Olympic rider loses sponsorship

Irish Olympic dressage rider Heike Holstein has ended her six-year sponsorship contract with the Ballaseyr Stables, thereby losing her two top rides, Ballaseyr Royale, with whom she competed in Sydney, and Ballaseyr Legend.

Heike has already foundnew backing and will be supported financially by a German pharmaceutical consortium.

Based in Kildare, near Dublin, Heike’s international prospect is an 18.11/2hh eight-year-old Hanoverian by Wandervogel, Welt Adle. She bought him as a three-year-old from Germany.

“I bought ‘Tiny’ out in prix st georges last year and maybe I will try him in grand prix at the end of next year. I will be competing him internationally and am aiming to take him on the Spanish Sunshine Tour,” said 28-year-oldHeike, who is also currently bringing on her own youngsters.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now