On Sunday, 19-year-old Sophie Luisa Duen received a very special honor at the Agravis Cup in the Halle Münsterland: she was awarded the Golden Riding Badge.
Sophie Luisa Duen came trotting in for her award with Maxim in top form. Ute Fisser-Hülsmeier, chairwoman of Sophie’s home association, the KRFV Minden-Lübbecke, took over the honors. Dozens of friends, relatives and acquaintances were present, all holding white and gold balloons. Among them was Sophie’s grandfather, the former national coach of the riders, Bernd Duen. Even though Sophie carries his genes and those of her father, four-in-hand world champion Rainer Duen, her heart beats for dressage – like that of her mother Danica, herself a highly successful trainer and head of the stallion station of the same name. And so Sophie is also at home in the dressage arena.
“Talent, diligence and exceptional determination” are the qualities that have made it possible for Sophie to pin the Golden Riding Badge on her coat lapel at the age of just 19, explained her trainer Marcus Hermes in his laudatory speech. Alongside him and her mother, it was the stallions at Gut Neuenhof that made Sophie’s dream come true. With Goldberg, Escorial and Maxim, she has not only ridden to the ten victories required for the Golden Riding Badge, but now also twelve advanced (S) level victories.
However, Hermes not only talked about the successes, but also about Sophie’s personality, which made these successes possible in the first place. Sophie faced the pressure of expectations in a family where horses and riding are not only a passion but also a livelihood with “inner strength, professionalism and composure”. She has gone her own way with clarity, discipline and respect for the horse. “That’s what characterizes great sports personalities,” says Hermes. He is right! We can only agree with this, congratulate Sophie most sincerely and wish her and us many more great experiences and successes with the horses of Gestüt Gut Neuenhof. We know she is in the best hands with her.