Legendary German dressage rider and trainer Harry Boldt is celebrating his 80th birthday on 23 February 2010. Boldt was a year long national trainer of the German dressage team after his active competition career.
Born in Insterburg, Germany, Boldt inherited the passion for horses through his father, the renowned trainer Heinrich Boldt. Initially, Harry was interested in show jumping and competed up to S-level in the discipline, before turning to dressage.
At the beginning of the 1960s Boldt made his international break through. Up till 1979 he became German Grand Prix champion three times and won seven individual and eight team medalst at European and World Championships.
Aboard Remus, Boldt won individual silver and team gold at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. At the 1976 Olympics in Bromont, he won the same set of medals aboard Woyczek.
When Boldt turned 50 he quit his riding career and focused on training. He was national team trainer from 1981 till 1996 and under his supervision the German team won 50 medals (of which 31 were gold) at European and World Championships and Olympic Games.
In 1989 Boldt received the honourary title of "Reitmeister" and in 1995 he received the prestigious golden Riders Cross on his 65th birthday. Boldt emigrated to Perth, Australia, where he continues to train and teach dressage riders to this date.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Harry Boldt Becomes 70
Horse Magazine: Great Trainers of the World: Harry Boldt
Horse Magazine: Harry Boldt - A Tribute