Female riders have grown closer as a team: Steinmühle hosted the Youth Cup

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Finally, another horse show at Steinmühle! Shortly after the return of Beate Schridde—the trusted stable manager, riding instructor, and trainer—to the Steinmühle Riding School, the popular Youth Cup was held there again following a lengthy hiatus. Teams from Sterzhausen, Mengsberg, and Rauschenberg were in attendance to demonstrate their skills before the experienced judge Albrecht Welz. In addition to the dressage test, participants were also tested on their theoretical knowledge, as is customary at the Youth Cup.

 

 

Improvements in performance are already clearly evident

As for the riding performances of the Steinmühlen riders, Beate Schridde has already noted a significant increase in the scores achieved compared to their first two appearances in the Youth Cup following their long “hiatus.” The girls, dressed in their riding attire bearing the Steinmühlen emblem, cut a fine figure not only as spectators along the sidelines but also on horseback—much to the delight of the parents of all the participating riders.

 

 

Applause for the Renovation and Decor

The riding club’s planning team had worked tirelessly to prepare for the event, renovating and decorating the premises until they were barely recognizable. A wide selection of food and drinks was provided to cater to the needs of the visitors, who included members of the riding teams and numerous interested guests.

 

 

“Proud to be able to lead the riding club”

In light of all these positive developments, Manuel Miltschelff, the new president of the Steinmühle Riding Club, was full of praise: “My daughter has been taking riding lessons with Beate Schridde since November 2025 and is part of the Steinmühle Youth Cup team. It’s really great to see how the girls have grown together as a team and how much their riding skills have improved in such a short time. I’m grateful, and it fills me with pride to be able to lead this wonderful riding club.”

 

 

Lots of activity on the grounds

There will continue to be a lot of activity at the Steinmühle Riding Club’s stables in the near future, including the renovation of the stable wing, which is already underway. As for the club’s activities, a variety of courses and workshops are enriching the existing riding programs. More on this coming soon. For an overview of the various courses, click here: https://reitschule.steinmuehle.de/ausbildung/

(Angela Heinemann)

Gymnastics at the Steinmühle: First Participation in “Jugend trainiert”

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Gymnastics is a new sport at Steinmühle; at any rate, this sport has been revived after a very long hiatus—and is currently highlighted by the school’s participation in the “Youth Training for the Olympics” competition. Lotta Jerrentrup from Class 9a reports:

“At the end of January, our school gymnastics team had the opportunity to compete in the regional finals of ‘Youth Trains for the Olympics’ in Limburg. The team members were Zoe Gundlach, Lotta Jerrentrup (9th grade), Miranda Lammerskötter (7th grade), Marlene Jerrentrup, and Ida Watzlawek (6th grade).

In the morning, a shuttle bus picked us up and took us to Limburg. The trip there took 2 hours because we picked up several other school teams along the way. Once we arrived, we found a large gym with a competitive atmosphere, since the “Jugend trainiert” competition mainly features competitive gymnastics teams.

 

Competition Start According to the English System

First, we warmed up for half an hour. After the entrance march accompanied by music, the competition began according to the English system, which means that each gymnast is allowed one minute on each apparatus (vault, parallel bars, balance beam, and floor) to warm up and get familiar with it, since the apparatus can be used differently in every gym.

Our team started on the vault alongside the Elisabethschule. Next came the parallel bars, followed by the balance beam, and then the floor exercise. We completed all the apparatus and were satisfied with our performance. It was very impressive to see what some of the gymnasts from the competitive groups were able to do—the elements they had mastered on each apparatus. This was followed by a break during which all the apparatus was taken down. Finally, there was the awards ceremony, where, as expected, the school teams from the competitive gymnastics centers swept the top spots. Our school team came in 8th place!

 

“Taking part really motivated us”

In conclusion, we can say that competing in Limburg was a wonderful experience. Being able to participate really motivated us, and we hope to compete again in 2027! A big thank you goes to our chaperone, physical education teacher Marcel Kalb, who made our participation possible and gave us great support.”

 

A Pleasant Collaboration

Marcel Kalb, the physical education director at Steinmühle, immediately expressed his gratitude and praise: “We weren’t able to prepare for the competition at Steinmühle because we lack the necessary gymnastics equipment. Here, we received active support from teacher and club coach Thomas Nickol (TSV Ockershausen, Sophie von Brabant School), who not only guided us through the competition and our preparation but was also a very pleasant partner to work with.” Perhaps, says Marcel Kalb, this will lead to a formal gymnastics partnership in the future.

(Heinm)

Fun and Energy at the Fencing Club Tournament

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For several years now, foil fencing has enjoyed consistently high popularity at Steinmühle. Math and physics teacher Steffen Ullwer is the founder of the club and, as an experienced foil fencer, also serves as the coach. A club tournament was recently held. A group of five—somewhat depleted due to illness—first met in the large gym to warm up, then headed off to their respective bouts, accompanied by the fitting music “Eye of the Tiger”:

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fightRising to the challenge posed by our rival

Concentration, speed, and strict adherence to the rules ensure that this sport—which seems so dangerous—is both fun and safe. With one exception, the participants had only been fencing for half a year, but they already seemed quite experienced in their sparring matches in front of the small audience, which applauded enthusiastically.

