Riding has always been Pia Fortmüller’s passion. Her career has taken her from North America to Europe, and from the highest pinnacles of success to the depths of despair. Throughout all the ups and downs, the 30-year-old from Calgary has never lost her love for the sport.
As a youngster growing up in Calgary, AB, Pia was heavily influenced by her mother, well-known equestrian Dagmar Fortmüller, and grew up enjoying everything from 4-H to eventing, jumping, and even western trail riding, However, it was in the dressage ring that she really shone.
Following a successful Young Rider career which culminated in her capturing the team and individual gold medals at the 2006 Young Rider Championships, Pia moved to Germany in 2009 to train full time. That decision paid off when she purchased a Dutch Warmblood named Orion the same year. The gelding had been trained as a youngster through to grand prix by BC rider and Pia’s Canadian trainer Leslie Reid, who qualified on him for the 2008 Olympics. Orion was sent to Steffan Peters to be sold and was then moved to Leonie Brammall’s yard in Germany, where Pia was training at the time.