Sophie Hinners: the first lady?

This year, the best female prospect is a German. Her name is Sophie Hinners; she is only 28 (which is young for this sport), and she is part of the Iron Dames team that won the final of the Global Champions League in Rabat last October, a team class in which they beat mostly male teams.

And Sophie is in particularly good shape at the moment, having scored her first victory at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ in Verona last November, beating Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher... and becoming the first woman to win that Grand Prix!

She is in Bordeaux to ensure her qualification for the final in Basel, and with 40 points already secured, her ticket is almost guaranteed. Eleventh in the provisional standings, she is the only woman in the top 20 of the virtually qualified list.

What is your goal here in Bordeaux? To consolidate your qualification for the final in Basel? Would you like to make history by becoming the first woman to win this World Cup Grand Prix, as you did in Verona?

My goal here is, above all, to win points and qualify for the final, and it would obviously be a dream to win this leg.

2024 was an extraordinary year, with your first major 5* victories, the GCL final, and the World Cup in Verona, where you won your first 5* Grand Prix. What are your goals and aspirations for 2025?

Yes, the 2024/2025 season has been fabulous. It was the first season in which I practically only competed in five-star competitions, including the Global Champions League, where my Iron Dames team and I finished first in the final ranking. Winning in Verona was also a memorable moment. This year I hope my team and I can attack just as hard and try to stay at the top. But we also have our sights set on the European Championships this summer, as well as one or two Nations Cups.

Can you briefly tell us about your equestrian career? Were you born into a horse family? Who did you learn from?

I come from a 'semi' equestrian family: my parents aren't riders, but my cousin, uncle, and aunt are. They introduced me to the sport, and I have been riding almost daily since I was three or four years old.

I have to admit that as a little girl I wanted to do dressage first, but I always did a bit of both with ponies before fortunately switching to show jumping. After my first apprenticeship, I went to the Netherlands to work with Emil Hendrix for three years.

That's where I started to ride internationally my first 2-, 3-, and 4-star Grand Prix. I then returned to Germany, where I settled at the Vogel & Will Equestrian stables. Richard Vogel is my boyfriend, and together with his partner David Will they run the business.

On Saturday, you'll be riding Iron Dames My Prins in the World Cup. Can you tell us about him: his qualities and flaws, how you discovered him, and his little quirks?

My Prins is a very special horse for us. My boss, David Will, previously rode him. We've known the horse for a number of years and even followed him on national competitions with his previous rider. We'd always been impressed with him and thought he had all the qualities. Shortly after David was able to ride him, Vogel Equestrian bought him.

David has already had a lot of excellent results with him, riding him in the Nations Cup and winning the Grand Prix in Mexico. I have been riding him since last year, and Deborah Mayer, the founder of Iron Dames, has 'secured' him for me so that he stays under my saddle. From our first competition last year in Falsterbo, we got on really well.

However, I must also acknowledge my luck, as David and Richard had already ridden the horse, knew him intimately, and were able to provide me with valuable advice. As a result, our adaptation period went very well and very quickly. I'd also already done flatwork at home.

As for his qualities, he has incredible ability, and every fence seems to come easily to him. He can be a bit spooky, as he was in the warm-up here in Bordeaux, and he can make little mistakes. That happens a lot on the first day; he's a wonderful horse, but he can also be very babyish when he's silly like that. But no Grand Prix is too big for him; you go out there, and you know he's going to get over all the fences. He really fights alongside me. I'm thrilled to ride him.

Tell us about this Iron Dames project: what's the idea behind this concept and the long-term objectives of this team?

Deborah Mayer created the Iron Dames project, which began with motorsport and expanded to equestrian sport in 2023.

This project supports women in top-level sport in two disciplines where women and men compete in the same classes. The idea is to support and strengthen us in these two male-dominated sports, and that's what we want to change.

We aim to demonstrate that women are capable of excelling, despite the challenges we face. But with the right strategy, a lot of hard work, and the right support, anything is possible.

This project is great, and there are more and more Iron Dames, whether they are young kart racers or experienced professionals. I'm honored to be part of this amazing project and receive such support.

Apart from you, what are your predictions for this World Cup Grand Prix in Bordeaux?

You must give everything in this kind of class; a mistake can happen quickly. The arena is new to us; we have to find our bearings. There are numerous skilled riders in this class who are eager to earn points; the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup ranking is extremely competitive at the moment; it will be a real race for points, and everyone will give it their all.

What are your first impressions of Jumping de Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is a stunning competition. My horse has to get used to having the public around the paddock, but I think this kind of setting is really nice. I can't wait to see what it's going to be like with 7,000 spectators and the incredible atmosphere that Bordeaux is known for.