19/06/2025
Markus BEERBAUM and Meredith MICHAELS - BEERBAUM
👨👩🏇 Markus Beerbaum – The Quiet Force Behind Greatness 🏇❤️
Before medals, before world titles, and before love at first sight — Markus Beerbaum was just a kid growing up in Adelebsen, Germany. The youngest of four, he spent his childhood on a farm managed by his father, far more interested in football than in horses.
But life had other plans.
At 13, he entered his first show. By 1988, he was regional champion. And soon after, training alongside his brother Ludger, the doors to international show jumping opened.
✨ In 1993, Markus became the first German to win the Stuttgart Grand Prix, riding Almox Alex — a milestone victory that marked him as one to watch.
And then, in 1992, fate stepped in at a show in Munich. That’s where he met Meredith Michaels. They fell in love. By 1998, they were married and running their own stable in Thedinghausen — a partnership that would redefine equestrian sport.
💛 Markus’s Career Highlights:
🏅 Team Gold – 1997 European Championships (Mannheim)
🏅 Team Gold – 1998 World Equestrian Games (Rome)
🥉 3rd Place – 2007 World Cup Final (Las Vegas, with Leena)
But Markus’s greatest contribution came not just in his own successes — but in lifting others. He gradually shifted his focus to supporting Meredith, who would go on to become the first woman ever ranked No. 1 in the world in show jumping.
💬 “Markus is the best decision I ever made,” says Meredith.
💬 “He’s not just my partner in life — he’s the best trainer I know.”
His expertise and calm leadership helped shape not only Meredith’s career, but those of top riders like Lucy Davis, who won team silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Markus may not always seek the spotlight, but he’s one of the sport’s most essential figures — a gifted horseman, a devoted husband, and a mentor to champions.
🏡 From Adelebsen to Thedinghausen, Markus’s journey is a reminder that greatness doesn’t always shout — sometimes it quietly builds others up to shine.