Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Brianne Beerbaum in the CHIO Aachen Podcast
Mother-daughter duo Michaels-Beerbaum: Big dreams and small jumps
from Dominique Wehrmann 
No, Olympic Games, World Championships – none of this was the biggest dream of Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who is still the only woman ever to have topped the world rankings for show jumpers (2004, mainly thanks to her unforgettable Shutterfly). Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum – or MMB – was already dreaming of riding in Aachen back then, when she was still at home in the USA. The hallowed turf at the Soers was her goal.
She has achieved her goal, not just once, but many times. She won the Grand Prix of Aachen in 2005 and took bronze at the World Equestrian Games a year later. In 2011, Shutterfly (“the most perfect horse in the world”) was spontaneously retired from the sport at the Soers after winning the European Grand Prix shortly beforehand. His rider cried, the groom cried, everyone cried. This is just a selection of the special experiences that Meredith Michael-Beerbaum associates with the CHIO Aachen.
She shares her memories in the CHIO Aachen Podcast. She talks about her beginnings in Germany, low points, self-doubt, her riding development and career milestones.
From the hobby horse course to the Golden Riding Badge
MMB is not alone in the podcast. She is joined by her daughter Brianne, who has long since made a name for herself in show jumping. She celebrates her 16th birthday at the end of February – and already has her Golden Riding Badge for ten advanced (S) level victories under her belt. She has represented Germany three times at the European Championships, winning team gold in the children’s event in 2023 and bronze in the U14 class in 2024. In 2025, she was on the road with her pony Sucato.
Brianne has known the CHIO Aachen since she was a little girl. Back then, she accompanied her parents, who were still riding themselves. In 2015, MMB was part of the German team that won silver at the European Championships at the Soers. That was probably around the time when Brianne also gained her first merits here – on foot in the CHIO Kids Club course.
What the Beerbaum family does when it’s not about the horses, Taylor Swift, favorite food, riding and school – these are all topics of the latest episode of the CHIO Aachen Podcast, which you can listen to here.
