You Have to Sacrifice Everything for the Horse” — Helena Stormanns on Horsemanship, Resilience, and Legacy

From English Beginnings to a Life in the Saddle

Helena Stormanns, a revered name in international showjumping, may today be known as one of the great horsewomen and trainers of her generation, but her story began far from the grandeur of international arenas — in the modest countryside of England, on a borrowed pony, armed only with grit and passion.

“I was five when I started riding at the local riding school,” she recalls. “My parents weren’t horsey at all — my father was a car dealer — but the moment I sat on a horse, I just knew. That was it. I just wanted to ride.”

Determined to make it happen, young Helena found a way to earn her place in the saddle. “The riding school owner said if I came every Saturday and Sunday to muck out, I could get a free lesson at the end of the day,” she says. “So I rode my bicycle, mucked out in the mornings, and earned my lesson in the evening. That’s how it all started.”

Opportunities, Sacrifices, and a Silver Medal Mentor

As Helena’s natural talent became evident, fate introduced her to a local family whose children had lost interest in their ponies. “They just gave me the ponies to ride,” she says with a grin. “That really started it all.”

When it became clear that horses weren’t just a hobby but a calling, her father gave her some honest advice. “He said, ‘If you want to do this, you need to work for a professional.’ So I did — I went to work for Malcolm Pyrah.”

It was a turning point, but not an easy one. “It was really hard,” she admits. “After three weeks, I rang my dad in tears. I wanted to come home. But he said, ‘No. If you want to ride, you stay. Otherwise, stop riding.’ I had no choice — and thank God I stayed. I learned more than I ever could have imagined.”

The Horse That Changed Everything: Just Malone

In the early years, Helena cut her teeth on off-the-track thoroughbreds. “I’d go to the Doncaster sales and buy racehorses that didn’t make it. They were cheap, and wild, and sometimes dangerous — but they taught me to ride.”

But everything changed when she met Just Malone, a striking gelding with heart and scope. “He was a game-changer. That horse gave me one of the biggest moments of my career.”

It was with Just Malone that Helena won the Grand Prix of Rome — a memory that still resonates deeply.

“To be back here in Rome now, all these years later, it’s incredibly emotional,” she says, looking out at the arena. “This city holds something very personal for me. Winning here with Just Malone was magic. That horse gave me everything. And being back — it’s like walking back into your own history.”

From British Flag to German Colors

Helena’s move to Germany was prompted by love — “I married a German,” she says simply — but it also proved a smart professional choice.

“To be honest, for our sport, it’s better to live on the continent,” she explains. “In England now, especially with Brexit, it’s a disaster. It’s hard to travel, hard to show. Here in Germany, everything’s easier.”

Switching nationalities was not just logistical — it was also symbolic. “It’s tough riding for Germany,” she admits. “The competition is insane. But if you’re good, and you get on the team, you also have a better chance to win. And I learned so much.”

Moving to Germany brought her face-to-face with the best riders in the world. “That was when Franke Sloothaak, Ludger Beerbaum, and Paul Schockemöhle were dominating. Watching how they rode on the flat, how they trained these massive warmbloods — it was eye-opening. In England, I was used to thoroughbreds, to hunting. Suddenly I had to learn to ride a totally different kind of horse.”

Injury, Motherhood, and Four Years Out of the Ring

Helena’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. “I’d never skied as a child, but I decided to try it. Big mistake,” she laughs grimly. “I tore my cruciate ligament and ended up needing two surgeries. Then I had my son, Tony — which was a huge, beautiful change in my life. After that, I finally got back on a young horse, and of course, it took off with me. I jumped off, landed badly, and broke the same leg — right where they’d fixed the ligament. That meant two more surgeries. In the end, I was out for nearly four years. It felt endless.”

During those years, she discovered a new side of herself: the teacher. “I had to make a living, so I started training more — and I started to really love it. I felt fulfilled. As a rider, you’re selfish — everything is about you, your round, your result. But as a trainer, you think about someone else’s success. And every time they win, I feel like I won.”

On Horsemanship: “There Are No Days Off”

For Helena, horsemanship means responsibility and sacrifice. “The horse doesn’t know what day it is. It doesn’t know if it’s Christmas or Sunday. It just needs care, every single day. That’s your job.”

She wants her students to go beyond chasing ribbons. “I want them to understand the animal. Not just ride it. Not just buy success. You have to know your horse like you know your child.”

And the basics matter: “The best thing my dad ever did was make me muck out. When you muck out every day, you get to know the horse — its habits, its moods, everything. That’s real horsemanship.”

On Training: “I Still Ride, But I Don’t Need to Compete”

Today, Helena balances her time between teaching, managing horses, and still riding herself. “I rode three horses this morning — just on the flat, keeping them supple. But I have no ambition to compete. I want my students to win.”

Asked what she still dreams of achieving, she doesn’t hesitate. “To train a rider who wins an individual gold medal — that would be it for me. Whether it’s Europeans, World Games, or the Olympics, that would be the pinnacle.”

Training Her Son: “Get Off. I’ll Show You.”

Training your own child is another kind of challenge, she admits. “I’m probably harder on Tony than anyone else. But at least I can still prove my point. When he says, ‘The horse won’t do it,’ I just say, ‘Get off.’ I get on, do it, then tell him, ‘Now you get back on with a different attitude.’”

Her joy is in watching young riders grow — but also in preserving the right knowledge. “There are so many trainers today who never really rode, or don’t understand the horse. They’re spreading bad knowledge. We have to pass down the good stuff — the legacy. That’s our job now.”

A Responsibility to the Sport

Helena is also passionate about educating people outside the sport, particularly in the face of growing scrutiny. “Animal rights activists — a lot of them don’t understand. If they came and saw how we treat these horses — the feeding, the massage, the ice, the rest — they’d realize these are top athletes. We’re just the passengers.”

And like any great athlete, the horse needs more than talent. “You can buy a great horse, but that doesn’t mean you’ll win. Just like anyone can drive a car — but not like Verstappen. You still have to learn how to ride it.”

Legacy and Passion

After decades of competing, Helena’s fire still burns — but now it burns for others. “My job now is to help the next generation. Teach them to work, to muck out, to learn. The horse comes first, always.”

In her words: “You have to make sacrifices for the horse. All of them. And if you’re not willing to do that, you’ll never really be a horse person.”

Helena Stormanns lives and trains in Germany. Her son, Tony Stormanns, is an emerging young rider, and Helena continues to coach top-level athletes worldwide while staying true to her roots: always putting the horse first.

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