Julia Krajewski has been quietly creeping up the German eventing ranks. The 29-year-old has successfully competed right through the levels from Pony competitions, and in more recent years has represented Germany at Nations Cups. It was in 2016 at the Rio Olympics that she was thrust centre stage, being asked at the last minute to go from reserve position to take up a team spot, replacing Andreas Ostholt. Although Julia didn’t have the most wonderful time at Rio, the Germans went on to win team silver.

Since then, Julia has really experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows the sport has to offer. At the end of 2016, she enjoyed a win with Chipmunk, at the horse’s first CCI3*, at Strzegom, as well as her first 4* win last year at Luhmühlen on her Olympic mount Samourai du Thot. That was followed by another team silver at the Europeans in Strzegom, however, Samourai du Thot had tested positive to a controlled substance and Germany was stripped of their team silver.

Julia has come back this season bolder than ever. A win at Bramham in the CCI3* on Chipmunk and a podium with Sam in the CIC3* at Wiesbaden before this weekend winning the German Championships on Sam at Luhmühlen on her dressage score of 19.9.

I spoke to Julia at last year’s Bundeschampionate. We talk about her role as the German national juniors coach, how she got into eventing herself as a youngster and why she likes the eventing scene. She goes into how Germany manages its event horses and the reasons behind that, why Chris Bartle is so missed by the team and what its like to be on a team with legends Ingrid, Michi and Bettina (you only need their first names!). Julia describes the newly discovered benefits she gained from rider fitness work and talks about why she likes to “walk” the cross country course on a bike.

And…like most top riders, she advocates lots and lots of hard work to reach the podium.

The fully transcribed interview can be found here: http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2017/11/julia-krajewski-a-very-eventful-life/