Sabrina von Buttlarโ€™s path most recently included a victory in the 2019 Jump Canada Medal National Final at the illustrious Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON. The Jump Canada Medal win signaled the realization of a dream the 18-year-old athlete, from Stouffville, ON, has had for nearly a decade.

Sabrina von Buttlar gets advice from her dad, Juergen, on a course walk. Photo by Mackenzie Clark

Sabrina von Buttlar gets advice from her dad, Juergen, on a course walk. Photo by Mackenzie Clark

Riding is in Sabrina von Buttlarโ€™s Genes

Von Buttlarโ€™s dream of winning the Jump Canada Medal National Final was formed around the same time that she began competing in the equitation division, but her desire to ride and compete successfully was fostered long before that. In fact, it is in her genes.

Von Buttlarโ€™s grandmother, Eva Maria Pracht, is a two-time Olympian and was a member of the Canadian dressage team that brought home the bronze medal from the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Her great grandfather, the legendary Dr. Josef Neckermann, won six medals in four Olympic appearances (1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972) for his native Germany including two team gold medals. When Sabrinaโ€™s own parents, Martina Pracht and Juergen von Buttlar, married, they brought together the best of both the dressage and show jumping worlds โ€“ Martina having represented Canada at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics while Juergen was a renowned show jumping trainer working with the likes of Canadian Olympic gold medalist, Eric Lamaze.

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