Early Success

Growing up in California, Jennifer Hoffmann’s roots in horsemanship go back to her childhood. As a young girl, she successfully rode and showed eventing horses. But it wasn’t until the age of 16 did her love of dressage truly blossom. Today, Jennifer and her husband Jürgen, himself an accomplished dressage trainer and judge, as well as Jennifer’s personal coach own a very successful training and sales business named German Dressage International, located in Norderhein -Westfahlia, Germany.

In 1990, Jennifer was invited to go to Germany as a working student. Living and working in Germany through 2001, she had the opportunity to train and show several horses to FEI and Grand Prix level with the guidance of her future husband, Jürgen and Mr. Klaus Balkenhol, who later became the U.S. Dressage Team Coach and himself a German Olympic Team and Individual Gold Medalist. During her time in Europe, Jennifer proved herself successful at both the national and international level. Jennifer was often invited to the DOKR (German Olympic Riding Center) to train with such celebrated clinicians like Mr. Jean Bemelanns, Reitmeister FN and the National Dressage Coach for Spain, now Dressage Coach for France. Jennifer has also had the opportunity to train most recently in 2018 and very successfully with German Olymic medalist and German Team rider Helen Langehanenberg.

In 1996 Jennifer received the coveted title of Bereiter (FN) from the German National Federation, and in 1999, was awarded the Most Successful Rider Award at the prestigious Luxembourg Dressage Show.

Achievements at Home and Abroad

When she returned to the United States in 2001, Jennifer has had a great number of achievements, including earning her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, winning Horse of the Year Titels on multiple horses. In 2004 Jennifer qualified horses for both the Intermediaire I and Grand Prix Levels for the USET Olympic Festival of Champions in San Juan Capistrano.

In 2006 and 2007, Jennifer again qualified Horses for the Festival of Champions at Gladstone, New Jersey at the Grand Prix level. In 2007, Jennifer was invited to compete at the FEI World Cup Invitational in Las Vegas on Petit Danseur earning a 4th place win. 2008 was another exciting year. Three of her own horses; Rubinio, Farinelli, and Delacroix, finished the competition season with grand results. With Rubinio, her licensed German Westfahlian stallion, she qualified with an 8.9 and represented the United States at the FEI World Breeding Championship of Young Horses in Verden, Germany. The pair brought home a 4th place finish out of 39 horses in the small final with scores of 8.06. Farinelli, her then 9 year old Westfalian gelding placed 6th nationally at Intermediare I at the Collecting Gait Farms/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions held in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. And Jennifer’s then newest horse, Delacroix, the 6 year old Westfalian gelding, qualified for the 2008 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships in Kentucky. The pair qualified in 4th place for the championship. During the years 2004 -2010 Jennifer managed to stay on the USEF Long List (B list) Grand Prix and the Developing Horse list( Young Horse & PSG Horse) with multiple horses for many consecutive years thus flying her Horses to Championship competitions in New Jersey (USET Headquarters) and Kentucky Horse Park as well as San Juan Capistrano, CA. Always with very highly decorated results.

In the Winter of 2010 Jennifer and Jurgen made the move back to Germany because of family reasons. In 2010 Jennifer took on the training, management, and competing of the stallions from Gestuet Letter Berg and the Voss Family. This lead to great success. Not only was Jennifer able to present the Gestuet Letter Berg stallions and her very own stallions at some very prestigious stallion shows, like Vechta, Aachen, Wickrath, Verden, and Muenster, as well as the Equitana Stallion show in Essen/GER, but also had great success in the competition arena. In 2011 Jennifer qualified both 5 year old Florentinus by Florestan and 6 year old Ratzinger by Riccione for the FEI World Young Horse Breeding Championships in Verden/Germany, with the amazing result of riding both stallions directly to the Final placing high with top scores above 8.0. Jennifer was celebrated as Group winner on Ratzinger with a score of 8,36!!! Top placings followed on both stallions in the Final.

In the same year Jenifer qualified Florentinus and Hofmarschall for the prestigious Bundeschampionat in Warendorf,Germany. Jennifer was able to produce yet again top rides with unthinkable results, with Florentinus she won the Silver Medal and Titel Vize-Champion with a score of 9.2 !!!!! With Hofmarschall 4 year old stallion by Hotline she won the Bronze Medal with a score of 9.0 !!! What a highlight. Jennifer was also able to bring out her stallion Rubinio NRW to his first starts in PSG young horse classes such as Nurnburger Burg Pokal classes with fabulous Top Placings at prestigious shows.

