On the heels of anchoring the German Rio Olympic team to a bronze medal on Aug. 17, the legendary show jumper Ludger Beerbaum has announced that he’s stepping down from the German national team.
“It is difficult for me to take this step,” said Beerbaum. He will continue to show, but just not in international championship teams. “I will continue to participate in international tournaments. I have a few more interesting projects. I’ll focus on my competition stable, the training of young horses, and sell horses.”
At the Rio Olympic Games, Beerbaum put in one clear and one 4-fault round aboard Casello to help the German team take bronze. He’s qualified for the individual final, but won’t jump. All four German team members have scores that qualify them for the individual final, but Olympic rules allow only the top three individuals from one nation to jump in the final. As the lowest-placed German rider, Beerbaum will have to sit out the individual final.
Ludger Beerbaum on Casello at the Rio Olympic Games. Photo by Lindsay Berreth
Beerbaum has been representing Germany on the international stage since 1987, when he jumped on his first senior European Championship team. He’s served on seven Olympic teams for Germany, with three team golds (1988, 1996 and 2000), one team bronze (2016) and the individual gold in 1992 on Classic Touch. He’s jumped in six World Equestrian Games, with team gold in 1994 and 1998, team silver in 1990, and team bronze in 2006.
After 11 European Championship team appearances, he has four team golds, two individual golds, three team and one individual silver medals, and one team and one individual bronze. Beerbaum has competed in 20 FEI World Cup Finals, winning in 1993 on Ratina Z and coming in second three times (2002, 2010 and 2014).
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The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona on Sept. 22-25 will be Beerbaum’s final appearance with the German team
Beerbaum is also known for mentoring young riders, with top stars like Philipp Weishaupt, Henrik von Eckermann, Christian Ahlmann, and Marco Kutscher getting their start riding young horses for him.
In 2015, Beerbaum opened the Pferdesportzentrum Riesenbeck International in his hometown. It’s an equestrian center with extensive equestrian facilities and a four-star hotel. They host shows, breeding shows, and lectures, demonstrations and seminars. As President of the Longines World Equestrian Academy Ludger Beerbaum wants to promote the development of the equestrian sports with his knowledge.
“I will not be bored,” said Beerbaum. “I am grateful that I was able to represent my country as a rider. Now it’s up to younger colleagues to take over this part!”
