Katharina Rhomberg grew up in an equestrian family, with much of her childhood spent in the stable. Today, she is an elite-level show jumper who has represented Austria at the top level several times. Her accomplishments include, among many, securing the team bronze at the 2023 European Championships – the first podium finish for Austria in three decades – and competing in the 2024 Olympics. 

In this interview, we get to know Katharina better and hear how she approaches building a strong relationship with her horses and where she finds inspiration to continue excelling as a rider.

About Katharina Rhomberg 

• Born: October 4, 1992

• Lives in: Austria

• Competes for: Austria 🇦🇹

• Discipline: Show Jumping

• Instagram: @katharina_rhomberg
  
  

Starting from the beginning: You grew up in a horse-loving family with parents and grandparents who also rode. How has this shaped your relationship with horses and the sport? 

– I think when you start that young, you really get to know the horses. For most of our childhood, we were just playing around in the stable and spending time with them. So you see them more as friends than sports partners because you’re growing up together. I think it’s a bit different if you start later – it’s probably harder to build that same kind of relationship. 

What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful show jumper, both in terms of the rider and the horse? 

– I think it’s really important to take your time and be patient – both with yourself and the horses. You shouldn’t rush them or expect results too fast. You also really have to believe in both yourself and the horse; it’s one and the same. And if something doesn’t go to plan, you still have to keep that trust and just wait for the next result. 

That Katharina is patient and believes in herself and her horses is reflected in her recent performances with Cuma 5 and Colestus Cambridge; With Cuma, she secured team bronze at the 2023 European Championships and won her first 4* Grand Prix at Amadeus Horse Indoors. With Colestus, she competed in the 2024 Olympics. When asked to describe them, she begins by noting that they both have a very big heart and really like to jump. She adds: 

– With Cuma, I did my first 5*, and he was always such a good teacher. If I was messing something up when I was younger, he would just keep going. He has a lot of scope and a big heart, and he always wants to do his best. 

“You also really have to believe in both yourself and the horse; it’s one and the same.”

– Katharina Rhomberg 

Moving on to describe Colestus, nicknamed Colli, she says:

– Colli is a really smart horse. I think he’s the smartest horse I have. If you teach him something, he’ll get it immediately. I got him when he was six, and right away, he was doing it all so easily - the youngsters, the first 1.40, and the first ranking classes. He just went, “Okay, I can do it”. He’s the same still, with the 1.60s – he just wants to jump. You can just feel that he is happy. 

How do you approach building a strong relationship with your horses?

– I like spending a lot of time with them and it’s so important to do. Grazing them, going for walks… At home, we go for a hack once or twice a week, and they really enjoy it. The most important thing is to have a good relationship with them and that they really trust you and easily understand what you want from them. So, even when you just think that you want to go left, they already got it and go left. 

Katharina notes that the time and trust you give is also returned:

– You get a lot back from the horses and feel the love from them. They become really close friends. I would say that they are as good as, or even better than, my human friends. It’s a special feeling when you’re in the ring and you can tell that they are fighting for you and really want to do their best. That the horses trust you completely is also a really amazing feeling. Like when there is something spooky and you walk before them and they just follow you like “Okay, you did it, now I do it – I trust you”. I think that’s very special. 

When you secured the team bronze medal at the 2023 European Championships, it was the first podium finish for Austria since 1992, and then you competed in the 2024 Olympics. What did it mean to you, and what do you think it means for the equestrian sports scene in Austria? 

– For me, to qualify for the Olympics and compete there, it was a childhood dream come true. When I was young, I said that I wanted to jump once in Aachen and once at the Olympics. So this was a dream come true. I think it was also important for Austria and the sport as a whole. The relevance of the sport got a bit bigger since more people were watching and getting involved. I think that it was also important that we had a great team. For a long time, we had Max Kühner on top, but nobody really coming up behind him, and now we had a very strong team, and we made it together – I think that was nice for us, and also for the country, that four riders could qualify as a team. 

“That the horses trust you completely is also a really amazing feeling. Like when there is something spooky and you walk before them and they just follow you like ‘Okay, you did it, now I do it – I trust you.’”

– Katharina Rhomberg 

You’re part of the Shanghai Swans for the 2025 Global Champions League season. What do you think makes a strong GCL team? How do you prepare yourself and your horses for the format and the season?

– I have to say, since it’s my first season in the global tour, I’m both very excited and a bit unsure of what’s coming and how it will be. I’m proud that I can ride in such a good team with idols of mine. The nicest part is that I can learn a lot from them – you can learn so much in such a team. So, I am very happy and curious. To prepare, you just have to make a good plan for each horse and show. And make sure that you don’t overjump them and that you have breaks in between. 

What are your long-term goals as an athlete?

– To build more consistency in my riding, to build up more young horses to the top level, and get more consistent results at the top. It’s also a goal to compete one more time in the Olympics, in L.A. Every year, we also have the Europeans and then also the Worlds every four years, which are always the pinnacles of the season.

Equestrian-related or not, who or what inspires you?

– There are many good riders that inspire me, but everyone in a different way. For example, I was watching the Rolex Grand Prix in Den Bosch last week. It was such a hard class, and you watch the riders and see the partnerships they have with their horses. I think that’s the most inspiring. Also, for example, Steve Guerdat really inspires me. And Marcus Ehning – he has such smooth rounds with his horses and makes it look so easy, even though we know it’s not. Also, Peder Fredricson – I think he’s a real horseman. They all are. There are so many inspiring top riders!  

What are your thoughts on becoming an MD athlete?

– I’m very happy! I first saw the brand a long time ago when it was coming up. It was funny, three or four years ago, in our small stable in Austria, some girls came wearing the breeches. They said “Oh, these are so comfortable and so nice”. It was the first moment that I got to know the brand. Then I also bought a pair, and I found them very comfy, which is so important for us riders as we’re in them all the time. What I like is that it’s a very modern and young brand and that everything is comfortable and trendy.

What are your favorite MD pieces?

– What I like a lot is the fluffy jackets – the teddy jackets. They’re so fluffy and look so cool. The breeches too, for sure, they’re very comfortable.