Riding facilities in the south of Berlin: Stahnsdorf, Kleinmachnow, Teltow and Potsdam

Anyone wanting to keep a horse in the south of Berlin has a relatively dense selection of riding facilities. Stahnsdorf, Kleinmachnow, Teltow, Potsdam-Mittelmark and northern Teltow-Fläming form perhaps the richest cluster of riding facilities in the entire Berlin commuter belt. Even so the choice is not easy — because the facilities differ significantly in specialisation, ambition and culture.

In this article we give an honest market overview: which riding facilities exist in the south of Berlin? Who specialises in which discipline? And when is which facility the right choice? We name names without disparaging competitors — because a horse owner who knows after reading which facility suits them is also our best marketing.

The geographic picture: where the cluster sits

The south of Berlin with Potsdam-Mittelmark forms the densest cluster of riding facilities in the region. Within 30 minutes’ drive of the Kurfürstendamm you find:

• Riding facilities in Stahnsdorf and its districts Schenkenhorst, Sputendorf, Güterfelde
• Riding facilities in Kleinmachnow and Teltow
• Riding facilities in the south of Berlin (Zehlendorf, Lichterfelde, Marienfelde, Lichtenrade)
• Riding facilities around Potsdam (Babelsberg, Drewitz, Werder, Caputh, Schwielowsee)
• Riding facilities in Saarmund, Michendorf, Beelitz and Ludwigsfelde

The distribution is not random: sandy soils, open fields, good A10/A115 connection and relatively low traffic on country roads make the region particularly attractive for horse-keeping. Anyone living in the south of Berlin who wants to ride has more choice here than anywhere else in the commuter belt.

Types of riding facilities in the cluster

The facilities fall into four rough categories. Each has its place — what matters is that rider, horse and facility fit.

Sport riding facilities with dressage focus. Facilities with competition-size training arenas, permanent trainer structure, regular clinics, and usually a boarding offer for ambitious riders. Very few facilities in this category are active in the south of Berlin. Eichhof Akademie in Schenkenhorst is one — with 20 × 60 m dressage arena (ebb-and-flow), indoor arena 20 × 40 m, second dressage arena 20 × 55 m, and a clinic programme with Karin Lührs (Grand Prix) and Christoph Hess.

All-round riding facilities. Larger facilities that combine dressage, jumping and leisure riding, often with a rehabilitation department or a breeding niche. Gut Marggraffshof in Teltow is a well-known example — a very large yard with over 80 stalls, Shire horse breeding and a rehab focus.

Leisure and trail-riding yards. Smaller yards focused on relaxed riding, cross-country, trail rides and simpler lessons. Reiterhof Schenkenhorst and several yards in Werder and Caputh fall into this category. Often with specialisations such as allergy-friendly stable, family riding, or specific breeds.

Active stables and movement-based yards. Facilities built to the HIT or comparable concept, with large movement areas, hay racks, drinking points and feeding stations distributed across the site. Gutshof Langerwisch in Saarmund-Langerwisch is an example — ideal for horses that need maximum social contact and movement.

Who is suited to what

The choice of the right facility depends on three questions: which discipline? what level? what training goals over the next two to three years?

If you are looking for classical dressage training — through Elementary (L), Medium (M) or Advanced (S) level — and want a permanent trainer with clear methodology: sport facilities with a dressage focus are the right choice. Pay attention to a dressage arena at competition size, an indoor arena with good footing for winter, and above all to the trainer team. A trainer with FN licence and demonstrable competition success or judge qualification is essential. Eichhof Akademie deliberately has a compact profile in this category — we train only a limited number of horses and riders, but with depth and continuity.

If you mostly ride jumping or eventing: all-round facilities with their own jumping field and access to open ground are the right choice. Here, square metres of jumping field, number and variety of obstacles, gallop tracks and cross-country access matter. Gut Marggraffshof offers broad infrastructure here.

If you have a young, social horse with airway issues, or you place value on maximum freedom of movement: active stables like Gutshof Langerwisch are the right choice. Here the concept of the yard matters — hay supply around the clock, large lying areas, sufficient social contact.

If you are a leisure rider with a family connection: leisure yards with trail-riding tradition and relaxed culture are the right choice. Here atmosphere, access to open ground, and a trainer who teaches patiently — not competition ambition — matter.

What we do well — and what we don’t

We are clearly positioned in the cluster. Eichhof Akademie is a sport riding facility with classical dressage focus and its own Hanoverian breeding. We train in dressage, jumping, eventing, seat lessons and horsemanship, with a focus on classical dressage work to the FN training scale. Our clinics are aimed at riders from Elementary (L) level and are explicitly open to outside riders.

What we deliberately are not: a trail-riding yard, a Western stable, an active stable in the HIT sense, a rehab centre, or a mass facility with two- or three-digit horse numbers. We are compact, personal and focused on sport dressage.

If you are looking for a riding facility with exactly this profile — classical dressage training in a small, personally run sport facility with its own breeding, in the south of Berlin, 20 minutes from the Kurfürstendamm — then we are the obvious choice. If not, we will gladly help you find the right one elsewhere.

Practical tip: see three facilities, not one

Whether you decide for or against us — see at least three facilities on site. Note what you see, what you hear, what you smell. Talk to two or three boarders who are not introduced by the yard, but whom you meet by chance while riding or grooming. Have the boarding contract sent in advance and read it at home.

A good riding facility has nothing to hide and is glad to take time for a detailed initial conversation. If you are considering whether Eichhof Akademie fits you and your horse, arrange a visit — we are happy to take 60 to 90 minutes to answer all your questions on site.

Riding-facility cluster south of Berlin at a glance

Status May 2026. Commute times under normal traffic conditions. For details per facility, visit their respective website or arrange a viewing.

Further reading

• Municipality of Stahnsdorf — District Schenkenhorst (in German) — the official municipal site lists Gut Eichhof among the riding facilities of the district
• Pferdeland Brandenburg (pro agro) — umbrella brand of FN-qualified horse operations in Brandenburg
• District equestrian association Potsdam-Mittelmark (in German) — the regional equestrian specialist association
• Berlin-Brandenburg Equestrian Association (LPBB, in German) — umbrella body of all equestrian clubs and operations in Berlin and Brandenburg
• District sports association Potsdam-Mittelmark (in German) — overarching sports association (251 clubs) in the district

Written by Franziska Gutsche, owner of Eichhof Akademie. Eichhof Akademie is the only riding facility within a 30-minute radius around the south of Berlin that combines classical sport dressage, Hanoverian breeding and internationally recognised clinics under one roof.