Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Preps for HITS

January 27, 2013 Filed under AIG Thermal $1 Million Posted by
Merdith Michaels Beerbaum and Cantano on course at Del Mar.

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Cantano ride at Del Mar. (Photo by Michael J. Marten)

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum grew up in Los Angeles, getting her early training at the Foxfield Riding School and then with Karen Healey. She began her migration east, attending Princeton, then moving further east to Germany, where she trained with Paul Shockemöhle and met and married Markus Beerbaum.

With Shutterfly, Michaels-Beerbaum won the World Cup Finals three times (2005, 2008, 2009). She has competed at multiple Olympics, riding for Germany, and was ranked #1 in the Rolex World Rankings for 11 consecutive months, from February to December 2008.
She talked to HITS News Weekly Editor Paula Parisi about attending the 2013 Desert Circuit.

HITS News Weekly: How do you feel about returning to California, where you grew up?
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum: I am very excited to be coming back to Thermal! It is like a homecoming for me. I rode in Indio all through my junior years and have many friends and family in California. I can’t wait to see them all. It is so great to come “home” and be welcomed by so many people with open arms.

HNW: Having previously competed at the Desert Circuit, how does it compare with other horse shows in which you participate?
MMB: This circuit is a great one for both horse and rider. That’s why it is important for our students like Saer and Lucy. They are both in the running for the World Cup Final and there are three qualifiers in Thermal. I hope they can rack up the necessary points. I’m also very excited about the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix.

Meredith Michaels Beerbaum smiles for the camera at an autograph session.

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum

HNW: How many horses are you bringing to Thermal?
MMB: I am bringing all my horses this year. Bella Donna is my top horse. I rode her at the Olympics last year. She is an amazing talent and I was just starting with her when I showed her two years ago in Thermal. She and I are almost qualified for the World Cup Final. My goal is to be competing at the World Cup Final this year with my students!
Good ol’ Checkmate, who is 18 years old now, is also coming. I won the team gold with him at WEG in Kentucky in 2010. But recently he had an injury and has not been competing for the past half-year. I hope he makes a good comeback.

Cantano will also be in Thermal. He and I had a couple of good international wins last year. He is like a rock star in California after all his success with Susie Hutchison. Maybe she can give me some tips!

Malou is an up-and-coming young Swedish mare who will be doing her first season of grand prix. She is very talented and just needs experience. I have a new mount in Unbelievable, who is owned by the Suida family and was previously ridden by Peter Wylde. I am very excited about him and my future with him at the top of the sport. We just need to get to know each other.

HNW: And you’re bringing your husband Markus Beerbaum, who must really enjoy the break from the German winter!
MMB: Yes! And most importantly we are bringing our daughter Brianne, my pride-and-joy in life. Markus and I are so looking forward to our family time in Southern California. I will finally get a chance to spend time with my mother, who I miss so much. And of course, there might also be time on the week off to visit my dad and step-mom in Hawaii! I arrive in California on the 29th and I can’t wait!