German Grand Prix rider and trainer Rudolf Zeilinger has been appointed Spanish senior team trainer by the Spanish Equestrian Federation. His job was approved and ratified at the RFHE board meeting on Monday 25 September 2017.
The 53-year old Zeilinger recently resigned from his position as the Danish team trainer after 19 years on the job. Rudolf stated at the time that, "at the beginning of a new four-year period up to the Olympics in Tokyo, I find that the time is right for a new coach to take over and continue the development of Danish dressage sport."
Zeilinger has run his own dressage stable in Emsburen, Germany, as of 1993, but he sold the property in the winter of 2016 to the Korean Ha Kyung Song as he struggled with some health issues at the time. Zeilinger still works from that base with his private clients, though, including Spanish team rider Jordi Domingo.
Zeilinger succeeds Jan Bemelmans as official Spanish team trainer. Bemelmans served as Spanish team trainer for 16 years and resigned in 2012. Since then the RFHE relied on Rafael Soto for help with the senior riders. Between 2012 and 2017 Soto assisted the Spanish Grand Prix riders, even though he was never really announced as the official "team trainer."
However as of 2017, Soto will become the Spanish team trainer for the young horse combinations and he will follow up on the national combinations.
The position of Spanish Youth Team trainer still now been decided upon. British Nicky Barrett served as youth team trainer but it is still unsure whether her contract will be extended or a new replacement found.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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Rudolf Zeilinger Resigns as Danish Team Trainer
Jan Bemelmans Retires as Spanish Team Trainer