Chatting with Maike Springmeier

Tell us about you and your horses

My name is Maike Springmeier, I am twenty years old and a German dressage rider. In November 2021 I moved with my horses to my trainer’s stables in Münster after graduating from high school and have been studying marketing at IU since October this year.

My three sport partners are Sempre Meo, Be My Love and Destiny. Sempre Meo (St.Moritz x BrentanoII), or Sam, is my everything and I am very grateful that I was able to work my way up to international victories and placings in the YR Tour with him this season. Be My Love, or “Biene”, is a 6-year-old Westphalian mare by Benicio x SirHeinrich. She is my little fun mobile and this season I was able to place in medium dressage competitions with her and together with my trainer we are preparing her for the Youngster S level. Destiny is a 9-year-old mare by DeNiro x Sandro Classic and we have only been a couple for a short time. She already had 2 foals at a young age and is now on her way to Grand Prix. She is the most loving horse I know and wins everyone’s heart in no time at all.

How did your horses come into your life?

Sam came to us in 2019. After a somewhat bumpy start, we are now on our way to becoming a real dream team. You can see that staying tuned and never giving up really pays off. I discovered Biene at an auction in 2020 when she was three years old and immediately fell in love. We weren’t looking for a new horse but we found Destiny. She was at my trainer’s stable and when it was clear that she was for sale we tried her and after riding her once, it was clear that I would take over her reins.

When and where do you ride?

My horses and I train in Münster at a very nice and centrally located riding facility. I usually ride 4-5 times a week, depending on the horses’ training schedule. We train individually and tailored to the horse either in the indoor arena , at the outdoor arena or on the racetrack for a little hack.

How did you start riding?

I am lucky enough to have grown up with horses, as my mom rode them herself. As a result, I was already sitting on a horse with my mom when I was a newborn. As a child, I first did vaulting and then switched to riding.

What you and your horses currently working on?

In general, we work a lot on the basics and the satisfaction of the horses. We also work on the right connection between me and the horses. Specifically, we are working with Sam on keeping him motivated and refining the individual tasks of the YR tests. With Biene we are working and refining the individual tasks of the S-class and Destiny and I are just getting to know each other. I hope that we will become a good team and that our connection will be strong.

What do you love about riding?

I love horses and working with them. Especially the friendly relationship with such graceful but at the same time gentle animals combined with the sport and the associated will to perform show that they really would do anything for you and what great and loving animals they are.

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

I’ll let everything come to me first, without stress and pressure. It would be a dream come true if Sam and I could build on our successes from this year on and I could work my way up to Grand Prix level with Destiny in the long term. I would love to start in the S-class with Biene next year. But I’m not stressed if it doesn’t work out, because I always take things as they come, and the most important thing first is the health of the horses and my family.

Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding? 

For me, being excited or tense is part of riding. The most important thing is to be able to deal with it. I personally have had very good experience with mental training, and it is very important for me. The mind has to be involved in order to be mentally strong and to be able to ride successfully.

How do you deal with them?

Positive influences and thoughts make all negative thoughts disappear from my head. I have also learned some methods for more concentrated and precise riding from my mental trainer.

Do you have any rituals before competing?

I always have to get my horses ready and braid them myself. I also always listen to the same music playlist for a good mood on Spotify.

Your Top Tip

My top tip is to retreat to a quiet place before getting the horse ready to discuss the test with yourself and visualise it in your head in perfection and make it clear to yourself why you are riding the test and what your goals are.

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

It doesn’t matter what others think about you. The only thing that matters is believing in yourself and your goals, because you only live once and should do everything you can to get the best out of yourself and focus only on yourself.

 

Down the Centre Line

 

Who would be your dream horse to ride?

To be honest, I don’t really have a dream horse, as I already have my dream horses in the stable. But if I had to choose, I would like to ride  Fendi from Sönke Rothenberger, because this horse is simply breathtaking.

Who is your equestrian hero?

Isabell Werth, she is a real horsepower woman and manages to be at the top of the world with different horses every time anew!

If you could have 5 people to dinner, who would they be?

I think I would rather spend time with my family and friends, because you should spend time with the ones you love.

Favourite colour horse?

Dark chestnut or dark brown

Favourite horse event?

Chio Aachen or Horses and Dreams because it’s an awesome place to see fantastic Horses and Riders

Favourite food?

Pasta or chocolate cake

Favourite way to relax?

To meet friends and go out to dinner with them

Favourite film?

I love the message behind the new Barbie movie very much.

Want More?

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