Moritz Treffinger – not a classic rise to fame

Who is Moritz Treffinger?

Moritz Treffinger is a young German dressage rider who has already made a name for himself at a young age through his outstanding achievements in the dressage scene. He achieved international fame when he became European pony rider champion on his pony Top Queen H in 2018. He then moved up to the junior class and achieved further success. Treffinger rides at a high level, particularly in the Young Rider category (U25).

In 2023, he joined the equestrian team at the renowned Bonhomme Stud in Werder, Germany, where he develops his skills and works with high-class Grand Prix horses. His previous successes and commitment show that he is a promising talent in dressage who has a promising career ahead of him.

What is Moritz Treffinger like and what sets him apart? We asked ourselves the same question and found someone who spilled the beans a bit. Saskia Conredel from Bonhomme Stud tells us more about Moritz Treffinger:

Moritz Treffinger's equestrian career

News: Moritz Treffinger and his 9-year-old gelding Treffinger's Superstition OLD won the golden ribbon in the anniversary final of the 20th IWEST Dressage Cup at the German Masters 2022. With an overall score of 75,425 percent, he won.

Moritz Treffinger, who is just 19 years old, is far ahead of many others at his age. Thanks to his mother Santina Treffinger who was once successful in the difficult dressage class, Moritz had his first contact with the four-legged friends at an early age. The rider herself, who was still active at the time, often took Moritz to her own small stable near the riding club in Oberderdingen, where the Treffinger family lived. Back then, no one would have thought that the little boy would quickly become a rising star in dressage.

Moritz had his first pony when he was 3, what it was like and how he got from a pony into big sport, his mom, Santina Treffinger, tells you in the following video:

The first breakthrough

The Oberderdinger native became well known through his participation in the 2018 European Pony Championships, at that time with his successful pony Top-Queen H. Only five times in the history of the European Pony Dressage Championships have boys won an individual title, most recently Sönke Rothenberger, now an Olympic team champion and European champion. Now he has a successor: Moritz Treffinger. The then 15-year-old secured the best results in all competitions, even scoring over 77.189% in the individual classification. The young rider finished the championship with the title of triple European Pony Champion, meaning three gold medals went to Oberderdingen. But the success did not stop there. Moritz is also very successful in the big horse saddle. With his horse Treffinger's Standing Ovation, known as Stanley for short, which has since been sold to Japan, he continues to gain experience in the dressage arena after his time in the pony saddle, thus making the leap into the advanced class at the end of 2019. However, the sale of Stanley does not detract from the 18-year-old's many successes. With his new successful horse, Treffingers Superstition OLD, Moritz is chasing one victory after another. The pair have already achieved over 10 placings in the advanced class, including 5 victories, some with scores of over 73.000%.

The future also looks promising: in 2022, Moritz had two horses competing in the qualifiers for the 2022 Nuremberg Burgpokal. It was the last year for both horses to participate in the series, so Moritz is taking the opportunity to qualify his two horses, Treffinger's Superstition and Treffinger's Franzis Royal, for the final in Frankfurt's Festhalle. The Treffinger family attaches great importance to success through their own efforts. The family runs the stable in their hometown themselves, feeding and mucking out the horses, but also managing their training within the family.  

He spends every free minute at the stable with the horses or at the many international tournaments that are taking place all year round. So it remains exciting when we think about Moritz Treffinger's future equestrian career.

Moritz Treffinger's move to Bonhomme

Young German dressage rider Moritz Treffinger took significant steps in his professional career in 2023 by accepting a position on the equestrian team at Gestüt Bonhomme in Werder, Germany. Back then, shortly before his 20th birthday, he took up the position in June, which had become vacant due to the departure of previous head trainer Simone Pearce. Pearce had left stud in mid-June to take up a new position in Thomas Ritzinger's stable in Bavaria.

Treffinger explained at the time that he was not directly taking over Pearce's position, but had been hired as a young, motivated dressage rider with a sporting perspective. His goal is to one day ride the horses as well and successfully as Pearce, but he initially sees himself in a phase of learning and development. He is convinced that Gestüt Bonhomme is the right place to advance his riding career with talented horses and a supporting team.

