will be reared and trained her," said Zeilinger. "We want to approach the barn holistically, feeding the horses with our own hay, repurposing the manure, and get electricity from the solar panels," Joséphine added.