Showtime, the medal-winning journey of Dorothee Schneider, retires aged 17

Showtime, the a number of medal-winning journey of German dressage rider Dorothee Schneider, has retired from competitors aged 17.

The Sandro Hit gelding is to bow out on the Internationales Festhallen Reitturnier Frankfurt on Saturday (16 December), having received European and Olympic medals throughout his stellar profession.

“The second has come, it’s Showtime. A really particular horse, particularly for me, leaves the match stage. What indescribable feelings,” mentioned Dorothee yesterday (12 December).

Dorothee discovered Showtime as a three-year-old, along with her good friend and proprietor Gabriele Kippert.

“It was love at first feeling,” mentioned Dorothee. “I at all times felt the necessity to inform everybody how nice he was, as a result of he merely deserves to be seen. Not everybody initially shared this perception.

“He was a bit shy, and introverted and he usually hid behind me, regardless that I are likely to have these traits myself. We fitted collectively completely and have become an amazing crew over time – not simply in sport, but additionally in our non-public lives.”

Showtime got here up by way of younger horse courses with Dorothee, and competed within the younger horse World Championships for five- and six-year-olds. In June 2015 he made a successful worldwide grand prix debut aged 9, on the Fritzens-Schindlhof CDI4* in Austria.

The next yr Dorothee and Showtime made an enormous impression in Aachen with +80 scores, they usually had been chosen for the German crew on the Rio Olympics, the place they received particular person bronze on Showtime’s championship debut.

On the 2019 Europeans they helped Germany to crew gold, and claimed double particular person silver with a +85% within the grand prix particular and +90% within the freestyle. Showtime then had almost two years off competitors, however returned in Might 2021 and that summer season was a part of the gold medal-winning crew on the Tokyo Olympics.

“Two Olympics and one European Championships, all with an unbelievable quantity of dedication, enjoyable and keenness,” mentioned Dorothee.

“At the moment, Showtime is not shy, however a radiant prince whose self-confidence has grown impressively within the area and at house. He realised what he was able to and the way particular he was, and never simply to me. Along with his distinctive type, he makes many hearts beat sooner – particularly mine.”

Dorothee mentioned the choice has now been made to retire Showtime from competitors aged 17.

“He has achieved the whole lot and way more. An extended sporting journey that gave me numerous goosebumps is coming to an finish. In my view you solely get a Showtime like that when in your life, in case you are that fortunate, and his place in my coronary heart is infinitely massive,” she mentioned.

“Once we say goodnight to one another and good morning, the enjoyment is written on each of our faces. I can hardly put this sense into phrases, and the time after the game can even be marked by shifting moments.”

Dorothee mentioned she and Showtime have “14 unforgettable years behind them”, and she or he hopes that they’ve “many extra” collectively.

“Regardless of the place the highway takes us or the place we each get older, so long as we reside, we’ll journey collectively – that’s with out query,” she mentioned.

Showtime will participate in a “farewell efficiency” on the Internationales Festhallen Reitturnier Frankfurt.

“That is the right setting for us, it’s the most stunning indoor match ever, and organised by my house membership, the Frankfurt match steady Schwarz Gelb. A giant thanks to the Linsenhoff/Rath household for this excellent alternative,” she mentioned.

“I look ahead to accompanying my and Showtime’s loyal companions, together with my pricey associates and Showi’s house owners, Gabriele Kippert and Eva Maria Mann. As well as, his grooms and many individuals from and round my crew who’ve accompanied us and our successes over time, and in lots of circumstances made them doable.”

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fortress Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to house. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting crew for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.