Johann spent from 1968-72 at Münster:

“I was with Dr Klimke for almost four years, and after that I had to start my own place. My grand-father said you must come home and start something at home, so I did that.”

“I started my farm in 1972. At that time as a professional you were not allowed to ride internationally. In 84, I started to fight for the right to compete internationally. Under the FEI rules then, if you were a professional jumping rider then you could ride internationally but if you were a dressage rider you could not. I said that can’t be true, it’s like if you swim freestyle you are a professional, if you swim backstroke you are an amateur. I was the first one who was first a bereiter, and then through the riding instructor system, and still allowed to ride internationally. They had to change the rule. I was lucky to have Ideaal at the time – but before that I had won over a dozen medals in German championships but I wasn’t allowed to ride internationally.”

How did you end up riding a Dutch horse?

“Volker Moritz was riding Ideaal, just 30 kilometres from my home. We bought him at the time as a horse we can sell again but I found out he was that good I said I’ll keep him and compete with him in international competition.”

In 1986, Jo and Ideaal won team gold and individual bronze at the Dressage World Championships in Cedar Valley. In 1987, they won team gold and individual bronze again, this time at the European Championships in Goodwood.

In 1996, Johann was awarded the rarely bestowed title of Reitmeister – Master Rider.

He has trained a number of top international riders including Coby van Baalen and her daughter, Marlies, the American rider, Christine Traurig and Germany’s Alexandra Simons-de Ridder.