I had, in a way, no horse background in Germany, except my granddad was in the German cavalry in the Second World War. I spent weekends and holidays with my grandparents, who lived in the countryside, riding around on the heavy working horses their neighbours still had.

Farm holidays got very popular for families, so we went down to Bodensee. I went back to that farm every holiday and this is where it all started to come in the right direction. That farmer - Karl Keller Spiesshof - was like my stepfather and we still have regular contact. I have already put October 15th in my diary for the local riding club’s 50th anniversary show, as I was a foundation member.