Theodora Livanos Begins Career as Pro Rider in Germany

Dressage

Greece

Greek international Grand Prix rider Theodora Livanos has decided on going pro and has begun working for Henri Ruoste at Gut Bertingloh in Menden, Germany.

"Full focus on the horses which is what I’ve always wanted to do," she told Eurodressage. "Super happy to be working and training loads."

Trailblazer for Greece

Originally from Switzerland, Theo began her international show career on pony Cognac IX (by FS Chambertin x Waldemar) in 2015. She rode her first big international championship for Greece at the 2016 Balkan Games in Athens, where she won the team and individual gold in the junior division on the Lusitano Zidane (by Universo x Neptuno) and was trained by Liz McConnell at the time. One month later she also rode in the 2016 European Pony Championships, where she made it into the Kur to Music Finals, another first for Greece.

In 2017 she rode the Dutch warmblood gelding Winston (by OO Seven x Cocktail) at the European Junior Riders Championships in Roosendaal and finished fifth in the Kur to Music Finals. Coached by Birgit Wientzek-PlägeIn 2018 it was Fido Dido (by Florencio) that took her to the European Young Riders Championships. Livanos is the first Greek rider to have competed at the Pony, Junior and Young Riders European Championships in a row. In 2019 she rode Grand Prix schoolmaster For Compliment at Young Riders level.

Jump to Grand Prix

On Dono di Maggio at the 2023 CDI Kronenberg

The family acquired Dono di Maggio and Robinvale at Hof Kasselmann to enable to jump to Grand Prix. Livanos moved her horses to British Olympian Emile Faurie's yard in the U.K. and debuted Dono du Maggio in 2019 at senior GP level. She began campaigning Robinvale in the autumn of 2019. For the next five years Theo gained mileage showing at the biggest CDI's in Europe as well as at the 2022 European Under 25 Championships with Robinvale.

In the winter of 2024 she moved her horses to the Cotswold club and began training with British Olympian Spencer Wilton and his partner Darren Hicks. She showed Robinvale at the 2025 European Under 25 Championships in Kronberg.

Move to Germany

The 24-year old Livanos got a Bachelor's degree at Columbia University in New York, but will not be continuing her academic career for the moment.

"I guess you never know what happens in the future and I’m very happy to have got my degree," she explains. "I knew I always wanted it as another plan to be able to have options."

Theo is now fully commited to riding and moved to Gut Bertingloh in Germany in September. She works alongside British U25 rider Harrison Ashton as assistant rider to Finnish Olympian Henri Ruoste. Gut Bertingloh is owned by Henri's wife, German Grand Prix rider Senta Kirchhoff.

"I'm settling in well, working with lovely horses and a great team," she said. "Working, learning and excited for what’s ahead."