Horse & Hound unveils its new training series with British dressage master Ferdi Eilberg in tomorrow’s (22 January) magazine, and is calling for HHO users to send in questions for Ferdi to answer.
German-born Ferdi was a member of the British silver medal-winning dressage team at the Europeans in 1993, and acting performance manager and director of coaching for the bronze medal-winning British team at Hickstead last year.
He has been at the forefront of improving British dressage in order to gain Olympic qualification and now heads the battle to consolidate Britain’s global position to ensure a good result at the Athens Olympics this summer.
Ferdie also has a wealth of experience with top event riders, being dressage trainer to the British eventing squad for 11 years and having a long-standing training partnership with Mary King since 1981.
A true all-round rider, Ferdie is a great believer that it is important that young horse don’t to specialise to early and has competed to advanced level in jumping as well as dressage.
If you are currently experiencing a problem with your horse which you would like Ferdie’s help to solve, or have any other questions for him, please email: seamour_rathore@ipcmedia.com
Fascinating Ferdi facts
- Ferdi was born in 1953 in Niederzeuzheim in Germany
- Between 1969-1973 he was trained by German multi-gold medallist Dr Reiner
Klimke, where he met another great influence and friend, European silver medallist Johann Hinnemann. - Most successful equine partner: Arun Tor. The pair clocked up around 70 major successes, including team silver at the European Championships at Lipica in 1993.
Arun Tor was British-bred, by the Cleveland Bay Osberton Napoleon out of a Thoroughbred mare, Lights Out Lady. - Ferdi has show jumped to grade A level. As well as being a Reitlehrer FN (a professional qualification when entitles the holder to have pupils) he holds the German Reiter Abzeichunung (medal for success at advanced level in both show jumping and dressage) which he received in 1978.
- Between 1981 and 1992, Ferdi was dressage trainer to the British eventing squad for a successful 11-year term and has trained top event riders including Mary King, Richard Meade, Tiny Clapham.
- He has also trained many dressage riders, including Britain’s leading FEI judge Stephen Clarke, and his former groom Lucy Farrer, to whom he passed on his ride Giovanni.
- In 2002, he was appointed World Class Performance director of coaching and in addition, became acting performance manager in January 2003 for dressage.
- Ferdi married Geri in 1978 and has three children: dressage young rider team member Maria, 20; Michael, 17; who is an apprentice to show jumper Tim Stockdale; and Luke, 15, now also majoring in show jumping.
- Ferdi has been at his base, Pink Green Farm in Worcestershire, since 1984.
