German show jumper Richard Vogel will lead the national team at the World Championship in Aachen when the tournament begins on August 11. Vogel, currently one of the top riders in the world, built his career through determination despite an unconventional start.
The 29-year-old rider is featured alongside colleague Sophie Hinners in a new ARD documentary series titled RIDE, released on August 8 on the ARD Mediathek. The documentary provides a look behind the scenes of show jumping and follows the riders for over a year leading up to their World Championship nomination.
Vogel dropped out of school at age 17 before completing an apprenticeship as a horse groom. He became a home rider for show jumping legend Ludger Beerbaum, training horses at home in the stable while competitors fought for prize money and medals at tournaments. Speaking in RIDE, Vogel acknowledged that he did not have an exemplary career path. He dreamed of starting as a competition rider, but Beerbaum's team was honest with him and said they could promise nothing. Flying under the radar, Vogel earned extra money by trading horses on a small scale.
Vogel developed a business concept of saving money, buying a horse, riding it for six months, and selling it for a profit. Beerbaum disapproved of the economic focus and wanted Vogel to concentrate on his riding career instead. At the time, Vogel was the third rider on Beerbaum's team, while the top horses went to his colleagues Philipp Weishaupt and Christian Kukuk.
Self-employment and top ten ranking
Determined to reach the front row, Vogel became self-employed in 2019 alongside colleague David Will. The pair recruited sponsors, hired horse grooms, built up their team, and trained and sold horses. Their efforts paid off when Vogel entered the top ten of the world rankings for the first time in early 2024. Vogel and Will now run a sports and sales stable in Pfungstadt in southern Hesse, where rider Sophie Hinners is also part of the team.
Hinners first met Vogel at a horse auction while Vogel was completing his apprenticeship. They maintained regular contact and became a couple in 2017. Four years later, Hinners moved to Hesse to join the business operated by Vogel and Will. Known as the dream couple of German show jumping, Vogel said they felt stronger when traveling to competitions together.
Show jumping is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete directly against each other. The pair regularly competed against each other while also starting together for Germany in Nations Cup events. In May, both reached the jump-off at the Grand Prix of Aachen, where Vogel secured the victory.
Vogel's top horse, the 14-year-old stallion United Touch, was originally intended for Hinners. Vogel explained that United Touch was planned to be successful under Hinners, but they quickly realized the pairing was not a perfect match. Vogel tried riding the stallion on the second or third day, and the pair harmonized better from the start. With United Touch, Vogel won the European Championship in Spain last year and earned team bronze alongside Hinners.
World Championship targets and relationship split
Looking ahead to Aachen, Vogel aims to win world titles in both the team and individual events. Vogel said that while he is keeping an eye on the individual decision on the final day of the World Championship to ensure the horse has enough stamina for the week, the main focus remains on the team competition.
Shortly before the World Championship, Vogel announced in July 2026 that he and Hinners had ended their romantic relationship. Vogel stated that while they are no longer together or living together, they remain business partners and can work together even better now. The former couple will compete together for Germany at the home World Championship alongside teammates Marcus Ehning and Daniel Deußer. The 28-year-old Hinners said expectations are high and winning a team medal would be the dream.
