In the evening of May 19, 2004, German dressage master Egon van Neindorff passed away after a heart attack. Von Neindorff was a major proponent of classical dressage and still worked at the riding academy
, which he founded, himself till the day he died.
Von Neindorff was described as "the Nestor of Classical Dressage in Germany" and was praised for his undeterred passion for classical dressage, which he passed on to his students. He never wanted to be a reformer, only an interpreter and teacher of classical dressage.
Von Neindorff breathed horses from an early age. As a child, he worked in the cavalry stables where his father was the commanding officer. His father taught him to ride, but he was also instructed by classical trainers such as Karl Kunze and Richard Watjen. Von Neindorff established his own riding school in Karlsruhe, Germany, fifty years ago. He also wrote many books about dressage and designed his own saddle.
Von Neindorff was extremely popular in North America. International dressage riders such as Christilot Boylen Hanson and Betsy Steiner trained with him.
Image copyrighted: Arnd Bronkhorst