We are proud to introduce you to our knowledgeable team. We are happy to support you through all questions and wishes you may have.

Isabel Bache, Head Rider

Isabel was born in Oslo, Norway, in 1979. Infected by the horse virus at  a very early age, she came to Germany in 1999 to begin her training as a professional rider.

Initially coming to Holga Finken’s stables in 2001 for an internship, she was soon employed as a trainee by Holga.

Her first successes as a rider followed even before she had completed her traineeship. With the 5-year-old mare Funny Girl she placed second at the 2005 Bundeschampionate (German championships for young horses), thus earning the title vice-champion.

In 2007 and 2008 she represented Norway at the World Championships for Young Horses in Verden.

Aboard the 4-year-old Hanoverian stallion Bergerac, she won the bronze medal at the 2008 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf. She proceeded to repeat this success one year later with the 4-year-old Pony gelding Nagano’s Son. Also in 2009, she presented the now 5-year-old stallion Bergerac at the World Championships for Young Horses, this time riding for Germany.

As a whole, the year 2009 turned out to be very successful for Isabel: she was able to win 10 S-Level dressage competitions aboard one and the same horse, Lagerfeld. She was a awarded the Goldene Reitabzeichen for this outstanding achievement.

Saskia Lieben-Seutter, Pferdewirtschaftsmeisterin (The "Pferdewirtschaftsmeister" is Germany's master certification and normally takes a minimum of five years to complete, offering a selection of specializations – riding, breeding, etc.).

Saskia was born in Vienna in 1975. After completing austrian High School/ Matura, she began studying film production at the Vienna Film-Making Academy. But soon it became clear to her that her passion did not lie with movie-making, but rather with horses and riding. She saw her future in the horse world and decided to move to Germany to further her riding skills.

So, in 1998, she arrived at Holga Finken’s stables, initially holding a position as an intern. When Holga offered her a permanent traineeship just a few months later, she decided to stay in Germany and began her training as Pferdewirt, specializing in riding. She passed her test for Pferdewirtschaftsmeisterin in 2006 with flying colours, earning highest marks and a recommendation.

Following her exams, she moved to Baden-Würtemberg, where she was responsible for the schooling of dressage horses at a private facility. She lead a team of 3 riders and several grooms and presented dressage horses in competitions up to Prix St.Georges and Intermediate I levels.

She returned to Kirchwalsede in 2008. Her successes as a rider include participating at Bundeschampionate and riding at the World Championships for Young Horses in Verden several times, as well as many wins and placings in dressage competitions from lower levels throughout S-Level classes.

 

Vera Stelzer

Vera was born 1970 in Lüneburg. After finishing her school career in 1988, she initially found a job as a groom in one of Germany’s most respected show jumping stables – at Achaz von Buchwaldt’s facility. There, she was responsible for Lars Nieberg’s horses, accompanying him to national and international competitions for 2 years.

In 1990, she decided on a radical career change and began a traineeship to become a carpenter. She even completed this traineeship, only to discover that her heart belonged to horses after all. That year, she took care of Holga Finken’s horses at the Verden Elite Auction. Ever since then, she has stayed with him as a groom.

To this day she is responsible for the care of the horses at Holga Finken’s stables, and of course accompanies him to national and international competitions. With her never-ending dedication to her treasured horses, she has been and is an integral part of Holga Finken’s success.