Horseworld Emporium 27 Maywood Ave., St.Catharines, Ont. L2R 1C5, 905-682-2545 Everything for Horse and Rider under one roof

German Equestrian Federation Junior Driving Certificate in bronze
German Equestrian Federation Senior Riding Certificate in silver
Canadian Equestrian Federation Judge
Experience in Dressage, Jumping, Cross Country, Fox Hunting
Experience in teaching and seminars


 

I was  raised in Falkenstein, Germany and learned to ride as a very young child at Rettershof.  My first teacher was a military man, Herr Krone, commanding like a drill sergeant, but with a heart of gold for us kids.  As it was the custom, I started out with vaulting at the age of  7 and had my first riding lesson at 8,  I competed in Vaulting, Dressage, Jumping and Eventing and when I got my first horse, a Mecklenburger, 1.75m mare, also in the special young horse classes offered in Germany at that time.  At the minimum age of 12 I obtained the Youth Riding Certificate in Bronze.  At 14 I went to  the Hessische Landgestüt in Dillenburg, the Stallion Station for my home province, for training and took the exam for the Youth Driving Certificate in Bronze.  At the same time I also became member in the hunt club "Taunus Meute" and started to ride a lot of hunts traveling throughout Germany, training the young hounds in the off season, riding in the Equipage and occasionally doing the dragging.  At 16 I got the Youth Riding Certificate in Silver and at 18 the Adult Riding Certificate in Silver.  At that time Herr Paul Ehrke was teaching at Rettershof, a very accomplished dressage rider and instructor.

Throughout my time at Rettershof, I was occasionally coached by Edwin Graf Rothkirch, who at that time was an FEI judge and internationally respected horseman.  He is credited by many people to have brought the Caprilli jumping style to Germany, revolutionizing modern show jumping throughout the world.

I studied agriculture at the University in Göttingen before immigrating to Canada in 1976.  There I worked at St.George School of Equitation, a riding school we had opened near Listowel, Ontario.    Again I competed, this time mainly in Dressage, because unfortunately the shows in NorthAmerica are specialized in one or the other discipline, rather than offering both Dressage and Jumping.

I started judging Dressage in the '80s and I am occasionally giving clinics in Dressage and related subjects, like Kür design (free style).  One particularly interesting subject I was asked to teach was  "Educate your eye", during which we had several riders perform movements of a test and the clinic participants discussed and marked each movement as a judge would in a show.
I have organized and hosted seminars in a variety of subjects like natural hoof care, living conditions and medicines.  With the horses we have at home we practice what we teach, always keeping in mind what conditions the horse would encounter in the wild and tailoring our facilities and practices accordingly.

In 2005 I spent 6 months in Israel, where I taught, judged and rode.  It was a tremendously rewarding time and I have returned in 2006 and 2007.

I teach mainly Dressage because I believe it to be the foundation for all other disciplines of riding.  When a student achieves a certain proficiency in flatwork, he can go on to jumping and cross-country.  In later years many of our students became interested in driving and again the dressage work aided in the obedience and athleticism of the horses.
I believe a good foundation in Dressage, or flatwork is essential for any good riding.  Dressage is no more and no less than the gymnastical development of the natural abilities of a horse, in obedience to the rider, which results in the harmonious cooperation between horse and rider.  In the higher levels, if horse and rider show the talent and willingness to proceed beyond the basics it will result in the elegant, powerful and effortless performances, that we see in the higher classes of competition like the Olympic Games.  That level is for star athletes, both animal and human.  The Basics are for everyone.
On the other hand I believe all riders should be able to jump at the basic level.  Staying exclusively in an arena or sandring is detrimental for both physical and mental development of horse and rider and too often produces neurotic results.  A well rounded athlete can benefit from hacking in the country; jumping, climbing hills and crossing creeks; gallops across the fields are good for body and soul of both horse and rider.  Dr.Reiner Klimke, one of the most accomplished riders in the world, said that he could do his travers in a field just as well as in an arena.

If you are interested in having me do a clinic or judge a show, give me a call.  I'll go just about anywhere to meet people and horses.
Wenn Interesse daran besteht, kann ich gerne auch auf deutsch unterrichten.
Most importantly remember: there is no special talent needed to do dressage, any rider can do it and any horse can benefit from it.