Michael Schumacher’s daughter, Gina Schumacher, has opened up for the first time about how she coped with the aftermath of her father’s catastrophic skiing accident in December 2013. The seven-time F1 world champion has not been seen publicly since sustaining severe head injuries in the French Alps.
In a forthcoming documentary titled “Horsepower: The World of Gina Schumacher,” Gina revealed that horse riding became her anchor through the most difficult period of her life and remains so more than a decade later. She spoke about that time (via Express.co.uk):
“After dad’s accident, I really threw myself into it because I had to do something. The horses have always been important. But since then they’ve really been… I couldn’t do without horses. They helped me get through everything.”
She also recalled a quieter family memory connected to the sport, saying:
“She [my mother] used to have a horse, and when we were younger, she wanted to start again. But she wanted a safe horse. Then she was in Dubai with dad, and they rode Arabians. Dad fell off one. There was a Quarter Horse next to it, and he was there to calm the others down. Mum said she wanted a horse like that.”
Over the past 15 years, Gina Schumacher has built a serious equestrian career, currently based in Texas. She has earned recognition in the reining discipline for consistent, dedicated horsemanship. Her work in the sport is now documented in the same documentary where she spoke about her father. This project captures both her professional world and the personal story behind it.
The Michael Schumacher family has remained tightly-guarded on his condition. His wife Corinna oversees his care across two properties – a mansion in Majorca and a £50 million estate in Gland, Switzerland. Outside of immediate family, access is reported to be limited to three people: former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt, ex-technical director Ross Brawn, and retired driver Gerhard Berger.
Michael’s brother, Ralf Schumacher, reflected on early hospital days recently, describing the experience as “surreal,” speaking of the overwhelming media presence that ultimately pushed the family into silence. That silence has been held ever since.
Gina’s brother Mick, who completed two seasons in F1 with Haas, has since moved into IndyCar for the 2026 season, continuing the family’s motorsport legacy.
The latest reports about Michael Schumacher’s condition
Richard Hopkins, former Red Bull Head of Operations and a long-time friend of Michael Schumacher, recently said the circle of people with access is small, though he acknowledged there are likely others whose names are not public. He added that he personally would not attempt to visit, describing strict rules that the inner circle does not discuss.
Reports from German media have suggested Michael has been seen in a wheelchair, which, if accurate, would indicate a level of mobility that some early medical speculation did not anticipate. The family has not confirmed or denied those accounts.
Separately, German court proceedings last year, related to a blackmail plot in which three individuals attempted to obtain and monetize private images of Schumacher, produced descriptions from a prosecutor of a man “partly helpless, in need of care and visibly marked” by his injuries.
Earlier this year, a Michael Schumacher-signed helmet appeared at a charity event. One F1 insider described it at the time as “almost a sign of life”.
Edited by Parag Jain