Text © World of Showjumping

In our series ‘That Special Bond’ – first introduced in 2016 – World of Showjumping highlights what equestrian sport is truly about; a unique connection between horses and humans. This time around, we speak with Mariella Offner, who works as a show groom for Austria’s Max Kühner.

Mariella has worked full-time for Kühner for the past seven years. “I studied Horse Management and Economics in Austria, and did my internship in Max’s stable. This was back in 2015, and after that I went back as often as I could during school holidays and long weekends. To be there and watch Alex, Max’s previous show groom, do her job made me realize that this is what I really want to do,” Mariella explains. “So, when I was done in school, I started working full-time at Max’s stable."

"It was great that I already knew my way around; to have worked with the horses in the past and to have learned from them." 

"I got my truck license already when I was 18, and then it all started,” Mariella says with a smile. 

“I enjoy this life just as much as I did in the beginning. Every week there is something new. Even when you go to the same shows, it is different every time. You have different horses with you and meet other challenges. And even from a bad weekend, you will learn something,” Mariella says.

Kühner has a big operation with several horses based at different stables in Germany and Italy. “In total, with all the young horses and foals included, we have about 100 horses. Maybe even a bit more,” Mariella tells. “At Max’s yard, we only have 15 older horses and then the rest are based with different riders educating them. Helmut Schönstetter starts up about 80% of our horses and is a big part of the team. Max sells quite a lot of horses at a younger age and the ones selected for him will come to us when they are seven or eight.” 

“Max has also been breeding quite a lot, using his previous stars Cornetta 11 (Cornet Obolensky x Anmarsch) and Electric Touch (Untouchable Z x T’is Voltaire). I do think he stopped now though, since he has way too many horses,” Mariella laughs.

“That is definitely Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure), no doubt about it,” Mariella says when asked to name the horse she has the most special bond with. “Without Elektric Blue, we would not be where we are now. He is a big part of the journey.”

“He is like a child, and he feels like family,” she says about the 14-year-old gelding who has taken her to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the 2022 World Championships in Herning, the 2022 FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Gothenburg as well as to two European Championships. “He knows he is the king, and he knows how much we appreciate what he is doing for us. He is always fighting for us.”

“Elektric Blue was bought when he was a 2-year-old, and I still remember seeing him on the field as a young horse. Then he came to Max’s stable at the same time as I did, so I have done the whole journey with him – all the way from the young horse classes”, Mariella says. “Before Elektric Blue came to Max, he was with Helmut Schönstetter. Helmut is a big part of Max’s success, and he does all the work with the young horses before they come to us when they are seven or eight.”

“Elektric Blue knows that he is allowed to do anything and that can turn into a little problem sometimes”, Mariella laughs. “When hand walking, he will have his own opinion on when he is done so he just stops and stays on the spot where he is. And he loves to play-bite. At home, he is testing everyone and always tries to be naughty. He is like a child, and he loves to pull jokes on us. He also knows what he wants. When he is out in the field, I go out and call his name – if he doesn’t answer he will stay out for longer and if he answers he wants to come in.”
 

“I miss Alfa Jordan (Air Jordan x Lancelot) and Chardonnay (Clarimo x Corrado I),” Mariella says. 

“I had a really good time with Jordan, and I enjoyed seeing him continue with Suus Kuyten after he was sold,” Mariella tells. “Jordan was such a fighter; you could always count on him, and he had a huge heart. The first time we went to Spruce, we had such a great show and Alfa Jordan attended every prize giving. For me as a young show groom back then, it was just such a wow experience.”

“Since Alex took care of Chardonnay, I didn’t work that much with him but he is so special,” Mariella continues. “Chardonnay had all the scope in the world and did everything so easy. It was disappointing that we had to retire him when we did, but after surgery on a testicle he couldn’t stretch anymore like he used to and was not able to jump like before. Chardonnay is now busy with breeding at Schockemöhle’s, and I like to visit him when passing by there. Recently, Max bought a three-year-old by Chardonnay that looks exactly the same as his father so that is exciting for the future.”

“I’m really grateful I got to know these two horses and that I got to learn from them,” Mariella says. 

EIC Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue x ARD VDL Douglas) is the horse that has taken the most time for Mariella to understand. “He was really hard to get to know and he is so strong minded,” Mariella tells. “The first week he was in our stable, every one of us lost him when hand walking or bringing him to the field. He is always ready to go, and it is difficult to get him to relax and just take a breath. It took a full year to really find out how he prefers things, and for him to trust us.” 

“After two years in our stable, I was so happy the first time I saw him lay down to rest out in the field. That was a big moment! He has always been calm in the field, but still on the go and this was the first time he really relaxed.”

“By now, we know how he likes things and have found a good system that works for him. After speaking with the breeder, we realized that he was like this already as a foal – always on the go. Jacco has a half-sister that Max has bought, and interestingly she is exactly the same.”

9.1.2025 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.