Peter Strässer Passed Away

Dressage

Germany

German dressage trainer and rider Peter Strässer has passed away on 28 June 2023. He was 73 years old.

Show Jumping Start

Originally from Lebach in Saarland, Peter was introduced to horses through his uncle and began riding at the age of 12. He first took up show jumping and became regional champion as a teenager.

After finishing high school he moved to Pforzheim and began the "Bereiter" training programme under Franz Supe in the late 1960s. After his graduation he moved to Lüdinghausen, where he first rode in the sales yard Ripphege for one year. In 1972 he was hired as head rider in the stable of German entrepreneur Gustav Brück. At that time he was still fully focused on show jumping.

Switch to Dressage

In 1976 he met his wife Margot and in 1978 he moved to Heinz Edelbroich's stable in Dortmund - Eichlinghofen where he worked for one year. In 1979 Strässer passed the exam in equine science (Pferdewirtschaftsmeister) and gained experience for two years at a yard in Hamm-Rhynern.

Strässer found a more permanent home in Lüdenscheid in the 1980s after getting help from Gerd Kuhbier. He slowly made the switch to dressagen earned his Rider Badge in gold, and received training from Harry Boldt.

Gut Edelburg

From 1983 till 2002 Peter Strässer was based at Gut Edelburg in Hemer and begun working and cooperating with Friedrich „ Fritz“ Vekens.

Strässer achieved his first major successes in the dressage arena aboard Vekens' Don Fredde (by Damokles x Pilot), with whom he finished third in the 1996 Nürnberger Burgpokal final in Frankfurt. Don Fredde later on sold to Nadine Maiwurm and became one of German's best junior-young riders horses, competing and winning medals at the European and German Youth Championships.

Aboard Batman (by Bartok) Strässer became the reserve champion in the 6-year old division at the Bundeschampionate in Mannheim. This horse sold to Guido Münstermann and became a German team riders horse at the 1995 European Junior Riders Championships in Helsinki.

After 19 years he left Gut Edelburg and moved to a barn in Neuenrade-Küntrop until 2015 when he retired at age 65. At this venue he and his wife organized national dressage shows each August.

Trainer and Coach

Peter was a highly esteemed trainer and coach in the Westfalian area.

He trained numerous riders to golden rider badges and successes in the show ring. Amongst his students are Nadine Maiwurm, Melanie Schroll, his daughter Carmen Errulat (née Strässer), 3* judge Nicole Nockemann (née Isken), Jutta Kayser, and Christoph Vente.

Renowned dressage horses that were first produced by him are Rocher (George Williams), Fürst Charly (Claudia Kaiser and Nicola Krause), Deela Mae (Carolin Bonde and Mathilde Hannell), Quampus Gregor (Joanne Vaughan), as well as horses such as Douglas, Piz Palue, Play and Win, Extra Klasse, Fantomas, Cacharel, and Schmidt II.

Peter lost his brave battle against cancer on 28 June 2023. He leaves behind his wife Margot, three daughters, Carmen, Marion and Jeannine, and grand children.

At the 2000 Westfalian regional championships in Piz Palue