UPDATE:

Five weeks ago Matthias Rath, a 26-year-old student of economics, sat on Totilas for the first time and was immediately enthusiastic.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to ride Totilas. Of course, each rider gives his aids a bit differently, but we’re already getting along very well,” said Rath, of Kronberg, Germany.

Rath’s parents, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff and Klaus-Martin Rath, share ownership of the stallion now with Paul Schockemöhle. With Dutch rider Edward Gal, Totilas won all three titles in dressage at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this fall.

Matthias, a member of the third-placed German team at the WEG, is especially enthusiastic about the canter pirouettes. At a presentation on Nov. 30 at Schockemöhle’s barn in north Germany, the new pair presented a pleasant picture, and indeed, Edward Gal and Matthias Rath, both tall and slender, are similar in physical appearance.

Klaus-Martin Rath will be responsible for the training, and, as Schockemöhle added, “When all the excitement has calmed down a bit, maybe even Edward Gal will be available to some extent as trainer.”

During an October press conference for the International Frankfurt December Horse Show, held at Linsenhoff’s place, the Shafhof, the 1988 Olympic dressage team gold medalist stated that she could not imagine a separation of sport and breeding rights as Schockemöhle had originally suggested.

Now Schockemöhle assures that the main focus will be on Totilas’ sport career. In breeding intensive months the stallion will stand in Schockemöhle’s breeding station, but when the outdoor season starts he will return to the Schafhof at Kronberg.

Does Schockemöhle, a three-time European Show Jumping Champion, who retired some years ago due to health reasons, plan to ride Totilas himself on occasion? “If Matthias allows, maybe I might walk him sometimes after working,” said Schockemöhle.

From a happy Matthias Rath came an immediate answer, “Yes, of course, you may do so!”

Although the official announcement of the new rider for Totilas is set for Tuesday, Nov. 30, Matthias Rath has already given an interview discussing his new ride according to Eurodressage.com.

Rath told Kim Lundin of Tidningen Ridsport that he was one of several German riders Paul Schockemöhle asked to try the world champion Dutch Warmblood stallion, and that two weeks ago his stepmother, Ann Katherin Linsenhoff, acquired the riding rights for him.

Rath tried Totilas at Schockemöhle’s barn in Muhlen, Germany. He would train him at his home in Kronberg, Germany. Rath was a member of the bronze-medal winning German dressage team at this year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games aboard Sterntaler-UNICEF.