ARD Equestrian Sports: Interviewer Sabine Hartelt Says Goodbye; Commentator Carsten Sostmeier Talks About Ending His Career
TV Legends: Sabine Hartelt Says Goodbye, Carsten Sostmeier Announces Retirement
from Jan Tönjes 
ARD Equestrian TV Legends: Carsten Sostmeier and Sabine Hartelt. Photos: sportfotos-lafrentz.de and sostiontour Sabine Hartelt and Carsten Sostmeier—for decades, they were the well-coordinated team behind ARD’s equestrian sports broadcasts. The Olympics, Aachen, World and European Championships… Sostmeier provided commentary on the competitions, while Hartelt “caught up with” the riders for interviews after they finished their rides or at the end of the competition. A perfectly coordinated duo. Both have already been honored with the “Silbernes Pferd” Media Award for their work.
Sabine Hartelt comes from a family that didn’t have much to do with horses. But once she had ridden a pony, it was clear that horses would be a part of her life.
Hartelt: Combining Horses and a Career
Her desire to “do something with horses” was further strengthened by her stay at a ranch in the U.S. Soon after, Sabine Hartelt was able to combine journalism—that is, her professional career—with the world of horses, becoming the epitome of public broadcasting coverage of equestrian tournaments. She was In her role as a “sideline reporter”—the one who was the first to get the athletes in front of the microphone after their ride. The fact that she always struck the right note—even in difficult situations—was evidenced by the bouquet of flowers Ludger Beerbaum gave her to thank her for her consistently fair reporting.
Sostmeier Through Los Angeles 2028
Still in office, but certainly not set to compete at the 2030 World Championships, is the second ARD icon, Carsten Sostmeier. As a young man, he himself competed in S-level show jumping. The commentator, known for his tendency toward flowery storytelling, has shared his retirement plans with the German Press Agency (dpa). The BILD newspaper was the first to break the story. He still dreams of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but “Sosti” has made it clear that he’ll call it quits after that at the latest. Of course, in classic “Sostmeier” style: “I can feel the old horse pawing the ground, still with his sights set on the Olympics.”
