Laura Strobel Is the Marathon Woman of the 2023 CDI Achleiten

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2023 CDI Achleiten

German Laura Strobel proved herself to be a true marathon woman, fuelled by passion and endowed with great stamina and endurance as she rode no less than five horses in ten test over the course of three days at the 2023 CDI Achleiten in Austria on 16 - 18 June 2023.

Familiar Turf

The 30-year old Strobel was on familiar turf as the CDI Achleiten which takes place at the stately yard of Sissy Max-Theurer, the 1980 Olympic champion, a five-star dressage judge, the president of the Austrian Equestrian Federation, the chair of the Central European Dressage Working Group, and the owner of Gestut Vorwerk, where she breeds her own horses and stands stallions at stud.

Strobel is head rider at Gestut Vorwerk and is in the luxury position of having a plethora of high class horses to ride. She began her professional career as a young horse rider for Dorothee Schneider in 2014. After four years she went independent and moved to Lukas Kückelhaus in Nachrodt-Wiblinwerde, before accepting a rider's position at Gestut Vorwerk in June 2021. She joined Melanie Thewes and Yvonne Kähne in Cappeln.

Laura has been training with Sebastian Heinze and on a daily basis has Georgia Schulze Lefert as her eyes on the ground.

Five Horses, Ten Starts, Six Victories

She brought five of Sissy's to Achleiten, from young horses to Grand Prix level educated mounts. The 2023 CDI Achleiten was an Austrian team selection trial for the youth riders and their age division brought afoot the most combinations. The other classes were rather small but equally valuable when it comes to experience, miles and scores.

"We had a great weekend in Achleiten," Laura told Eurodressage. "Of course I am a little bit exhausted after this intensive show with a lot of different classes to ride. At home I ride about ten to twelve horses a day, but on a show it’s kind of a different story, because I always want to present every horse in the best possible way and keep them happy and positive."

In the 5-year old young horse division, which had two pairs in it, Strobel scored a double on the Westfalian stallion Imperial MT (by Ibiza x Davignon), winning the preliminary with 90.40 and the finals test with 91.60%. Four horses contested the 6-year old division and Strobel made it a double there as well aboard the home bred Westfalian Alvarinho GV (by August der Starke x Jazz), scoring 89.40% and 90.40%.

"I am totally over the moon with how great the two young horses showed off on the international show ground, so now they will get a well deserved time to rest," Laura explained, adding that she won't be trying for the WCYH in Ermelo due a date conflict between Achleiten and the German selection trial. "Maybe next year our show schedule will fit better. There are several very good young ones at home that might have good chances for competing in championships in the future."

Hitting the Big Time

For the small tour, Laura saddled two horses, the former WCYH medal winning 11-year old Rhinelander Villeneuve (by Vitalis x Dancier) and the home bred 9-year old Westfalian Diamond of Eternity GV (by Diamond Hit x August der Starke). With Villeneuve it were two more trophies, winning the Prix St Georges on 75.970% and the Intermediaire I with 72.382%, while Diamond of Eternity was twice runner-up with 71.647% and 67.559%.

"Villeneuve went the Prix St Georges he has ever done," Laura stated. "It was Diamond's first Inter I. Unfortunately, we made some expensive mistakes, but he put up a really brave fight. Unfortunately, there were also a few rough edges in Villeneuve's test - I was particularly annoyed by the expensive mistake in the right pirouette. We've been here for almost a week now, so you can tell that your strength is dwindling and your concentration isn't quite right in all phases."

Only at Grand Prix level, Strobel was relegated to second place, making room for the lady of the house, Victoria Max-Theurer on Abegglen (by Ampere x Carabas), to claim victory. Laura and the 12-year old Westfalian Valparaiso (by Vitalis x Furst Piccolo) were second in the Grand Prix for Kur (70.261%) and second in the freestyle with 77.650%.

When asked what her short and long term plans for the future are, Laura replied, "As a short time goal I would love to be able to ride for Germany in a nations cup with my Grand Prix horse Valparaiso. We grew into the international sport together over the last year and there is still a lot of potential that we can hopefully show in some big arenas. In the next years I would love to develop some of my super special younger horses towards the Grand Prix sport, keeping them as happy and healthy as they are today. My career as an international dressage rider developed so fast in the last year that I am just really really excited for whatever will happen in the future."