Upon the passing of the late German dressage rider and trainer Udo Lange, Billie Boylen wrote a tribute on Facebook. Billie is the daughter of Canadian Olympian Christilot Boylen-Hanson and spent years with Udo as he was her mom's life partner of two decades.
The tribute reads:
"It's Never Perfect, You Can Always do Better"
I am not going to write a heartfelt post as that is not what Udo had wanted
He was a 7-time German Champion and one of the best to his time. He didn’t become the Riding Master Title (Reitmeister) for nothing. He trained well over 100 horses to Grand Prix level and all mostly difficult horses. If you gave him a easy well behaved horse to train he couldn’t do it.He could ride and train what everyone else couldn’t.He learnt from the toughest trainers to his time, taking the best of all there knowledge with him. He was taught it’s never the horses fault it’s the riders! When he was proud of his achievements he was always told : It’s never perfect you can do better!
This he also carried on in his barn and students.
He wanted to make his students bring out the best of themselves. It was a hard and difficult training as some of you know. He was a perfectionist wanting everything perfect. If barn cleaning, riding or cleaning his boots, it had to be a 100% good job
Many couldn’t deal with the training. It was tough and if he could make you cry you weren’t tough enough for the job. He made you give 100% to achieve your goals no matter how much pain you felt. Typical old school training but those who survived went on to become the best riders knowing clearly it’s never the horse's fault.
I learnt an extraordinary amount from him growing up with a talent for difficult pony’s and horses. Udo has given his life to horses and riders seeking the best out of each horse and rider.
To those who knew Udo let’s honour him with your best memories of him no matter how good bad rude or funny the are.
Let us all remember Udo
-- by Billie Boylen
Related Links
Udo Lange Passed Away
Udo Lange Celebrates 80th Birthday