Checker

Checker – in the saddle of the gray horse, Christian Kukuk became the first German Olympic champion in show jumping in 2024 for 28 years, since Ulrich Kirchhoff won individual gold with Jus de Pommes in Atlanta in 1996. Checker also made headlines because one of its co-owners is soccer legend Thomas Müller.

Olympic gold in the genes

Checker is a Westphalian who was born at Wolfgang Kipp in 2010. He spent the first part of his career in the stables of national coach Otto Becker. As a young horse, the gray horse had previously stood in Hubert Vornholt’s stable in Münster. In 2016, Otto Becker acquired Checker.

The gray is a son of Comme il faut, who at the time was growing into one of the most successful show jumpers in Germany under Marcus Ehning. Through his dam Ratina Z by Ramiro, Checker is the grandson of an Olympic champion.

Rodrigo Pessoa’s 2004 Athens Olympic champion Baloubet du Rouet is listed as a great-grandfather in the horse’s passport on his mother’s side. Checker’s dam’s sire Come On competed in advanced show jumping under Otto Becker, Ralf Schneider and Princess Haya of Jordan.

From Becker to Kukuk

Under various riders, including Kaya Ehning and Frederick Troschke, the gray horse was systematically built up at Otto Becker’s stables in Albersloh. At the age of ten, Checker changed hands and from then on was at home at the Beerbaum Stables in Riesenbeck.

Christian Kukuk was his rider from the very beginning. He once said that the gray’s head was so big because he was so smart. Checker was a quick learner. Only one other rider ever competed with the gray at tournaments: Ludger Beerbaum, Christian Kukuk’s boss.

In 2021, the Westphalian found new owners, Madeleine Winter-Schulze, long-time patron of Ludger Beerbaum, and M & H GbR. Footballer Thomas Müller also bought a share of the mold. Because he wanted to “share the excitement in his hotel room in the evening after the games”, as he says. This is how the former FC Bayern star achieved an Olympic victory.

Four-legged millionaire

As of fall 2025, Checker has earned more than 3.5 million euros in career prize money. Following his victory at the Olympic Games in Paris, he won the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, the League of Nations. In March 2025, Kukuk had two reasons to celebrate: Just a few hours after the birth of his daughter, Checker helped him secure victory in the 5* Grand Prix in Wellington. The $247,500 in prize money for this triumph, if invested wisely, should cover his little daughter’s allowance for years to come.