Chatting with Johanna Klippert

 German dressage rider Johanna Klippert first schooled as a rider at Hof Kasselmann and has built a very successful career as a young horse rider. She then began working for Stallion Station Holkenbrink and piloted Franziskus to the 2012 Bundeschampionate title. She achieved two further silver medals at the Bundeschampionate with Hollister in 2014  and Fashion in Black in 2019. The latter stallion she rode in the 2020 CDI at Hagen. After ten years at Holkenbrink, Johanna moved to Hof Borgmann in 2021. In the summer of 2022 she accepted a riding position at Hedda Droege’s stable in Saerbeck. In 2023 she competed Droege’s horses Elvira, Bonnie, Stevie Wonder, and Carinski. Recently, Johanna competed at Warendorf-Freckenhorst with Michael Schmitz’ Indianapolis which she has been riding since 2021. Earlier this year, Johanna decided to build her own business and moved to Ansgar Westrup’s yard. “I had been thinking about my own little business with a couple of horses and some students and do some clinics in Germany and in different countries.” she explained. Johanna also works together with a fitness company which does a lot of physical training to get more stability in the body.  

     

Tell us about you and your horses

I am professional dressage rider and live and work in Munster, Germany. For the last twenty years I have been working with young horses up to St George Level.  I now own a few more and it has been my dream to ride them up to Grand Prix, which I will this year.

 

How did horses come into your life?

I dreamt as a child to ride although no one in my family rode.  At ten years old I joined a riding club.

 

When and where do you ride?

I ride at the barn of Ansgar Westrup

 

Who do you train with?

I train about every six weeks with Esther Maruka and from time to time with Serevo Juarado Lopez.

What you and your horses currently working on?

With the baby horses, we are working on stability.  With Indi, a seven-year-old we are working on pirouettes and tempi changes.  With Despacala my nine year old mare we are working on the Grand Prix movements.  

What do you love about riding?

Seeing the development from an uncut stone to a diamond.

What would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?

A mix of riding, education and teaching inland or abroad.  Working on rider fitness.

It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?

My trainer, a good groom who takes care of the horse, and an all round team where we are all working towards one goal and achieving it together.

Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding? 

Yes, I am nervous every day.

How do you deal with them?

Sometimes music and singing helps me.

Do you have any rituals before competing?

I am particular about my saddle pad and socks  

Your Top Tip

Do what you love and give it your best.

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?

Follow your dreams, trust in yourself and never give up!

 

Down the Centre Line

 

Who would be your dream horse to ride?

Indianapolis with the movement of Despacita

Who is your equestrian hero?

Charlotte Dujardin

If you could have five people to dinner, who would they be?

Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin, Isabell Werth, Steve Jobs

Favourite colour horse?

Dark Bay

Favourite horse event?

Aachen

Favourite food?

Noodles

Favourite way to relax?

Drink a coffee

Favourite film?

The tributes of Panem

Want More?

If you enjoyed meeting Johanna you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here .  You can keep up with Johanna’s progress and check out her instagram page here