During a recent Spoga equestrian products show in Germany, Tack 'n Togs managing partner, Kim Kullmann, herself a lifelong rider and sport horse breeder, was fortunate enough to visit 2007 World Cup Champion in the dressage arena, Isabell Werth, at her stables. Kim­ ­chatted to Isabell about her illustrious career in the ­saddle.

"I returned from a Unicef-organised trip to Sudan and Tanzania to find my parents – I live on their farm where my stables and r­iding centre are located – very concerned and ­rather agitated about a broken stable door. They had wanted everything to be ‘just so’ for my ­return.

“I comforted them and told them not to worry so much about everything not being ­perfect, that it was genuinely not a major ­setback for me, and that we as a family should rather be more mindful of other more pressing and humanitarian problems."

These words and her compassion for ­humankind was, for me, one of the defining moments of my few hours with Isabell.

Major achievements

Isabell has won six Olympic medals: An ­individual silver and team gold in the 1992 Games in Barcelona, an individual gold and team gold from Atlanta in 1996, and an ­individual silver and team gold from ­Sydney in 2000. She also boasts four world ­championships, 11 European titles and 12 German championships.

But despite this impressive CV, she ­remains friendly, approachable and “normal” – far more in tune with the world and her ­responsibilities towards it, than I had expected, given my ­interaction with other (not nearly as ­successful) professionals.

I asked Isabell what she considers her ­greatest strength as a rider. She immediately answered: Her ability to bond with the horse. "It is necessary to have a good relationship with your horse. This cannot be built just by riding him or her. You have to spend time ­taking care of the horse, feeding, grooming and so on," she says.

Isabell still keeps her retired grand prix horse, the 21-year old Gigolo, with her on the farm. The strong relationship between them was apparent when he nickered for her to come over and play upon hearing her voice. All her competition horses have toys strung up in their stables to prevent boredom.

The joys of riding

"One of my greatest joys is to work with a young horse, to love it and train it and see it progress to a higher standard. There are, of course, plenty of ups and downs along that journey, say to, a grand prix. Not everything always goes the way it should and it can be a very emotional and physical journey. But that is why I ride, and why I ride every day."

Isabell indeed does ride every day, even on Sundays which is traditionally an off-day. The young four-year olds just walk on the walking machine or in the field – anything to get them out of the stables, says Isabell. The ­competition horses, though, have a day off from training and simply go on an outride or do some lunge work.

During the week while building up to a competition, Isabell usually works her horses for 20-30 minutes, depending on the ­individual. "It is like feeding," she says. "You have to use the eye. There are the basics, but one horse may need a little more than another because of its workload, its temperament and so on.

“There are some horses that have to work harder because they are less supple, and ­others that have a more natural ability. Take Hannes (Warum Nicht) and Satchmo, my two best horses. Their training schedules never match up and they always seem to be on ­different cycles. Flexibility is key to getting the best out of a horse and keeping him in competition shape."

Learning the ropes

Although Isabell rides every day, she doesn't see her coach that often. "I started working with Dr Schulten-Baumer in December 1986 and he was my coach for 16 years. He was wonderful and taught me so much; no doubt he is the person I have to thank most for my success. He used to watch me ride every day, but then I had much more to learn ­technique-wise.

"Today, my coach of four years, Wolfram Wittig, comes to watch me ride at home once or twice a month, but always attends all my shows to give me advice. He knows my horses and how we work together and, rather than teach me technique, he has to concentrate on getting the best out of both of us – not the 'how' but the 'how much' or 'how little'.

"I believe that top trainers know how to ­create great teams, the team being the horse and rider. They have to be both sensible and sensitive because they have to give the right response in many different situations. I've been very fortunate to have two trainers who excel at this."

Watching Isabell ride is like watching ­poetry in motion; all movements – whether piaffes, passages, one-time tempi changes or simple changes – are done completely ­effortlessly. Neither horse nor rider is stressed, and it seems as though neither has to try too hard.

Her horses were obedient and at all times on the aids. And she rode without a whip, a little insight I found fascinating and wish I saw more of in riding centres around the globe.

The good and the bad

I asked Isabell to describe her most ­enduring memory as a rider. She replied that it was ­difficult to mention just one, because each achievement has been a special moment for her and her horse. "Taking my first ever ­championship title on Gigolo was really ­special, because no one expected us to do so well," she said. "Same with the gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics.

"But, probably the most emotional was the world championships last year in Aachen. I rode Satchmo, who was my reserve horse for the championship, because Hannes had to withdraw and, even though many believed we couldn't do it, it seemed as if the day was made for us. This was my greatest success as a person and a rider to date."

Given that Isabell defines herself and her success in the competition ring, it seems ­fitting that her worst moments also take place there.

"My worst moment, as a rider, was to ­finish the grand prix in Aachen in 1999 on an injured Gigolo. I had had a niggling ­feeling for days that he wasn't 100%, but ­relied on others for advice and continued to ride him. I can't blame anybody but myself, at the end of the day. I was on him, he was my responsibility, and I should have gotten off him. That, for me, is the low point of my professional life.

"Personally, my saddest day was that on which Amaretto, the horse I rode around the same time as Gigolo, died."

It’s all about patience

Besides Isabell’s compassion, dedication and strive for perfection in her riding, she is also very focused and knows how to get there. One of the biggest lessons she's learnt during her career is the virtue of patience.

"Ten years ago, I was not patient enough because I wanted to reach my goals as fast as possible. I now know that patience in the ­dressage arena and with your horses reaps ­rewards. I suppose people will say that it's easy for me to say this, because I have many successes to my name.

“But I know that a calm and relaxed rider and horse are far better off than a tense and nervous team."