Dorothee Schneider Tightens Collaboration with Gestut Famos, Moves to Syke

Dressage

Germany

German Olympian Dorothee Schneider has decided to tighten her work relationship with Maik Kanitzky at Gestut Famos. As of January 2026 Schneider will move north and head the training division at Famos in Syke, Germany.

Schneider has already been riding several of Kanitzky's sport horses, including Barcelo, Segantini, Rosé, Elastic, and Virazzo.

Move to Syke

"I am very much looking forward to continuing my passion, training horses, at this beautiful equestrian facility in Syke," said Schneider, who owns her own family farm, Gestut St. Stephan, in Framersheim, 500 km south of Syke. "I am looking forward to working with Maik Kanitzky, who shares my vision of promoting horses in sport," she added.

Schneider will sell her equestrian facility in Framersheim and move to Lower Saxony with her husband, family and riding horses, including Olympic retiree Showtime.

"I will continue to pursue my passion for horses as a self-employed trainer, but I will no longer have to worry about the entire management of my own facility and can concentrate fully on the horses – that is the basic idea behind my decision," she explained.

Selling Gestut St. Stephan

Dorothee added, "Over the years, I have put a lot of energy and effort into my riding facility in Framersheim. It is my home, which I have built with a great deal of passion. I have trained here for many years, celebrated great successes, culminating in three Olympic appearances, and I have trained many horses here. It is very difficult for me to give this up now and leave a piece of home behind. It is a huge step that I have thought long and hard about, but it feels good and right. I will continue to be independent, I can continue to work with long-standing and new partners, and at the same time I can look forward to the horses, the team and the equestrian facility in Syke."

Three Pillars

Kanitzky stated that Gestut Famos will be based on three pillars. "The training of exclusive dressage horses by Dorothee Schneider is the first pillar. The stallion station under the management of Detlef Utecht van Dijk is pillar number two, which will operate in close consultation with Dorothee. And pillar number three, which refers to the promotion of one or two young riders, is also under Dorothee's care."