Helen Langenhanenberg: Explaining to the Horse

German dressage rider Helen Langenhanenberg is as delightful to talk to as she is to watch ride. After Grand Prix successes with Responsible, she took over the ride of Damon Hill from her then trainer Ingrid Klimke. The chestnut stallion and Helen went on to win team silver and finished fourth individually at the London Olympics in 2012, win the World Cup Final in 2013 and then individual silver and team gold at WEG in Normandy in 2014. Her partner in the top sport today is the 17 year old stallion Damsey. With numerous successes under their belt, their third place test at this year’s World Cup Final, will perhaps be talked about for many years to come. That final centreline! We talk about that test and what the future holds for Damsey before discussing riding while pregnant and riding while recovering from chid birth. You might be surprised how quickly Helen was back on a horse! Helen discusses what makes a podium rider and what her non-negotiables are with her horses. We get into her training philosophies and how someone so petite rides those big horses without force, her super up and coming stars and how she copes when horses get sold. She’s really good fun…there’s a lot of laughing.