Danish international dressage rider Karoline Rohman has won the Danish championship for both junior and young riders, and has represented Denmark at the European Championships five times winning 3 medals. She is also an Ecco-cup winner and has enjoyed many more successes along the way. Based at the family owned sales centre Topponyer.dk where along with her mum Dorthe Rohman, she rides and produces top horses and ponies for sale, she also rides her own horses. The family also operate a riding club (Hovgaard Ridecentre) at the same location.
Tell us about you and your horses
Karoline and Don louvre enjoying a victory lap
I am twenty-four years old and an international dressage rider.
I have three horses; my absolute best friend is Jakas Don Louvre we have been partners for a long time,
and competed together a lot.
My family bought him at an elite foal auction when he was half a year old, this year he turns 15, so
we know him inside out, and we have been competing together since I was a junior, now I’m twenty-four
and u25 rider.
I also have 6-year-old Naomi Melody, which my grandmother Else Rohmann bred, she’s the cutest little
nugget and I’m sure she will be my future star, together we compete at M level.
The mother of Naomi was also my first horse ever, Noosa Melody, whom I competed 3 European
Championships with and became Danish champion two times with, so Naomi is very special to me.
Her mother is still with us and is now a broodmare due to an injury.
When and where do you ride?
Karoline with her “absolute best friend”, Don louvre in his stable
We live at our own barn, where we also have a big riding school, Hovgaard Ridecentre and I ride here
everyday.
Who do you train with?
My mom, Dorthe Rohmann is an educated master rider, so of course I take advantage of all her tools, and really appreciate her help.
Besides my mom I train with Sanne Henningsen, I’ve been training and coming to her place for over 10 years. Sometimes I get help from my uncle Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard too. I really enjoy picking up inspiration from different riders and trainers.
What you and your horses currently working on?
That depends on if we have a show coming up. My everyday go to is that I keep them happy and
willing to learn new stuff if it’s the young ones. Otherwise, Don is mostly chilling in between
competitions, I try to keep him happy, fit, soft in his body, and I only train the exercises one to two
times per fourteen days.
What do you love about riding?
I love my horses, it’s not just the riding but also the hand walks, tacking up, snuggles in the stable. It means a lot for me, that we create a bond together and it’s just fascinating that you can ride and teach your horse almost everything if you have a good partnership.
So, what I love is the partnership, the respect we have for each other and the joy you get when you and your horse gets the thing you’ve been working on for weeks.
What would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?
I have a lot of goals; I honestly don’t know if I will keep on riding at this level. But my main goal is
to be happy everyday with my horses. Everything else just comes along.
It takes a team to compete in dressage, who is in your support team?
My whole family is my biggest support.
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Of course! Sometimes when I get the master list of the competition and I see one good rider after
another I get so nervous. But then I remember that I wouldn’t be at this competition if I wasn’t
qualified, and in the end you only ride for you and your horse, nothing else matters.
How do you deal with them?
With the help of a Sports psychologist, who has a lot of tools to help.
Do you have any rituals before competing?
No, I don’t, although I feel like I should have one
Your Top Tip
Believe in yourself and your horse, trust the process.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Your horse is a reflection of your aids, always smooth aids, if you get frustrated, walk your horse and think about if you did everything right, the horse cannot do anything else than what the rider tells it to. So, if you have a problem, you have not been good enough to communicate it to your horse so it understands.
Down the Centre Line
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
I already ride my dream horse, but it would be fun to try MSJ Freestyle
Who is your equestrian hero?
It’s a cliche to say but Isabell Werth just hits different
If you could have five people to dinner, who would they be?
Nathalie Zu Sayn- Wittgenstein, Cathrine Laudrip-Dufour, Kyra Kyrklund and Isabell Werth
Favourite colour horse?
Dark brown or black
Favourite horse event?
Herning stallion licensing in Denmark
Favourite food?
Sushi for sure!
Favourite way to relax?
Go for a walk, brush my horses or just a couple of hours on the couch with a good movie or podcast.
Favourite film?
I don’t have a specific one, but I love comedies or true crime/authentic movies.
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Karoline you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here . You can keep up with Karoline’s progress and check out her instagram page here