In the end, Malte Rinkleff was crowned the tournament champion, followed by Kvido Kruncl in second place and Hannah Meißner in third. — And yes, it really is a sport for girls, too.

Angela Heinemann

 

Movement and Perception: The Ministry of Culture Certified the Steinmühle

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For its successful integration of school development with the process of health promotion, Steinmühle High School received the “Movement & Perception” certification from the Hessian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. Karsten Vestweber, one of the school sports coordinators at the State Education Authority, presented the certificate to school sports director Marcel Kalb in the presence of principal Björn Gemmer.

 

Health-Oriented Physical Activity Promotion in Schools

“The ‘Movement & Perception’ certification aims to promote health-oriented physical activity in schools—not only for students, but also for teachers and staff,” explains Kalb. In particular, the certification evaluates aspects such as active learning in the classroom, equipment that promotes physical activity—such as furniture or sports equipment—sports events both inside and outside of school, as well as opportunities for active breaks and relaxation periods.

 

A fundamental part of a holistic education

According to the school’s physical education director, this certificate demonstrates that physical activity is a fundamental part of a well-rounded education and is consistently incorporated into the school and classroom settings at Steinmühle. The certificate is valid for a period of five years.

(Heinm)

Fun with the Christmas ponies at the Steinmühle Riding School’s Advent Magic event

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There was a bustling atmosphere filled with Christmas spirit at the Steinmühle boarding school’s riding stable: Many children from Steinmühle and the surrounding area, along with their parents, accepted the invitation to this event at the riding facility, billed under the promising name “Advent Magic.” Not only were the bar tables and the snack stand attractively decorated—where guests could enjoy winter hot drinks and treats while taking in the “scent of horses”—but the ponies were also tastefully adorned as they moved about in the arena alongside the children.

 

Clearing the obstacle with momentum in hobby horsing

Getting to play at being a pony—that’s what the youngest kids got to do at Hobbyhorsing. The challenge there was to use their hobbyhorses and plenty of momentum to clear the obstacles that had been set up. Upstairs in the building, in the Reiterstübchen, the craft station awaited them. In this room, skilled hands and patient young minds created some truly amazing Christmas decorations. — Hats off to them!

 

Introducing Beate Schridde, the experienced riding stable manager

The Steinmühle School and Boarding School look back on a successful event marking the start of Beate Schridde’s tenure as the experienced riding stable manager. She introduced herself to guests of all ages, welcomed new faces, and greeted old acquaintances from her earlier time at Steinmühle. The equine manager and riding instructor, who holds an A-level trainer’s license, has ambitious plans. So if you’re interested in Steinmühle’s riding program, it’s worth staying tuned—even if this image doesn’t quite capture the spirit of the occasion. So let’s just say: get comfortable in the saddle. You can read more about who’s in charge of riding at Steinmühle here: https://reitschule.steinmuehle.de/

 

Our Women’s Basketball Team’s Historic Advance to the State Finals

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What an incredible achievement: For the first time in Steinmühle’s history, our U18 girls’ basketball team has made it to the state finals in Gelnhausen. In the regional tournament, the team defeated Usingen and thus qualified for the state finals, according to school sports director Marcel Kalb.

Our new colleague at the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School, Nicole “Nikki” Johnson—a former Olympic basketball player on Canada’s national team—took charge of coaching and preparing the team for the competitions. A heartfelt thank you for her dedication—and, of course, to all the players who gave it their all.
These were:

Emilia Schneider, Samrawit Wulf, Nike Hütte, Malin Häußermann, Sophia Kirschning, Fenja Schlegel, Anna Thies.

We offer our heartfelt congratulations on this magnificent achievement and will continue to keep our fingers crossed for you!

 

Good Water Sets a Precedent: A Drinking Water Fountain for Steinmühle

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With support from the LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen (LEA) and the Rotary Clubs’ nonprofit initiative “gesundekids e.V.,” the Rotary Club Marburg der Steinmühle has now donated a drinking water fountain worth just under 3,000 euros. Immediately after its installation, the students began eagerly using the water dispenser.

 

Reduce Health Risks

“The LEA (Hesse State Energy Agency) supports this project in light of the growing impacts of climate change and the resulting need for action. “The free provision of drinking water is important for public health, as staying hydrated reduces the risk of heat- and drought-related health problems,” according to a statement on the matter.

Carl-Eugen Bitzer, a member of the board of gesundekids e.V. from Langen in southern Hesse, who also serves as the Rotary district representative for gesundekids, arranged for the official handover by Steinmühlen School Principal Björn Gemmer, a member of the Rotary Club of Marburg, to the school community, represented by student body presidents Niclas Peters and Anna Reinhardt.

According to reports, the drinking fountain continues to be very popular, and Steinmühle would like to express its heartfelt thanks!

