It was literally all sunshine and roses! After all, having the same riding instructor as her mother Katharina Eitel once did—that’s certainly not something you see every day. She knew right away that her children, Karl-Friedrich Eitel (5) and Carlotta Eitel (4), were in the best of hands with Beate Schridde, director of the riding school and stables at the Steinmühle School & Boarding School. The A-licensed trainer even made it possible for the youngest children to participate in the dressage competition hosted by the Weißer Stein Riding and Driving Club (RFV): The logo-embroidered saddle pad was placed on the Steinmühle school horse, the saddle neatly set in place—and off they went, after a manageable number of practice sessions, to the lead-rein competition, their first step into competitive riding.

 

From Fun to Performance

“It’s amazing how quickly the little ones have come to trust her,” said Katharina Eitel, delighted with the success that resulted from the approach taken by experienced riding instructor Beate Schridde. Schridde knows: “That’s how you turn fun into achievement.”

The older riders, such as Maya Sophie Mey, Elise Backes, and Zoe Miltscheff-Petroff—the daughter of Manuel Miltscheff-Petroff, the president of the Steinmühle Riding Club—have enjoyed success on more than one occasion. They performed very well at the tournament and were able to gain further valuable experience at the same time.

 

Excellent results

Elise Backes competed in the basic riding competition in her division and was evaluated on her walk, trot, and canter, achieving very good results. Zoe Miltscheff-Petroff also delivered excellent performances. These very good results were all the more impressive given that the competition took place near a tennis tournament that was in full swing. Neither the horses nor the riders were distracted by the sound of balls hitting the court, the noise of the game, or the occasional shouts from the players. Beate Schridde: “For horses, which are flight animals, this is sometimes a reason to run away, but everyone was completely relaxed.”

 

Horseback Riding at Steinmühle Boarding School

“Relaxed” is also the keyword for the equestrian future of all students who ride or would like to learn to ride at Steinmühle School & Boarding School. Our network is extensive, and word gets around when good work is done. That’s why boarding students who love riding—whether they have their own horse or not—are welcome at Steinmühle. It’s a place where not only girls but also boys feel right at home on horseback.

Little Karl-Friedrich Eitel shows us how it’s done.

 

(Angela Heinemann)