Hubertus Schmidt Severely Injured in Riding Accident

Dressage

Germany

Hubertus Schmidt got severely injured in a riding accident on Monday 23 March 2026 after getting thrown off a horse. He has been hospitalized since and faces a long road of recovery.

Multiple Fractures

Schmidt fell off an 8-year old horse at his barn, Fleyenhof, and was transported to the emergency room in Paderborn, where he was diagnosed with multiple fractures across his body.

He sustained fractures of the collar bone, ribs, pubic bone and pelvis. Schmidt required surgery to stabilize the fractures and a second operation is planned for Monday 6 April in Bochum.

"It was a very serious fall, but I’m doing well considering the circumstances," said Schmidt more than a week after the accident. "I’ve been incredibly lucky. My wife Doris is a huge support to me. Together, we’ll get through this! I’m very confident that I’ll be back on my feet in no time. I have such talented riders, students and horses at home, especially Katharina Hemmer and Anna Schölermann – that’s what’s driving me to get well again.”

Who's Who

Schmidt is one of Germany's most decorated dressage rider, having trained 50 horses to Grand Prix level and achieved placings at Grand Prix level with around 80 different horses. He was twice German Dressage Champion and five-times German Professional Dressage Rider Champion. He is decorated with the prestigious title of Riding Master in 2004.

His career-making horse was Wansuela Suerte who took him to team gold at the 2004 Olympics, 2005 European Championships and 2006 World Equestrian Games. The pair also won the individual silver medal at the 2005 European Dressage Championships in Hagen. He rode in four World Cup Finals on Hinnerk (2009 - 11th), on Aramis (2005 - 8th), Wansuela Suerte (2004 - 3rd) and on My Fair Lady (2000 - 6th). The closest he came to German team selection in the 2010s was aboard Trakehner Imperio. They were the travelling reserves for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

He retired from competition sport in 2023 due to health reasons and continues as trainer and president of the German Riding & Driving Association (DRFV - Deutscher Reiter- und Fahrer-Verband).