Written By: Kate Koehl and Olivia Grace Cornelia Gray
Emma Caecilia Lienert, riding under the flag of Germany, has built an impressive career on the Under 25 dressage circuit. In 2023, she won the Young Rider Prix St Georges at Mariakalnok in Hungary and the U25 CDI Grand Prix at Grote Brogel in Belgium. In 2025, she won both the U25 CDI Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle in Hagen, Germany, aboard Windermere J’Obei W.
Last season, Emma continued her success aboard Windermere J’Obei W, known in the barn as Joey, at the 2026 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla.
Emma Lienert & “Windermere J’Obei W” ©Centre Line Media
Way of Life
For Emma, dressage was part of everyday life growing up. Her mother’s own involvement with horses put Emma in the barn long before she was in the tack herself. “Being around the shows and watching great riders and horses from a young age fascinated me,” she recalled.
Building the necessary partnership between horse and rider is what triggered Emma’s love and passion for dressage. “I’m fortunate to have enough time each day to fully care for each horse myself, from tacking up to putting them back in their stall,” she said.
Back home in Germany, that means her days revolve around riding, grooming, turning out, and caring for the horses, giving her an intimate understanding of each horse’s daily needs. She even builds it into her warm-up by spending roughly 20 minutes walking at the start of every ride to settle in and give the horse her full focus. It’s an approach that’s taught her as much as it’s taught her horses. “Every horse teaches you something, especially the more challenging ones,” she said. “Some of them take more time, but in the end, they give everything they have and truly teach patience and trust.”
A New Partner in Joey
Joey came to Emma by way of New Zealand Olympian Melissa Galloway, who sold the Grand Prix mount to the German young rider. Emma has quickly built a close bond with her new partner. “I’m incredibly grateful for everything he allows me to experience,” she said. Stepping onto a horse with such an accomplished record wasn’t lost on her, but the two have already developed a genuine partnership.
Learning Alongside the Best
The Young Rider and U25 divisions have played a key role in shaping Emma into the competitor she is today. “They allow you to compete at top-level shows and learn so much from other talented riders, especially at CDIs where senior riders compete as well,” she explained. It’s a lesson she now passes along to younger riders: don’t put too much pressure on yourself and always put the horse first, because without them, none of this is possible.
Making it to Wellington
Coming to Wellington has been an amazing opportunity for Emma, one she’s grateful to the German Equestrian Federation for making possible. “You meet riders from all over the world and have excellent conditions to train and compete,” she shared. “It feels surreal to ride here after only seeing it on social media for so long.”
During the 2026 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Emma and Joey went undefeated in the U25 division, winning all seven of their starts. She also earned her first call-up to the German senior team for the Modon FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO3*, where she posted a personal best of 68.152% in the Grand Prix to help Germany take team silver. She then won individual bronze in the Grand Prix Freestyle under the lights.
Looking ahead, Emma’s goals are to keep developing horses to the highest level while growing as a rider and partner. Ultimately, she hopes to represent Germany at major championships and build lasting, successful partnerships with the horses in her care.
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