Text © World of Showjumping

“I’m used to producing young horses, not trying to win every class,” Germany’s Katrin Eckermann tells World of Showjumping. “Now that I have a competitive team of horses, it has been a challenge to unlearn this mindset.”

For the first time in her career, the 35-year-old German rider has access to horses that are ready to go at five-star level – thanks to the support from Deborah Mayer’s Iron Dames.

Iron Dames, a project that Mayer launched in 2018 when starting to support five female drivers in motorsport has expanded to a group of over 30 athletes and now also includes female showjumpers. Today, 18 female drivers and 12 female riders – as well as more than 60 women – are active in various roles within the project. For the 2025 Global Champions League-season, Iron Dames has signed up with two all-female teams – Cannes Stars and Monaco Comets – with Katrin part of the line-up for Cannes Stars, just like in 2024.  

Currently, Katrin has six horses in her stable that carry the Iron Dames-prefix; Cala Mandia NRW, Casa Blue PS, Cascajall NRW, Dialou Blue PS, Earl of Alice, Sascinora NRW and Zoe Blue BTH, in addition to two horses that are bred by her father Otmar Eckermann; Chao Lee and Viva Fly NRW.

Katrin grew up in a close-knit family – with her mother Annegret, father Otmar and brothers Jens and Henrik – on a yard that was built by her grandparents in Kranenburg, Germany. “My grandparents started with the yard," Katrin tells. "My grandfather was always looking for horses in the Netherlands, and he had a good eye for them. He had an idea he wanted to follow, and that is how it started. I am proud of my family, they are a huge source of strength.”

My father has taught me everything I know, and has given me every opportunity to learn

Today, it is her father Otmar – an accomplished breeder and horseman – who manages the family’s yard. “I have so much respect for my father, and how he built everything up,” Katrin says. “My father has taught me everything I know, and has given me every opportunity to learn. With him, I have learned to get the young horses used to the saddle and to understand the process of bringing them up. I think it's something special, and the connection you build to your horses this way is deep. For me, finding a good connection with your horse is what our sport is really about.”

Producing young horses is how Katrin was brought up, and she has had to get used to all types of horses. “My father let me ride each horse,” she explains. “It did not matter how hot or lazy a horse was, or how challenging – he would want me to ride as much as possible to get experience. Working with horses is what I enjoy the most, and one of the most fascinating aspects of our sport is how many different ways there are to do things. I like to watch other riders and see how they work; there is always something to learn.”

However, despite her family’s equestrian background, turning professional was not their number one choice for Katrin. “I really needed to have a discussion with my parents,” Katrin recalls. “They would have preferred me to get an office job. However, I refused – I was sure that I wanted to be a rider, and I'm happy that I stayed true to my feeling, and that I have been able to follow my dreams.”

To now have our own breeding compete at the highest level, to have something we have built ourselves, makes me proud

“When I was a child, I remember watching Aachen on TV and dreaming about riding there one day,” Katrin continues. “To have competed there is something I feel proud of. To now have our own breeding compete at the highest level, to have something we have built ourselves, makes me proud. My father has bred so many horses that have ended up on the highest level, and he is someone I look up to.”

Katrin started her official German education to be a rider at Holger Hetzel’s stables in Goch in 2009 and finished it at Gut Berl in Münster in 2012. With Carlson 46 (Casco x Calvados), Katrin competed at three Europeans for young riders – earning four medals. “My time at Gut Berl gave me the opportunity to make a step towards the bigger sport, and I learned a lot while training with Kurt Gravemeier,” Katrin tells.

It was also with Carlson that she won the CSIO5* 1.60m Prize of North-Rhein Westfalen at CHIO Aachen in 2014, her international breakthrough. Later the same year, Katrin opted to leave Gut Berl, joining Christian Glanemann’s stable – where she has been based since. “Christian has a good eye for finding horses, and he has been an important supporter for me,” Katrin says. “He has done a lot for me. I am very thankful for the team around me; they have been with me every step of the way.”

Since 2018, Katrin has trained with the German legend Franke Sloothaak. “I have learned a lot from him,” she tells. “He is always for the horse, and he has a special feeling. It is great to have someone like him on my side.”

“The first thing that I focus on when riding, is to have the horse with me,” Katrin explains about her approach. “I want my horses to be happy, relaxed, and loose in their body – working together with me. To achieve this, I don't think you need to ride the horses every day. For me it's important that they go out in the field, hack in the forest and work on the lunge as well.”

With her focus on young horses, Katrin has been a regular on the podium at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium. In 2024, Iron Dames Sascinora NRW won the final for 6-year-old horses, while Iron Dames Earl of Alice placed third. In 2023, Iron Dames Cascajall NRW topped the 6-year-old final, while in 2019, it was Chao Lee – bred by Katrin’s father Otmar – that claimed the gold medal in the same age category. “Chao Lee is the most special horse in my life,” Katrin says. “I'm thankful to keep going with her. Her character and fighting spirit is really something special.”

I am thankful for all the support, and I obviously want to give back

In 2022, Katrin bounced back into the spotlight of the five-star scene when winning the CSI5* Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Miami Beach with Cala Mandia NRW – a horse Katrin had quietly produced from the mare was six. The year after, the two again took the title at the same venue. “Christian found Cala Mandia at a national show in Germany,” Katrin tells. “Already at a young age, she showed how special she is. It was nice to come back to the five-star level with a horse that I had produced myself – I was very happy about that.”

In 2024, Katrin was one of six female riders originally chosen by Mayer to join the Iron Dames equestrian team. Since then, Katrin’s team of horses has been strengthened considerably. “Being in this position now is nice, but it also adds more pressure when you have someone doing so much for you,” Katrin points out. “I am thankful for all the support, and I obviously want to give back. Getting to ride horses that have already been winning five-star classes is very different for me because I'm used to building my horses up myself. Before, I was not so keen to compete every week, because building up a group of young horses requires a completely different approach than a group of more experienced horses does,” Katrin concludes.

30.9.2025 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.