Love affair over: Dream couple splits up – but reunited at the World Cup

This love story was truly beautiful. A couple rides together on the national team and celebrates their medals together.

July 21, 2026

From:
Thomas Debelyak

Two years ago at the European Show Jumping Championships in Spain, Sophie Hinners and Richard Vogel, the dream couple of equestrian sport, embraced and kissed each other after winning bronze and gold, respectively. But that won't happen at the World Championships in Aachen.

“Yes, unfortunately, the dream couple is no longer together,” says Vogel, shrugging his shoulders. “We’re no longer together.” After several years together, the pair have separated. Hinners has moved out of their shared apartment.

Equestrian fans surprised by split

The breakup has surprised many equestrian fans, especially since the split isn't very obvious. When Hinners and Vogel talk together, as they did last weekend at the tournament in Riesenbeck, and give each other tips for the course, it seems remarkably harmonious.

Richard Vogel in action. © TT News Agency / ANDREAS HILLERGREN

“I feel like we get along really well, treat each other with great respect,” says Hinners. “I feel that apart from the fact that we no longer live together and are no longer in a relationship, it doesn’t make that much of a difference. So I would perhaps even say that we can work together even better now.”

The former dream couple is part of the World Cup quartet.

Even after their separation, Hinners and Vogel remain connected professionally, running a sports and trading stable with David Will at three locations. And they will also form a sporting team at the World Championships in Aachen in a few weeks. Together with Marcus Ehning and Daniel Deußer, the former dream couple will make up the World Championship quartet.

“We are still very good friends and have a very, very good working relationship,” Vogel emphasizes: “And a friendly relationship, too.” The 29-year-old European singles champion adds with a grin: “We understand each other almost better now than in the final stages of the relationship.”

Clear goal for the home World Cup

Since their personal separation, Hinners and Vogel have already ridden together again for the German national team, for example in mid-June in La Baule, France, and most recently in Falsterbo, Sweden. "Therefore, I think we're doing very well as a team heading towards the World Championships," says Vogel. "We still complement each other very well as a team. We still feel stronger when we're at a tournament together."

Vogel states the goals somewhat boldly. "The goals are quite clear: that we absolutely must – this must be the expectation, the ambition – win a team medal, preferably gold, of course." After a brief hesitation, he adds: "But we all know that our sport is very closely matched at the moment."

Keywords Equestrian Dream couple