Famed for his cool, quiet riding style, Germany’s Marcus Ehning was something of a star from the start, starring in Pony and Young Rider Championships.

“At home we always had horses around and therefore it was easier to take up the sport. Show jumping is the most interesting part of equestrian sports, because you are able to ride quickly.”

Marcus rode the great For Pleasure to European and Olympic medals, and the stallion has now demonstrated that he is a great sire as well as a competitor with nine of his progeny on the preliminary entry list for Rio.

RIO update: Marcus has been selected in the German team on the Westfalien stallion, Cornado. He told Noelle Floyd of World of Showjumping: “Cornado has quality, scope and his way of jumping is incredible. He really is an amazing jumper – he really is a horse for the future. He is a stallion, and he is a fresh stallion. I got him when he was nine but back then he was a bit too fresh and over-motivated, and I really had to work on getting him more under control.”

Fast Facts

Two-time European Team Gold medallist in 1999 and 2003 with For Pleasure

2000 Sydney Olympic Team Gold medallist with For Pleasure

2002 Competed in the WEG with For Pleasure

2003 European Individual Bronze medallist with For Pleasure

2003 FEI World Cup winner with Anka

2006 World Championship Team Bronze medallist with Noltes Kuchengirl

2006 FEI World Cup Final winner with Sandro Boy

2007 European Team Silver medallist with Noltes Küchengirl

2009 European Team Silver medallist with Plot Blue

2010 World Championship Team Gold medallist with Plot Blue

2010 FEI World Cup Final winner with Noltes Kuchengirl/Plot Blue

2012 Competed in the London Olympics with Plot Blue

2013 LGCT Cannes Grand Prix winner with Plot Blue

2014 LGCT Vienna Grand Prix winner with Plot Blue

2014 LGCT Madrid Grand Prix Silver medallist with Plot Blue

2014 LGCT Paris Grand Prix Bronze medallist with Cornado NRW

2014 Competed in the World Championships finishing 4th in the Team event

2015 LGCT Rome Grand Prix Bronze medallist with Comme il faut

2016 Selected for Rio Olympic team with Cornado