![Marcela Krinke-Susmelj at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro :: Photo © Astrid Appels](/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/database-story-thumb/2024-07/16_og_krinke_0_6687.jpg?itok=P4Xv1nG7)
- Text © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed
Swiss Olympic dressage rider Marcela Krinke-Susmelj has passed away on 17 July 2024. She was 58 years old.
Life with Horses
Marcela was born 18 October 1965 in Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. Her parents fled the country in 1968, the year of the Soviet invasion of the country. They relocated to Switzerland.
She first picked up riding when she was twelve after her parents agreed to riding lessons as a birthday present.
She met her husband Ivan Susmelj, a former Yugoslav dressage champion and trainer at the Slovenian state stud farm in Lipica, at the Galms equestrian center in Lausen, where she got lessons from him.
Ivan noticed her passion for her horses and how much time she spent in the barn. She was quickly given the ride on private horses and got her license aboard Doris Niederhauser's Nobletto.
Veterinarian
Back in Switzerland she became an assistant at the Zurich Veterinary Hospital and wrote her doctoral thesis on cardiology, while at the same time helping Ivan set up a riding business in a leased barn in Uri.
Marcela worked in Zurich as an assistant for three years. In 1992 she and partner Ivan welcomed a son, Igor. She began to run her own small animal practice and worked for Franz Knüsel at the Obergrund Veterinary Clinic in Lucerne, while assisting her husband in the barn.
Doris Niederhauser bought the mare Corvina from Christine Stückelberger and allocated the ride to Marcela.
Rotsee Riding Club
In October 1996 she married Ivan and in May 1997 they had their second child, Natascha.
Irine Meyer
One of their clients at Rotsee riding club was Irine Meyer, who had asked Marcela to help her with the English bred Grand Prix horse Night and Day. Marcela competed that horse up to Intermediaire I level and was then offered to ride Irene's Hanoverian mare Wienerin, with whom Marcela made her Grand Prix debut.
In 2005 Meyer bought the Oldenburg gelding Corinth (by Cheenook x Fumiro). Coached by Sivlia Iklé, Marcela and Corinth represented Switzerland at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen (33rd in the GP), at the 2009 European Championships in Windsor (22th in the GPS) and at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington (11th in the Kur). They were 8th at the 2009 World Cup Finals. At the Swiss Dressage Championships they took bronze in 2006 and 2007, silver in 2008, gold in 2009 and 2010 and silver in 2011.
Dressage Championships in Gothenburg
In the early 2010s Marcela's second iron in the fire was the Danish Warmblood Lazander (by Solos Landtinus x Cat Balou), whom she rode to a 14th place at the 2014 World Cup Finals in Lyon. In the spring of 2015 the chestnut fractured his pastern bone and was retired from sport.
Irene's horses go the prefix "Smeyers" pointing to her asset management and real estate company.
Forced Retirement
Krinke-Susmelj was forced to end her high profile international dressage career shortly afterwards. Marcela was diagnosed with Alzheimer in 2019 at the early age of 54 years.
The horses Meyer still had lined up for her - Carissimo, Sopran, Sonny Star, San d'Or, Bonita Springs - were allocate to different riders for training.
Marcela received the best care as her illness sadly progressed. On 17 July 2024 she passed away.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Marcela Krinke-Susmelj
Marcela Krinke-Susmelj, Dressage in the Riding Club
Swiss Grand Prix Squads for 2020 Announced
Marcela Krinke-Susmelj and Coach Ton de Ridder Part Ways
Carissimo, New Grand Prix Hopeful for Marcela Krinke-Susmelj
Megan Lane's San d'Or Sold to Switzerland
Irine Meyer acquires Blahojs Lazander
Marcela Krinke-Susmelj Has New FEI Prospect, Smeyers Sonny Star