Even as a boy, Richard Vogel had a keen business sense: by trading saddles and bridles and selling horses he had trained, he earned enough money to buy his first horse at the age of 16. What has happened since then is an unrivalled success story. In the new episode of the CHIO Aachen Podcast, the 28-year-old reveals how the early death of his mother influenced him, what his dreams are and why he has no interest in horror films and roller coasters.

Richard Vogel is a bit of a character, he says so himself. He lists his quirks as being impatient, stubborn and very direct. “Sometimes that’s not easy, for others and for myself. But these characteristics are also partly responsible for the fact that I am where I am today,” analyses the current shooting star. In the new episode of the CHIO Aachen Podcast, which marks the start of the second season, he talks openly about his journey from a former school drop-out to the world’s top show jumping riders.

His school career didn’t start so badly, “but when I moved to secondary school, things gradually went downhill, I have to admit. My thoughts and my daily routine and routines in general were increasingly focussed on horses and less and less on school. The absences added up, and at some point Richard Vogel decided to give up school for the time being – against the advice of many people around him. “Even though I’m certainly not a role model, looking back I wouldn’t do it any differently. I had a passion, I had a big goal in mind and I worked 100 per cent in that direction,” says the 28-year-old.

The fact that this passion became so strong in the first place has a lot to do with his mother. She infected him with her enthusiasm for horses, and after her far too early death, when Richard Vogel was just twelve years old, he wanted to dedicate his life all the more to horses. “Everything changed from one day to the next. Of course, I’d give a lot for it not to have happened like that, but even so, situations like that also make you stronger in a way and help you grow as a person,” says the ambitious yet down-to-earth rider, who runs a stable in Pfungstadt with David Will and his girlfriend Sophie Hinners.

The Vogel/Hinners couple have known each other for a long time, and the same applies to each other’s quirks, which have already been mentioned. ‘But we complement each other very well and are stronger as a unit than as individuals,’ he notes, adding with a wink when looking at their relationship: ‘Lucky for me – she has to live with it now. One of their sporting dreams is to compete for Germany in a championship together, otherwise they like to relax by watching films. ‘But no horror films, they give me sleepless nights,’ comments the current number nine in the world rankings.

When it comes to his own goals, he still has a score to settle after last year’s Rolex Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen. ‘We had a surreal week in Aachen in 2024, all of the horses fought and outdid themselves,’ he initially said about the many top placings at the World Equestrian Festival. However, the last pole fell during the highlight on Sunday after Richard Vogel was the fastest to complete the course in the jump-off. ”In the very first moment, we lost the Rolex Grand Prix and didn’t win third place. But now, of course, we want to win all the more.”

Find out what other goals Richard Vogel has and where he can relax best in the new episode of the CHIO Aachen Podcast. You can find it here and wherever podcasts are available.