Austrian Valentina Strobl Says Goodbye to Para Competition Sport

Austria

Austrian Grade IV dressage rider Valentina Strobl has said goodbye to para competition sport. She has handed over the ride on her horse Bequia Simba to a new rider.

Strobl is 24 years old and will focus on her professional career

Start as a Junior

Strobl's international career began in able-bodied dressage sport at junior level in 2015.

Her career starting horse was the Hanoverian mare Cypria F (by Contendro x Ritual) who was trained and competed in show jumping before her parents acquired the mare. The pair made its international show debut at junior level at the CDI Darmstadt, followed by a victory in Lamprechtshausen. In 2016 they showed at CDI's in Stadl Paura, Mariakalnok, Achleiten, and Vienna. They were 6th at the 2016 Austrian Junior riders Championships.

The Hanoverian gelding Bequia Simba (by Bequia x Sandro) was purchased in 2017 and Valentina premiered him at junior level at the 2018 CDI Wiener Neustadt. They competed at the 2018 European Junior Riders Championships in Fontainebleau and finished 58th in the individual test with 63.00%

Switch to Para

In 2014 Strobl was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but continued to ride able-bodied dressage until 2019, when she made the definite switch to para sport.

Strobl's first CPEDI was on Bequia Simba in Somma Lombardo, Italy, at Grade V level. Half a year later they won their first CPEDI test in Sopot, where also Cypria F was competed. In 2020 they campaigned in Doha, and Somma Lombardo, while in 2021 they went to Doha and Munich to clinch a spot at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics where Valentina and Bequia Simba were 13th in the individual test.

Strobl competed in only one international in 2022. Cypria F was put to sleep in March 2022 after getting injured in a hacking accident. Valentina continued with her number one, Bequia Simba, and returned full throttle in 2023 in Mannheim and Stadl Paura. They concluded the season at the 2023 European Para Championships in Riesenbeck, where they were 14th in the GP A-test and 13th in the GP B-test.

Valentina's last competition year was this year, competing in Motesice, Mannheim and Stadl Paura, but she withdrew from the 2024 Paralympic race after Bequia Simba sustained an injury.

Farewell to Para Sport

At the 2018 European Junior Championships

Strobl has announced her farewell to para competition sport.

"I decided to focus more on my life away from professional equestrianism. It was very hard sometimes to manage the sport, a job and also private life," Strobl told Eurodressage.

Strobl works as an advertising subsidy specialist in sales operations management at the lifestyle gear company AQIPA Gear Guru. She is also engaged to Daniel Perwein.

In October Valentina passed on the ride on Bequia Simba to her trainer, Bernd Brugger.

"One year ago Bernd was riding Simba one time and from then on I knew that these two just match perfectly," said Valentina. "Bernd knows Simba very well from our trainings and also the competitions. Then it was my wish to give Bernd the opportunity to ride Simba, so that he has another partner for competitions. We are still the owners of Simba."