Sandra Zindel-Weber Appointed New Swiss Youth Team Captain

Dressage

Switzerland

The Swiss equestrian federation has appointed Sandra Zindel-Weber as its new Swiss Youth Team captain. She succeeds Heidi Bemelmans as of 1 January 2026.

"With her many years of experience in equestrian sports and the strategic thinking skills she has honed in her professional life, she is ideally suited to promoting young talent," Swiss Equestrian communicated. "

Sandra Zindel-Weber

The 54-year old Sandra Zindel-Weber has successfully coached her daughter Noemi Zindel through the pony, junior and young rider squads, "gaining valuable insights into the sporting and organisational requirements of international youth sport." She was also active in dressage up to class S and in international small tour competitions.

She competed at two CDI's in 2019 and 2021, both in Ornago, at small tour level with her daughter's youth riders horses Furstenhit (y Furst Romancier x Sandro Hit) and Delphino (by Danone II x Wolkentanz). Noemi stopped competing internationally after the 2023 European Young Riders Championships.

Based in Graubünden (SUI), Zindel-Weber managed the riding schools in Malans and Maienfeld, where she trained both beginners and advanced riders. She is a dressage judge up to L-level and has worked as the president of the organizers committee for the Maienfeld Dressage Days.

"I am very much looking forward to actively supporting young Swiss dressage riders from an early age on their way to the elite and to working together to set the course for a strong sporting future," said Sandra. "I will campaign for a broader base and help to inspire young people to take up our wonderful sport."

Succeeding Bemelmans

After 17 years on the job, Swiss youth team captain Heidi Bemelmans was asked to step aside by Swiss Equestrian.

"We owe Heidi Bemelmans a great deal – she has always been hugely committed to her protégés," the Swiss NF wrote in a press release. "However, in future we want to work even more at grassroots level, observing and supporting young talent at Swiss tournaments. In Sandra Zindel-Weber, we are gaining an expert with many years of experience. Her understanding of the needs of young athletes and her roots in Switzerland make her the ideal person for this key role. We want to attract more young people to dressage – who better to do this than someone who has already experienced the entire process from a different perspective?"