Robert Conredel, managing director of Gestüt Bonhomme, tells you what this development looks like and how Treffinger is supported in dressage by Gestüt Bonhomme:

Moritz Treffinger's successful horses

Top Queen H (*2009)

Breed: German Riding Pony
Gender: mare
Ethnicity: v. Top Anthony/Dark Rubin

Top Queen H is a German riding pony mare who helped Moritz Treffinger achieve international fame. With her, he won the European Pony Riders Championships in 2018. Top Queen H was characterized by her high rideability, her balanced temperament and her excellent work ethic. She was known for her elegant movements and her ability to perform consistently even under pressure. The success with Top Queen H laid the foundation for Treffinger's career and made him known in the dressage scene.

Treffinger's Standing Ovation (*2011)

Breed: Hanoverian
Gender: stallion
Ethnicity: v. Surprice/Arogno

Treffinger's Standing Ovation was the horse that accompanied Moritz Treffinger into junior class. The Hanoverian stallion impressed with his strength and expressive gait. His strength lay in particular in the trotting tour, where he scored points with his momentum and speed. Standing Ovation helped Treffinger to master the requirements of higher dressage classes and gain important experience at junior level.

Treffinger's Superstition OLD (*2013)

Breed: Oldenburger
Gender: stallion
Ethnicity: v. Surprice/Hotline

Superstition is an Oldenburg stallion who has been presented by Moritz Treffinger in the Young Rider category since 2021. The stallion impresses with his fine, elegant movements and his willingness to learn. Especially during the gallop tour shows Superstition his quality, where he scores points with good pirouettes and smooth changes. Moritz and Superstition form a harmonious team that is making continuous progress and has been successful in various tournaments.

Francis Royal (*2013)

Breed: Oldenburger
Gender: mare
Ethnicity: v. Franziskus/Rubin Royal

Francis Royal is an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare who is successfully presented in dressage by Moritz Treffinger. With her, Treffinger took eighth place in the Best Prize in 2023, which underlines the mare's high quality and potential. Francis Royal is known for her powerful, expressive movements and her ability to concentrate in a square. She shows her strengths especially in the side passages and the gallop tour. Francis Royal and Moritz Treffinger are constantly working to optimize their services and compete at the highest level.

More horses from Moritz Treffinger

Thanks to his work at Bonhomme stud, Treffinger now has some top horses under the saddle. In the following video, Moritz explains what they are and whether there are also one or the other favorite among horses:

Moritz Treffinger's biggest successes

Here is a chronological list of Moritz Treffinger's greatest successes:

2018: European pony rider champion
Pony: Top Queen H
Success: Gold medal at the European Pony Championships

2019: German Junior Champion
Horse: Standing Ovation
Success: Gold medal at the German Youth Championships in the junior category

2021: Entry into the Young Rider Category
Horse: Superstition
Success: Successful participation in national and international tournaments

2023:8th place in the Best Prize
Horse: Francis Royal
Success: 8th place in the Young Riders category at the Best Prize, one of the most important competitions for young talent in Germany

2023: Successes in the Piaff Sponsorship Prize
Horses: Cadeau Noir and Fiderdance
Success: Victory and top placements in the screening tests and qualifications of the Piaff Sponsorship Prize, a competition to promote young dressage riders in Germany

We are excited to see what the coming years have in store for Moritz Treffinger.

FAQs - Moritz Treffinger

Who is Moritz Treffinger?

Moritz Treffinger is a young German dressage rider who became known in the dressage scene for his outstanding achievements. He became European pony rider champion in 2018 and has since achieved numerous successes at junior and young rider level.

When was Moritz Treffinger born?

Moritz Treffinger was born in 2003.

What successes has Moritz Treffinger achieved so far?

Moritz Treffinger won the European Pony Riders Championships in 2018 with Top Queen H. He has also achieved several important placements at junior and U25 level, including eighth place in the Best Prize 2023 with Francis Royal.

Which stud farm does Moritz Treffinger ride for?

Moritz Treffinger is part of the equestrian team at Gestüt Bonhomme in Werder, Germany. He joined the stud in 2023.

Which horses did Moritz Treffinger ride?

Moritz Treffinger's well-known horses include:

• Top Queen H (German Riding Pony)
• Standing Ovation (Hanoverian)
• Superstition (Oldenburger)
• Francis Royal (Oldenburger)

What are Moritz Treffinger's future goals?

Moritz Treffinger plans to further expand his career and qualify for higher tournaments, including the European Championships. He strives to refine his skills and continuously develop his horses.

How did Moritz Treffinger start his career?

Treffinger began his career in pony riding and achieved success early on. His breakthrough came in 2018 when he became European pony rider champion.