DRESSAGE coach of the Australian Eventing Team riders, legendary German dressage rider and trainer Harry Boldt, celebrates his 80th birthday on February 23.
Boldt was a national trainer of the German dressage team.
In 1996, he emigrated to Perth, where he continues to train and teach dressage riders and is the official Dressage trainer of the Australian Olympic and World Championship Eventing Teams
Born in Insterburg, Germany, Boldt inherited the passion for horses from 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. He became German Grand Prix champion three times by 1979 and won seven individual and eight team medals at European and World Championships. Riding 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 medals riding Woyczek.
When Boldt turned 50 he quit riding and focused on training.
He was national team trainer in Germany from 1981 until 1996 and under his supervision the German team won 50 medals (of which 31 were gold) at European and World Championships and Olympic Games.
Boldt and Australia's head coach of the Eventing teams are currently in England coaching the Australian team preparing for the 2010 World Championships to be held in Kentucky later this year.
