Ingrid Klimke

Ingrid Klimke is a German event rider who has won gold medals at World and Olympic level and been European champion individually.

She was born on 1 April 1968 in Munster, Westfalia. She completed an apprenticeship as a bank clerk but has run her own yard since 1998.

Ingrid is the daughter of Reiner Klimke, who rode at six Olympic Games in dressage, winning five team gold medals (1964, 1968, 1976, 1984 and 1988), an individual gold (1984) and two individual bronzes (1968 and 1976). He also rode in the eventing at the 1960 Olympics and was a European team gold medallist in eventing in 1959. He died in 1999.

The German rider’s training methods are based on her father’s expertise and she is particularly known for her use of small jumps called cavaletti – the father and daughter wrote a book called Cavaletti: Dressur und Springen (Cavaletti for Dressage and Jumping), which is available in English as well as German. Ingrid also works with a company to sell a range of cavaletti jumps.

Best known for her eventing achievements, Ingrid also rides at five-star grand prix level in pure dressage.

How many Olympics has Ingrid Klimke ridden at?

Ingrid has ridden at five Olympics, in 2000 and 2004 on Sleep Late, in 2008 and 2012 on FRH Butts Abraxxas (two team golds) and in 2016 on SAP Hale Bob OLD (team silver).

What other medals has Ingrid won?

Ingrid has won two world team gold medals, in 2006 on Sleep Late and in 2014 on SAP Escada FRH. She also took the world individual bronze in 2018 on SAP Hale Bob OLD.

Ingrid has won back to back individual gold medals at European Championships, in 2017 and 2019, on SAP Hale Bob OLD. She has also won two other individual European medals (silver in 2013 on SAP Escada FRH and bronze in 2005 on Sleep Late) and four European team golds in  2011, 2013, 2015 and 2019, plus team silver in 2021.

Has Ingrid Klimke won at five-star?

Yes. She won Pau Horse Trials in 2014 on SAP Hale Bob OLD and followed this victory up with a win at the German five-star at Luhmühlen Horse Trials the following year on SAP Escada FRH.

Ingrid is a regular visitor to the British five-stars, but is yet to win one – her best results are second places at Badminton Horse Trials in 2006 on Sleep Late and 2015 on SAP Hale Bob OLD.

Does Ingrid have any children?

Yes, Ingrid has two daughters with Andreas Busacker – Greta (born in 2002) and Philippa (born in 2010).