Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein Appointed Swedish Co-Team Trainer

Dressage

Sweden

Danish Olympian Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has been hired as part of the Swedish Dressage Team coaching staff.

She will work alongside team trainer Louise Nathhorst, who has been Sweden's team trainer since 2017.

The German based Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein joined the staff back in August, but the Swedish equestrian federation only announced the news on 17 October 2025.

Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein

Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein garnered her success in the international arena aboard the home bred Digby. They competed at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen (39th), won historic team bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, finished 7th at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington. They competed in World Cup Finals in Den Bosch (2008 - 8th / 2010 - 6th) and Leipzig (2011 - 2nd). They rode at three European Championships: in Windsor (2009 - 11th), Rotterdam (2011 - 10th) and Herning (2013, 9th). They returned to the 2012 Olympic Games in London (12th in the kur) and their final event was the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, where they were 13th in the Kur. Nathalie trained with Kyra Kyrklund and Richard White.

In 2017 she succeeded Rudolf Zeilinger as Danish team trainer, but in November 2021 she chose not to renew her contract with the Danish equestrian federation. Since April 2024 she is a member of the board of the Danish Equestrian Federation under chair Kimi Nielsen.

Nathalie has also been training Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Cathrine Dufour in the past few years.

Swedish Co-Team Trainer

Nathalie will now be assisting 70-year old Nathhorst as a co-team trainer for Sweden.

"It's a bit like having two teachers at school," said Swedish team captain Stefan Jansson. "Everyone strives for the same goal, but you have different ways of expressing yourself and achieving the goals. It's about finding what works best. And above all, it's also an extra boost of energy for the troops that we add something new. It's not something completely different that Nathalie brings, it's still harmonious riding that Nathalie strives for."

Squad Trainings

Swedish combinations from the Grand Prix squad and challenger squad have so far had the opportunity to have two training sessions with Nathalie, the most recent one in Flyinge on 23 - 24 September 2025.

"There should always be harmony, that the horse understands what the rider wants," said Nathalie. "I always put the horse first. That you try to make it as simple as possible. There are some horses that have a lot of talent and finish quickly, and then there are other horses that also have talent but need a little more time. We as riders and trainers should get better at accepting that. And I always look at the strengths first, and then you have to work on what is a little weaker."