Success Continues

In 2012 Florentinus, now 6 years old, qualifies again for FEI World Young Horse Breeding Championships in Verden/GER with a score of 8,7 !! Florentinus and Jennifer perform high and were rewarded with a trip to the final with top scores. Donna Lisa 3 year old Hannoverian Mare wins the 3 year Old Championship with 8,75 , and qualifies for the prestigious Bundeschampionate in Warendorf/Germany. In 2012 Jennifer qualifies 3 horses for the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf,GER and makes it into the Final with Florentinus. Rubinio NRW makes his International debut at the Small Tour and is rewarded with a top 3rd place in a CDI3* in Stadl Paura, Austria. Jennifer & Rubinio continued on their success path as multiple CDI’s follow with amazing results.

In 2013 Jennifer brings 5 new Top PSG/Intermediaire I and Grand Prix horses into the Competition scene. Zidane, Fairytale, Ramon, Urbain,and Donna Argentina. With these top new clients horses together with Jennifers own Farinelli and Rubinio NRW Jennifer is able to capture top wins at CDN’s and Multiple Top placings and Wins at International CDI*3 and CDI 4* Competitions in Vidauban,France, /Treffen,Austria, /Wattens, Austria/Munich, Perl,and Hagen,Germany, and Joosland,Holland/ Addington , England/ Deauville, France/ and Saumur,France.

In 2014 Rubinio NRW makes his debut at Grand Prix and receives not only multiple placings and wins at CDN’s but also makes his International debut at the CDI 4* in Achleiten, AUT with a 4th place in GP and 3rd in GP Freestyle. Top result for Jennifers young Grand Prix stallion Rubinio whom she has trained up to the top together with her husband Jurgen. Another top athlete is brought into the top Sport. Jennifer and Farinelli along with Egistar, continue to receive top placings in Grand Prix , Grand Prix Special and Freestyle both at CDN’s and CDI3*. In 2013-2014 Jennifer manages to take both Florentinus and Instertanz multiple times to the winners circle at Prix st. George/Intermediaire I with scores well over 70%. Florentinus made his International small tour debut with a Top 3rd Place PSG and 2nd place Intermediaire I in Deauville, France , shortly thereafter a remarkable 3rd place in the Final w/72% in the FEI World Breeding Young Horse Championships in Verden, GER CDI3* For former WC competitors for 7-8 year olds at Prix st. George level.

Verden has always been a very special place for Jennifer both on a personal level as well as on a successfull level. This was the reason for the selection of Verden for the Celebration of her acheivements and presentation of her Golden German Reiters badge (Goldenes Reitabzeichen) A gold medal to be worn in honor of which a rider has accomplished multiple wins at S-level and or multiple placings at Grand Prix level in Germany. This was an amazing presentation and absolute Celebration of all of Jennifers Acheivments so far.

2015-2017

2015 has already started off for Jennifer just as successfull as it ended. At the Prestiges German CDN  K &K Cup in Halle Munsterland competition Jennifer rode Farinelli to a 5th place in Grand Prix and 8th in Grand Prix Freestyle with over 70%…..

Top placings continued in 2015 and 2016 with Florentinus in the Small Tour internationally competing at top 3* and 4* CDI‘s such as Villach Treffen, Austria, Fritzens Schindlehof, Deuville, France, Lamprechtshausen and Drachten to mention a few. Not only was there many  placings  in the top 3 but also multple Wins and scores in the high 70%s.

Rubinio NRW was also very success and managed to prove himself a top International Grand Prix competitor who continued to climb the ladder of the World Ranking list. Multiple competitions such as Fritzens Schindlehof, Deuville, France, Lamprechthausen were Rubinio managed a great 2nd place in the GP and 4th in the special, Roosendahl, Drachten and NiewSt.Joosland followed all with top placings. Then a Highlight in Jennifer’s carrer, May of 2016 Rubinio and Jennifer we nominated to be in the US Team in the CDIO Nations Cup in Odense, Denmark. Here Rubinio and Jennifer managed to help Team USA to the Nations Cup Series winners were they were rewarded with a special ceremony in Aachen, Germany. Other competitions followed like Achleiten, Cappeln, Germany were Rubinio was 2nd in GP and 3rd in Freestyle, and the Prestigious German Munich Indoors were Rubinio and Jennifer placed a respectable 6th and 7th placing.

