Florian Bacher has announced that the 2025 European Dressage Championships in Crozet will be the final championships for his Olympic mount Fidertraum.
Fidertraum is a 16-year old Oldenburg gelding by Fidertanz out of No Time (by Rubinstein x Pik Kaiser). He is bred by Claus Fenske.
Auction Horse
Fidertraum was first competed in Germany by Kirstin Klepin in 2012.
He sold as a 4-year old via the 2013 Oldenburg Spring Elite Auction to Austrian Verena Lehnhart, who later became Florian's wife, Fidertraum.
Florian Bacher
In 2017 Florian and Fidertraum made their CDI debut at small tour level at the CDI Fritzens and in 2018 they moved up to Grand Prix.
The pair went on to represent Austria at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where they were 30th in the Grand Prix (69.813%), and at the 2021 European Championships in Hagen, where they placed 21st in the Special (71.687%). At the 2022 World Championships in Herning they finished 18th in the Special (73.571%).
As of 2023 the pair began to compete less and less at CDI's but were always there for the Championships. At the 2023 Europeans in Riesenbeck, they placed 24th in the Special (71.520%) and at the 2024 Olympics in Paris they were 21st in the Special (70.608%).
This year they showed at three CDI's: Basel, Munich and Achleiten to clinch a spot on the Austrian team, although they only once scored the minimum requirement of 70% in a Grand Prix (in principle two 70% scores were needed).
Retirement Impending
"I just want to enjoy the European Championships one more time,’ says the 39-year-old Bacher. "Ideally, we'll do so well in the Grand Prix that we'll make it into the Special – even though that won't be easy this year. But first and foremost, I hope that we can put in a nice, harmonious round and that I can leave the arena feeling good."
Florian continued, "of course, I know that this will be our last championship together. That makes it special. We are delighted to be back on this stage once again. At the same time, I am trying not to dwell on it too much, but to focus on the preparation and the riding. I want to have fun with him – that's the most important thing."
It was not specified whether Crozet will actually be Fidertraum's retirement show, or if the horse will continue competing at a few more CDI's.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Fidertraum
From Spanish Riding School to CDI Ring: Florian Bacher Wins 2020 CDI-W Brno