Biography of Gerhard Politz

GERHARD POLITZ formerly of Stuttgart, Germany, immigrated to southern California in November 1987. Since then he has been teaching and training out of Flintridge Riding Club near Pasadena, Los Angeles, and giving clinics, seminars and workshops in other parts of the country.

Politz has gone through professional certification programs in two European countries. He is a British Horse Society Instructor (BHSI) as well as a German Reitlehrer FN. Although he rode horses as a youngster, it was while attending Prep School in England that he was able to expand his equestrian education, participating in hunting, jumping, eventing and dressage. During this time he developed an excellent command of the English language, thus enhancing his ability to communicate well with his students.

Returning to his native Germany, he improved his teaching and riding skills by learning from the masters. He worked with Egon von Neindorff and General Albert Stecken, and credits Willi Schultheis (the coach emeritus of the German Olympic team) with teaching him the art of the upper level movements. Brigadier Kurt Albrecht (former Director of the Spanish Riding School and an "O" FEI judge) was also a teacher and mentor.

After obtaining the German professional Reitlehrer FN degree, he established his own training center near Stuttgart and embarked on a career as teacher, trainer and competitor. As well as training and competing many horses up to Grand Prix himself, Politz's students were also successful in the show ring, mostly on horses he trained. Several of his students have won individual medals at State and National German Championships. His own achievements in competing are evidenced by his having been awarded the "Goldenes Reitabzeichen" (German Gold Medal) for wins at FEI level.

Apart from running a very successful Amateur and Young Rider program at his busy training center (45 horses in full training), there was a succession of six Apprentices (who stayed for a three year course) and one Bereiter whom Politz educated and prepared for the German professional exams, many of them winning awards for outstanding results.

Since moving to California, Politz has continued training and competing at all levels through Grand Prix. He was CDS champion at Intermediaire I and II, and in merely two years won the USDF bronze, silver and gold medals. Just as he did in Germany, he enjoys working with Young Riders. His students have won four individual Gold Medals at NAYRC as well as several silver, bronze, and gold team medals.

Politz has taken a keen interest in USDF Instructor Certification and has been involved with the program since its inception. He was appointed to the panel of Examiners and is available to give seminars and workshops for the USDF Instructor Program.

Politz is also a member of the USDF sub-committee for designing dressage tests, introducing the concepts of "Allowing the horse to chew the reins out of the hands" (Zuegel aus der Hand kauen lassen) and the "Rein Release" (Ueberstreichen) for the 1995 dressage tests.

In 1993 Politz was invited to become a member of the International Dressage Trainers Club.

In more than thirty-five years of studying, training, teaching and competing according to the classical principles and the Pyramid of Training, Politz has acquired the depth of knowledge and experience which enables him to bring out the best in both horse and rider.