Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

Heike Kemmer and Ulla Salzgeber, a fruitful partnership

"It is obvious that more people are eager to try this, but they simply can't manage to do it. It's only possible if you refuse to see each other as competition and are willing to help one another." German Ulla salzgeber and Heike Kemmer have become an almost inseperable duo the last two years. Giving valuable training, or sharing tips on arena conditions, Kemmer and Salzgeber have become trainers of one other after unforseen circumstances.

Two years ago Salzgeber felt neglected by trainer Johan Hinnemann at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome. In her opinion, Hinnemann showed more interest more for his Dutch student Coby van Baalen, instead of his fellow countryman. Hinnemann introduced Heike Kemmer, who trained with him for a steady ten years, to Salzgeber only a few months after the show. "On one of those many occassions that Hinnemann had no time, to train Ulla, he asked me to help her. First I felt pretty reluctant to do this as we were rivals of each other but when it became obvious that we both made clear progress thanks to our mutual advise, we decided to quit training with him and rely each other," Kemmer stated.

Kemmer who runs Gestut Amselhof, a Hanoverian breeding station in Berlin, and Salzgeber, who is managing her private dressage stable in Bad Worishofen, Bavaria, live more than 500 miles apart. Nevertheless, have they surpassed the distance thanks to its benifits. "We are used to travelling that much. We try to focus on specific competitions and then function as host for one another for a longer period of intense training," Salzgeber explains.

"Heike is a real perfectionist," Ulla says," and while I'm quickly content with a few good strides Heike forces me to go all the way." It's especially the piaffe that improved since their trainership. "My perfectionism sometimes bothers me," Heike confesses. "I sit very stiff in the saddle and when I saw some tapes Ulla took of me riding, I started working very hard on my seat." In the meantime Kemmer has received many compliments for her improvement and overall more friendly position on her horse.

Heike Kemmer was selected as alternate rider for the German Olympic Team in Sydney and therefore had to leave her Albano behind in Germany. But, Kemmer travelled to Australia to help Salzgeber win her individual bronze medal and team gold. The partnership between two former rivals seems to be paying off. It is not so difficult to cross to line from rivalry to partnership. If you can't beat the enemy, join 'em.

Image ® Phelps Photo - collage by Astrid Appels

Archived Focus Articles in
The Gathering