The German eventing star has had a stellar career: Individual and team gold at the London Olympics riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW; team gold and individual silver at the 2014 WEG riding Fischerrocana FST; individual gold at the 2010 WEG on Sam; and two European championship golds – in 2011 on Sam, and in 2013 on Halunke.

In the run up to the WEG at Caen, Michael was interviewed by the German Website Pferdonline.ch

You are taking the nine-year-old former Bundeschampion FischerRocana FST to Caen. How do you feel about being the defending champion?

About defending my title… I have a good feeling, I have prepared well for this, I have practised and improved this and that over the past season, the horse is fit and I will try my best. However, you shouldn’t put yourself under too much pressure and worry about defending that title, just because this is a championship. I rather focus on my riding and myself, just like at any other show.

How did you prepare for the WEG?

I have planned the season with the WEG in mind. I have tried to keep my horses happy and I have tried to find out what my horses need to focus on me and not be distracted: How long do I need to warm-up? Do I give them a ride to warm up or should I lunge them? What type of studs do I need for what terrain? I have tried to create a jigsaw puzzle that will hopefully come together well at Caen.

How do you work your horses now that there’s only a short time left before the WEG starts?

I regularly do canter work uphill and repeat the fitness work every five to six days. It depends on the ground conditions of course and how my horses are responding.

Did you try to re-create a Normandy course?

No, but I have been to Normandy two years ago and know the course. It is a pretty standard course, there are fences and tracks that I can practise anywhere. But it is very undulating and it asks a lot of the horses, they have to be very fit.

Are you looking forward to the WEG?

Yes, definitely. It is a season highlight that I have worked for for the past two years. Then it goes on for two weeks and is all over again…

Hopefully you will come home with a Gold medal?

The aim is to win a team medal. We will see about everything else. That is a new competition, a new game. But I would be happy with a good performance; it doesn’t have to be a win.

And as history records, Michael came home with individual silver, and team gold…