Schmidt and Fütterer- Sommer Named "Trainer of the Year 2025"

Dressage

Germany

Riding master Hubertus Schmidt and German para team trainer Silke Fütterer-Sommer were named "Trainers of the Year 2025" at the CDI Frankfurt on 20 December 2025.

Accolades

For the third time the DOKR Trainer Academy and German Equestrian Federation awarded a special prize to German trainers who have stood out with their work.

The recipients were chosen by a top-class jury: riding master Ingrid Klimke, dressage national coach Monica Theodorescu, former eventing national coach Hans Melzer, foundation chairwoman Tanja Traupe, FN training director Thies Kaspareit and former judo Olympic champion and DOSB trainer Frank Wieneke.

"The evaluation criteria included outstanding achievements in animal welfare, fair play, and the partnership between humans and horses, the sporting successes of the athletes trained, and exceptional challenges faced by the trainers," said the press release of the German NF. "Given the numerous high-caliber nominations, the jury did not find the decision easy."

Trainer of the Year 2025: Hubertus Schmidt

Riding master Hubertus Schmidt (66) has been awarded the title "Trainer of the Year." The Paderborn native is one of the most influential figures in German dressage. His greatest sporting achievements include team gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, as well as further team titles at European and World Championships. In total, Schmidt has trained around 70 horses in international Grand Prix competition. At Fleyenhof in Borchen-Etteln, Schmidt continues to dedicate himself with great passion to training riders and horses, as well as the next generation of professional horse trainers.

His students celebrated outstanding successes in 2025: Katharina Hemmer won team gold at the European Championships in Crozet, and Anna Schölermann secured individual gold at the U25 European Championships in Kronberg. In total, his students won four gold medals across three age groups. "Through Hubertus' tireless dedication, his expertise, and his passion, he paved the way for his students to achieve these successes. Hubertus is an exceptional coaching personality and deserves to be named Coach of the Year," emphasized Katharina Hemmer.

"Hubertus is a true horseman in every sense, a fantastic representative of classical riding principles, and an invaluable colleague," said national dressage coach Monica Theodorescu. "He has always been a very fair and respected colleague and, above all, a superb trainer – for both horses and riders. Being part of the team with Hubertus or traveling with him has always been a great pleasure."

Trainer of the Year 2025: Silke Fütterer-Sommer

Silke Fütterer-Sommer (56), who has been the national coach of the German para-dressage team since 2023, was also named "Trainer of the Year 2025."

The Rhineland based Grand Prix rider and trainer originally hails from Wiesbaden, but grew up in Warendorf and now lives in Jüchen. Her trainers include renowned figures such as Willi Schultheis, Manfred Schmidtke, and Hans Rueben, as well as Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg, the former First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School. In 1989, she passed her exams to become a certified horse trainer with the "Stensbeck" distinction and, a few years later, established herself as a professional rider and trainer of riders and horses up to Grand Prix level. In 2007, she was awarded the Golden Riding Badge for her own achievements. She brings considerable experience to her role as national coach, having previously trained successful para-dressage riders. Among other things, she is the home coach of Regine Mispelkamp, World Championship and Paralympic bronze medalist and 2025 European Champion.

In a very short time, Silke Fütterer-Sommer led the German para-dressage team back to the top of the world rankings. The greatest success: team gold at the European Championships in Ermelo – a historic milestone for German para-dressage, a truly momentous event. This was followed by four individual gold medals and six medals at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

"Silke is passionate about her coaching, demonstrating tremendous expertise, social empathy, a love for horses, and a deep understanding of both horse and rider. She guides us riders with great sensitivity and meticulous attention to detail, always keeping the horse's well-being in mind," said student Regine Mispelkamp.