 

Learning by Watching: Sports Class Meets the German Basketball Bundesliga

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Last Saturday, Benedikt Hohmann’s three-hour introductory sports course was hosted at the Blue Dolphins Marburg’s home game against the Saarlouis Royals. A total of 17 12th-grade students made their way together to the small Georg-Gaßmann-Halle—invited by BC Marburg, whom we would like to sincerely thank here.

And the trip was well worth it: From the very first minute, there was a genuine Bundesliga atmosphere—fast-paced plays, loud cheers, and a crowd that passionately supported its team. The game itself was exciting right up to the end: Despite trailing by a wide margin in the first half, the Dolphins fought passionately, but ultimately fell just short against the strong Saarlouis Royals, losing 57–61. The disappointment over the loss quickly gave way to excitement over the intense, high-level game, which many of us were able to experience live for the first time, reports Benedikt Hohmann.

 

Inspiration Just Before the Practical Basketball Exam

Perfect timing, by the way: The practical basketball exam for the course starts in just a few days. So the evening wasn’t just a great experience, but also an inspiring way to get in the right mindset for our own game—truly in the spirit of “learning by watching.”

A big thank you to BC Marburg for the invitation and to the Blue Dolphins for an exciting, athletic evening full of emotion!

Four days, three nights, one destination: A school trip to Vienna by bike

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While others debate the most eco-friendly way to travel on a school trip, one student at Steinmühle knows he can always top them all: Julius Henkel. Together with Laurenz Steiß, a classmate from the same 13th-grade class, he set off for Vienna by bike.

Four days, three nights, one destination: The plan took shape for Julius after a comment from his tutor and math teacher, Björn Gemmer: “With all that exercise, you might as well bike to Vienna.”

– “I basically took that as a challenge,” Julius recalls with a wink. Once he found someone in Laurenz Steiß who liked the crazy idea, the matter was settled.

 

Planning begins three weeks before the vacation

Planning began three weeks before summer vacation. We mapped out the route using komoot, the route planner for bike tours. The options ranged from 750 kilometers to a maximum of 950 kilometers. “We decided on something in between,” Laurenz says.

 

Energy bars, gummy bears, and water

In theory, the duo had planned a short break after 50 kilometers and a longer one after 100 kilometers. “The 50-kilometer break wasn’t feasible,” they recall, “it would have taken too long.” Their food consisted mainly of energy bars, gummy bears, and water; there was no time for longer stops along the way. Before reaching Würzburg, they treated themselves to a bit of sightseeing, then continued on—via Regensburg and Linz—all the way to the Belvedere Palace Park. 60 percent bike paths, 40 percent country roads, both dressed in cycling gear. Julius in sneakers on his new gravel bike, Laurenz in clipless shoes on his road bike. They rode mostly at 25 kilometers per hour, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 45 or even 50.

 

Never thought of giving up

“The first day was the most exciting,” Laurenz recalls. He wasn’t feeling quite up to it, but giving up right away wasn’t an option. Despite the challenges, the two students never considered cutting the trip short. “We had two dangerous situations along the way,” Julius recalls, “we were overlooked by cars despite our reflectors.” In the end, both of them avoided any mishaps. At the end, however, Laurenz fell on the cobblestones—the front tire’s inner tube had burst. “But by then we were practically at our destination.”

 

Support for Food, Technology, and Safety

Julius and Laurenz had two important people with them on their trip, without whom they wouldn’t have been able to pull off this adventure, as they themselves say: Per Hübl and Lukas Zimmer, also from the class of ’13. They drove the support vehicle, took photos, and tracked the two cyclists using the “Where Are You?” feature on WhatsApp whenever they were out of sight of each other. “They gave us a sense of security,” say Julius and Laurenz of this escort, during which they ultimately covered 822 kilometers of road and climbed 5,620 meters in elevation together.

 

“Great mentally and athletically”

The quartet was greeted with enthusiastic applause and loud cheers by their classmates—who had already arrived by train—and the accompanying teachers in the Belvedere Palace Park. “A tremendous achievement, both mentally and physically,” commented tutor and principal Björn Gemmer, who, in hindsight—“now that everyone has arrived safely”—is happy to be identified as the “mastermind” behind the long tour. For him, one of the highlights was that Steinmühle was able to share in the mammoth tour through photos and videos uploaded to social media.

 

View on Instagram

If you’d like to get a sense of “tour.de.wien,” you’re welcome to visit the Instagram account of the same name, check out a post or video there, and feel free to follow the channel. It might come in handy. That’s because our two cycling enthusiasts are planning to “maybe do a similar tour again.”—We’re already really excited!

In the photo below showing our large group, the following people are standing in the front row (from left): Laurenz Steiß (road cyclist), Per Hübl (social media manager in the support vehicle), Lukas Zimmer (driver of the support vehicle), Julius Henkel (gravel bike rider), Björn Gemmer (tutor and idea generator).

The second photo, featuring four people, shows (from left): Laurenz Steiß, Lukas Zimmer, Per Hübl, and Julius Henkel.

Angela Heinemann

 
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Do you have questions about the school?

School Administration & Management

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the boarding school?

Boarding School Administration & Management

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the school?

School Administration & Management

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the boarding school?

Boarding School Administration & Management

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

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