The German equestrian federation has honoured Martin Richenhagen with the German Riders' Cross in Gold for his life time achievements and commitment to German equestrian sport.
Richenhagen, who is president and CEO of the agricultural multinational Agco-Fendt, is a Renaissance man. He is also a dressage judge, show organizer and sponsor.
In the presence of German NF secretary-general Sönke Lauterbach and sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze, Richenhagen was honoured with the cross. Richenhagen will retire at the end of 2020.
"In many honorary roles and as an outstanding supported you contributed greatly to the success of German equestrian sport the past few decades," Lauterbach stated.
The 1952 born Richenhagen is from Cologne and studied theology, philosophy and roman languages, before doing the bereiter test. Dressage is a passion in the Richenhagen family as Martin's brother Reinhard is at the moment a top level dressage judge in Germany.
Martin competed up to S-level, served as an international dressage judge until 2017. He was German chef d'equipe at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. His company Fendt has been title sponsor of the German equestrian team for many years. In November 2017 he became the editor and publisher of he German equestrian magazine Reiter Revue.
In 2010 Richenhagen already received the Rider Cross in Silver. Three years ago he received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his achievements in consolidating German-American relationships. In 2018, Richenhagen was named a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur by the French government.
Richenhagen lives in Atlanta, USA.
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