In 2015  Jennifer managed to Win the Champion Titel of The West German Professional’s at the Championship in Haftenkamp, ( Berufsreiterchampionat ), a Championship for Professionals in Germany, including the top 3 scoring riders to change horses and ride each others horses in an Intermediaire I test with only 5 min to get used to the other’s horses. The Championship was in Haftenkamp, Germany , Jennifer Won with a huge lead over the next riders, also a remarkable success !

In 2016 Jennifer qualified once again 2 horses for the Bundeschampionat in Warendorf. Frisco, 4 year old Licensed Hannoverian Stallion and Bordeaux‘s Barolo, 6 year old Wesfahlen Stallion. Both qualifying for their age group with wins in CDN young horse classes w/ scores above 8.0.

In 2017 started directly with Jennifers next Carrer Highlight , CDI3* Saumur, France Rubinio and Jennifer pulled off their first International Grand Prix Win!!! 2nd in GP with 71% and 1st place GP Freestyle with 74,3% ! What a huge success. After that Jennifer and Rubinio were again nominated for the CDIO Nations Cup USA Team in Compiègne, France. Unfortunately Rubinio sustained an injury in the stables which resulted in some rest time.

During 2017 was then Florentinus’s time to shine, in only his first year at Grand Prix Florentinus and Jennifer not only managed multiple top GP placings at competitions such as Compiègne, Aachleiten, Fritzens Schindlehof, Verden, 4 times in the top 3 and multiple times over 70%, Jennifer and Florentinus were able the make the USEF , A – List for The World Championships in Tyron, what an amazing result considering this was his first year at Grand Prix and another horse Jennifer managed to train all up to GP from a 4 year old.

2018

In 2018 Rubinio returned to the show ring with a great comback CDI4* Ranshofen, Austria were they pulled off an amazing 2nd place in the Grand Prix and 5th in the Special. Also returning them again to the USEF Grand Prix Long list. In 2018 Jennifer was able to bring out another young talent, the 7 year old stallion Rondoro Noblesse. He competed in the 7 year old FEI classes in Aachleiten and Cappeln, both 4* CDI‘s every time placing in the top 3 with scores from 73.8 % to 74.800%. Rondoro Noblesse was also selected as reserve for Austria for the World Championships of Young Dressage horses in Ermelo, he qualified with a score of 81% ! Top !!

In 2018 Jennifer was also able to qualify two top young horses for young horse championships in Verden, Germany . Fürst Florianus, a 4 year old licensed Hannoverian stallion, son of Florentinus. Qualified for the Final with scores of 8.3, Fürst Florianus has been secured for Jennifer‘s future now belonging to her and preparing for the 5 year old Championships in 2019.

Let‘s Go also qualified for the Hannoverian Championships winning multiple classes up to date with scores of 8.5 placing 2nd in the preliminary round and 5th in the Final.

Jennifer continues to prove herself a dedicated horsewoman, rider, trainer, and coach. With each win, she has become one of the countries top up-and-coming competitors.

Along with her own horses and those of her clients, Jennifer is very proud to have ‘the whole crew’ out at horse shows together, it creates a wonderful ‘team’ feeling which she believes is very important. “We all help each other and that ‘s what makes up a very strong team”, says Jennifer.

Jennifer always welcomes students to come and train with her, and is always motivated to help them follow along with their goals and dreams……

Whenever I take a lesson with Jennifer, it’s like she’s sitting right behind me in the saddle. She has an amazing ability to explain what needs to be done, at the precise moment it must be done, and most importantly, why.

-Shared Client Lisa Blaufuss

Jennifer trains together with her husband Jürgen on a daily basis with their Top International horses as well as their sales and Client horses to ensure that every one of their prospects reach their full potential.

Together with her husband Jürgen she currently operates a successful Training, Competition and sales barn in Germany. Jennifer trains with her husband Jürgen, who himself is a German “Pferdewirtschaftsmeister “,on a daily basis with their Top International horses as well as their sales and Client horses to ensure that every one of their prospects reach their full potential.

She also gets help, from US team coach Robert Dover, Klaus Balkenhol, and Jean Bemelmans and most recent Helen Langehanenberg.

When Jennifer is not competing or training horses at home, she enjoys snow skiing in Austria and Italy and swimming and  snorkeling in warm waters (sometimes together with Black tip sharks and Manta Rays).

To contact Jennifer call her  or email her at: [email protected]