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An article about George Wahl in Belgium, by DressageDaily
As of March 1997, George Wahl has been invited by the Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation (KBRSF) to appear as clinician for the Professional Dressage Riders of Belgium. After one and a half years he became more than a clinician, he is the unofficial Chef d'Equipe.
At age 78, he still daily trains horses with life partner Christine Stuckelberger in beautiful Switzerland. He first started his equestrian career at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. He trained Lippizaners with the world renown "ausbilder" Podovski for fourteen years. After that era, he trained horses for the circus Knie, but in the meanwhile he became the fixed coach of Christine Stueckelberger. This Swiss woman is now at age 55 and achieved more in her life than Dr. Reiner Klimke. With Granat she became Olympic Champion in the seventies. In 1985 she won the World Cup Kur to Music in Rome with Rubilet. In the same year her Gaugin de Lully was a multiple Grand Prix winner. Her latest victory was at the CDI Frauenfeld in Switzerland. With Aquamarin, a Westphalian gelding, she won the Grand Prix.
George Wahl's keywords are "Ruhig und Locker", which means “calm and loose”. The horse has to move in his natural gait with much expression and print. Usage of the whip is not allowed by Wahl. First you have to ride with seat and legs. His way of explaining the principles of dressage riding is like child's play. Do not disturb the horse in its mouth, calm hands with a strong, but reserved leg.
George Wahl should be blessed for life. If his knowledge disappears, the equestrian world and Belgium will suffer a great loss.
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Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.
Georg Wahl, 80 years old
On Monday 21st February 2000, Georg Wahl became 80 years old. One would say that age forces him to take it more easy, but nothing is more untrue than that. One week before his birthday Wahl flew to Belgium for his three-monthly clinic of the Belgian Grand Prix and Prix St. Georges riders. "My age makes me less energetic, but I'm still as enthusiastic about training horses as I was 50 years ago," Wahl commented. Georg Wahl has an impressive career behind him.
From 1938 to 1944 and after a war imprisonment of a few years to 1951, Wahl was bereiter and in the end "oberbereiter" of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. After his apprentice- and leadership in Vienna, he moved to Switzerland where he became an independent dressage trainer.
His best student is undisputedly Christine Stuckelberger (now 52 years old), who became his life partner later on. Under Wahl's guidance, Stuckelberger won two European Championships, one World Championship, Olympic gold in 1976 (riding Granat) and became World Cup Champion on Gauguin de Lully in 1987. In September 2000, Christine Stuckelberger will participate for the 7th time in her life in the Olympic Games, an achievement only outdone by American 3-Day eventing rider Mike Plumb who participated eight times in the Games.
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Georg Wahl
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Georg Wahl (born February 21, 1920) is a dressage rider and trainer.
Wahl was brought to the Spanish Riding School by Alois Podhajsky. From 1940 to 1951 Georg Wahl trained at the school as a rider, then he left for Switzerland to work with Fredy Knie. Hans Handler asked him to return back to the school in 1967. Wahl became a chief rider there until 1971.
Wahl and his long time student Christine Stueckelberger went 1971 to Switzerland.
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