A New Management Team to Lead Steinmühle into the Future of Equestrian Sports - Steinmühle

Expertise Meets New Vision: At the start of the year, the Steinmühle Equestrian Center set the course for the future. Thomas Trischberger and Isabella Ranz have moved from Upper Bavaria to Marburg and are bringing equestrian activities at the Steinmühle up to a modern standard. The two-time Bavarian U25 champion and the experienced riding instructor are bringing not only several horses but also a wealth of experience with them. Their enthusiasm has won over the management, boarders, and riding students alike.

Buildings inevitably age, and regulations change. When the school and boarding school merged, it became clear that the Steinmühle equestrian facility needed investment. Thanks to the Buurman family, the founders, Steinmühle has been associated with equestrian sports for decades and has developed a strong reputation that extends beyond the region. Young riders—often girls interested in boarding school—have found and continue to find a new home at Steinmühle, both for themselves and their own horses, and certainly for their hobby. “It would have been very difficult for us to do without this flagship of Steinmühle,” explains Managing Director Dirk Konnertz.

The Steinmühlen network led to a bullseye.

Sometimes, knowing someone who knows you can lead to the solution you’ve been dreaming of. Head rowing coach Martin Strohmenger, the face of the second major sports offering in the Steinmühle portfolio, knows a lot of people. The driving force, known simply as “Stromi,” remembered Petra Stähle in southern Germany, who once learned to ride at the Steinmühle riding school near Buurmans and still practices the sport today. Through her, contact was established with Thomas and Isabella, who quickly became deeply involved with the situation in Marburg. After a meeting on-site with management, it was clear to both sides: this could work.

Once expectations and possibilities on one side had been aligned with requirements and ideas on the other, we moved right into implementation. Since early February, Tom and Isa have been working as operations managers, overseeing the horses’ housing, grooming, mucking out, farrier services, medical care, and the procurement and monitoring of feed. Three employees assist them in these tasks. For riding lessons, it’s not just the availability of suitable school horses that’s essential, but also that of riding equipment. This includes, in particular, saddles, bridles, and gaiters. And everything has to be maintained.

Goal: A modern, forward-looking equestrian facility

In terms of facilities, the young couple is currently making do with conditions that, while offering temporary protection of existing rights, have no future. The stalls no longer meet current standards, and the arena is not competition-sized. Tom and Isa are currently focused on making the transition as smooth as possible for schoolchildren, horses, and staff. However, such a restructuring takes time—whether it involves organizing daily routines, adapting housing conditions, or planning future measures. “Our goal is to gradually transform the Steinmühle into a modern and forward-looking equestrian facility that offers optimal conditions for riders and horses. Once this transition is complete, we will place greater emphasis on training, lessons, and athletic development.”The couple running the facility not only want to provide basic training in all equestrian disciplines and offer a home for boarders’ horses, but also to create the conditions that enable their students to participate in equestrian competitions at various levels.Several sponsors have already recognized that knowledge and skill meet ambition here—all with a shared vision.

The supporters’ group is open to new members.

Isabella Ranz took her first steps as a stable hand on the outskirts of Vienna. That’s where her journey with horses began—not as a rider on a sponsored competition horse, but through hard work in the stable, such as feeding, mucking out, and caring for the horses. This time not only taught her to treat horses with respect, but also deepened her understanding of the animals’ needs.

Eager to delve deeper into the world of dressage, she began training with the renowned national dressage instructor Tamara Brandner, who has brought numerous horses to the Grand Prix level. Her next step took her to Carinthia, where, alongside her studies, she worked for Christian Schumach—a two-time Olympian and trainer of numerous Grand Prix horses—as well as for Stephanie Dearing, Austria’s most renowned young horse rider, who also has experience training horses up to the Grand Prix level.

Isabella then went on to Munich to train with Uwe Schwanz, a recipient of the Golden Riding Badge in show jumping and dressage. With his experience as a trainer of numerous Grand Prix horses and his successes in both disciplines, Isabella had the opportunity here to further deepen her knowledge and gain valuable insights into training at the highest level. It was through him that she eventually met her current fiancé, Thomas Trischberger. This led her to decide to take a position at the Trischberger Dressage Training Center on Lake Tegernsee rather than, as originally planned, moving north to a well-known German stud farm.

Thomas Trischberger was introduced to equestrian sports at an early age. From the age of 8 to 15, his brother trained him. Under his brother’s guidance, he developed a solid foundation in dressage and soon learned to take responsibility for handling horses. This period laid the foundation for his passion and athletic ambitions.

At age 15, Thomas began training under two-time Olympic champion and two-time world champion Ulla Salzgeber and benefited from her exceptional expertise until he turned 18. At the same time, he was a member of the Bavarian state team from the age of 15 to 25. This period allowed him to gain valuable competition experience at the national and international levels, receive additional guidance from the country’s top coaches, and continuously expand his knowledge and skills.

After his time with Ulla Salzgeber, Tom began his professional career in equestrian sports. He completed his apprenticeship with Master Equine Manager Isabell Dehning, during which he also received training in show jumping. This phase allowed him to broaden his range of riding skills and gain valuable experience on the show jumping course.

At the same time, Thomas Trischberger was trained by Christian Lanterdinger. Under his guidance, he continuously refined both his own riding skills and the training of his own horses. From the ages of 23 to 25, he was ultimately selected for the national squad, where he received training at the highest level and demonstrated his skills on the international stage. In addition to these successes, Thomas Trischberger has always been particularly committed to passing on his knowledge, sharing his passion for equestrian sports with the next generation, and guiding them on their journey.

Isabella Ranz and Thomas Trischberger are also members of the newly elected board of the Steinmühle Riding Club. The board is composed as follows:

🔹 Petra Stähle, President
🔹 Isabella Ranz, Vice President
🔹 Treasurer, Maike Lorenz
🔹 Secretary, Sabrina Schneider
🔹 Sports Director, Tom Trischberger
🔹 Youth Director, Chiara Cordes