At present, the most talked-about equestrian discipline in Spain is dressage. This is hardly surprising after the two World Cup events (San Patrignano and Mechelen) won by Beatriz Ferrer Salat, along with the results of our team in Aachen, the 2001 European Championship, and Sydney 2000.
Nicole Uphoff
There’s also no doubt that female riders dominate: Beatriz Ferrer Salat, Isabell Werth, Ulla Salzgeber, Anky van Grunsven... But when reflecting on these equestrians, it’s essential to mention Nicole Uphoff, who was undoubtedly the leading star of global dressage from 1987 to 1996—an era in which she faced no rivals.
Nicole was later succeeded by her compatriot Isabell Werth, then by Anky van Grunsven, and today, the throne belongs to Ulla Salzgeber.
Early and Spectacular Beginnings That Hinted at Greatness
In 1987, she already became the European Young Riders Champion (Cervia) individually and with her team aboard Rembrandt, her exceptional Westphalian stallion sired by Romadour, with whom she achieved her most significant triumphs. That same year foreshadowed her sporting career, as she also won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special in Rotterdam and Lausanne.
Back then, the young Nicole trained with Dr. Uwe Schulten, though she later worked with Klaus Blakenhol and Schulten Baumer—not to mention the invaluable lessons she learned from the great Harry Boldt, who was head of the German team during Uphoff’s golden era.
Nicole and Rembrandt
Nicole’s sporting career is inseparable from the legendary Rembrandt, with whom she secured her most important victories, cementing him as the finest dressage horse of his time.
Rembrandt was a dark bay of exceptional class, showcasing elegance, ease, and grace in the arena—a stark contrast to the image of powerful German sport horses. Yet his sheer brilliance, which set him apart, occasionally caused Nicole trouble when the horse grew distracted or spooked, perhaps to release his pent-up energy and competitive drive.
An Unmatched Legacy with Rembrandt
As mentioned, Rembrandt was the horse behind her greatest triumphs. To summarise (though we’ll detail his full record later), they won four Olympic gold medals in Seoul and Barcelona (team and individual), the 1990 European Championships in Stockholm (team and individual), the 1994 European Championships in The Hague (team gold and individual silver), the European Championships in 1989, 1991, and 1993 (team and individual) and 1995 (team), multiple victories at Aachen... Need we say more?
For years, Nicole and her horse were the favourites in major competitions, with team gold virtually guaranteed—simply being part of the German squad (which she always was) made it inevitable.
Barcelona ’92: A Masterclass
At Barcelona ’92, her "teammate" Isabell Werth scored 1,626 with Gigolo in the Individual Final—an exceptional performance that many believed would clinch gold. But Nicole Uphoff delivered one of the finest routines in history, also scoring 1,626, and rightfully took the gold. Rembrandt, seemingly aware he was competing at the Olympic Games, refused to let the powerful but less graceful Gigolo steal his crown. The message was clear: Nicole and Rembrandt were unmatched.
Rembrandt’s Decline Begins
The first setback came when the horse was injured during the closing ceremony at Aachen 1993—a year where Nicole secured rankings with Grand Gilbert. He later recovered, earning team gold and individual silver at the 1994 European Championships in The Hague. But that same year, after winning the Grand Prix Special in Steinhagen, he limped off with a more serious injury.
Naturally, Rembrandt received top-tier veterinary care, and in 1995, he triumphed in the Bad Salzuflen Grand Prix Special, the Aachen Grand Prix, the Stuttgart German Masters Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, and the European Team Championship in Borbet Mondorf.
By 1996, rumours swirled about the horse’s declining health. Nicole competed mostly with Sir Lennox that year, though Rembrandt placed 3rd in the German National Championships. At Aachen, they won team gold despite finishing 4th in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special and 5th in the Kur, earning selection for Atlanta ’96—a decision heavily influenced by her then-husband, Otto Becker.
Nicole’s choice to ride Rembrandt in Atlanta sparked controversy. Many insisted the horse was unfit, even injured, but officials trusted the legend of the sport. In the Grand Prix, they placed ninth (70.04%), and eighth in the Grand Prix Special (73.02%). Rembrandt was clearly not himself. Nicole’s expression leaving the arena spoke volumes. Then, the horse failed the veterinary check for the Final—a moment witnessed by thousands, igniting a firestorm of criticism and pressure.
The jury’s decision, though harsh, was undeniably just. Rembrandt’s injury had clearly hampered his performance in prior days, and even in the Final, he’d have been no match for Hanoverian Gigolo, who showcased unmatched strength, movement, and vitality. Four years later in Sydney, Anky van Grunsven’s Bonfire avenged Gigolo’s loss, proving grace could once again overpower brute strength.
By 1997, Uphoff’s wins came with Sir Lennox and Plaisir d’Amour—Rembrandt’s competitive days were over. A year later, he was retired.
Nicole Steps Away from Elite Competition
In 1998, Nicole moved from Varendorf to Vorwerk, then to Vechta with her partner, New Zealand showjumper Trevor Morgen, focusing on riding River Bleu, Ephedra, Friedenfurt, and Futurus. But the golden era of Germany’s dressage queen had ended. Nicole knew finding another Rembrandt was impossible. She’d won everything. For her, only victory felt right. Though retired, she left a legacy that delighted all who appreciate masterful horsemanship.
This modest biography also pays tribute to Rembrandt—the undisputed cornerstone of Nicole Uphoff’s career—who brought immense joy to lovers of fine horses, where class reigns supreme.
