Georg Wahl
Encyclopedia
Georg Wahl was Chief Rider at the Spanish Riding School
in Vienna and is a dressage
instructor, rider and trainer. He is also known as the coach and trainer of Swiss Olympic medalist Christine Stückelberger
.
He grew up at the Kosel
Stud, where his father was a trainer of coach horses
. Wahl learned to ride at an early age, mainly bareback
.
In 1939, Wahl joined the cavalry
of the Wehrmacht
, where he was under the command of Hans-Joachim Köhler from Verden
. Köhler, who later became known worldwide as an expert in the field of horse training, organised a dressage
competition for his troops to improve their morale. Held only 20 km behind the front lines, Wahl showed himself to be the best of the riders present. Alois Podhajsky
happened to attend this competition, and in 1940, Podhajsky recruited Wahl to the Spanish Riding School. Because Wahl possessed extraordinary talent and feeling for horses, advanced quickly at the school and within a very short time, participated in the School's public performances. From 1938 until 1944 he served as a Rider (Bereiter) at the School.
After a brief period of time away from the School in 1944 to serve at the Russian front
in Hungary, and a brief wartime imprisonment, he returned to the Spanish Riding School.
On one of the Tours of the School in Switzerland, Wahl met Fredy Knie, of the famed Circus Knie
and left the School in 1951 to work for Knie. For two years, Knie and Wahl performed a widely-known Pas de Deux
exhibition. In 1955 Wahl took over the Community Riding School (Stadtreitschule) in Bern, Switzerland where he first met Christine Stückelberger
.
In 1967 Hans Handler, who succeeded Podhajsky as director of the Spanish Riding School, rehired Wahl, promoting him to Chief Rider (Oberbereiter), where he remained until 1971.
Upon his return to Switzerland in 1971, Wahl devoted himself to the training and promotion of Stückelberger and her Holsteiner gelding
Granat. Wahl and Stückelberger eventually became life partners. The horse and rider team of Stückelberger and Granat made dressage history as the most successful performers in international Dressage competition for the nation of Switzerland. They won team silver at the Dressage World Cup
in Copenhagen
1974, individual gold at the 1975 European Dressage Championship
s, and an Equestrian
individual gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Following their Olympic win, they took gold again at the 1977 European Dressage Championships and at the 1978 Dressage World Championship
s in Goodwood
.
Georg Wahl was married twice. He and his first wife, Maria, had four children. He also has two daughters from a second marriage. Today, he and Stückelberger currently live in Kirchberg
near St. Gallen
. He also remains committed to the classical theory of dressage
, and values the preservation and dissemination of classical horsemanship.
Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, is a traditional riding school for Lipizzan horses, which perform in the Winter Riding School in the Hofburg...
in Vienna and is a dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
instructor, rider and trainer. He is also known as the coach and trainer of Swiss Olympic medalist Christine Stückelberger
Christine Stückelberger
Christine Stückelberger is a Swiss equestrian and Olympic champion. She won an individual gold medal in dressage at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.Her trainer is Georg Wahl....
.
He grew up at the Kosel
Kozle
Koźle is a district of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and is at the junction of the Kłodnica and Odra rivers, 29 Ifl. southeast of Opole by rail. The district has a Roman Catholic church, a medieval chateau, remains of a 19th century fortress and a high school...
Stud, where his father was a trainer of coach horses
Driving (horse)
Driving, when applied to horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys, is a broad term for hitching equines to a wagon, carriage, cart, sleigh, or other horse-drawn vehicle by means of a harness and working them in this way...
. Wahl learned to ride at an early age, mainly bareback
Bareback
Bareback riding is a form of horseback riding without a saddle.Bareback may also refer to:* A type of rodeo event* Bareback , an act of unprotected sex* "Bareback" , a 2003 glam metal song...
.
In 1939, Wahl joined the cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
of the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, where he was under the command of Hans-Joachim Köhler from Verden
Verden
Verden can refer to:* Verden an der Aller, a town in Lower Saxony, Germany* Verden, Oklahoma, a small town in the USA* Verden , a district in Lower Saxony, Germany...
. Köhler, who later became known worldwide as an expert in the field of horse training, organised a dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
competition for his troops to improve their morale. Held only 20 km behind the front lines, Wahl showed himself to be the best of the riders present. Alois Podhajsky
Alois Podhajsky
Colonel Alois Podhajsky was the director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria as well as an Olympic medal-winner in dressage, riding instructor, and writer.-Career:...
happened to attend this competition, and in 1940, Podhajsky recruited Wahl to the Spanish Riding School. Because Wahl possessed extraordinary talent and feeling for horses, advanced quickly at the school and within a very short time, participated in the School's public performances. From 1938 until 1944 he served as a Rider (Bereiter) at the School.
After a brief period of time away from the School in 1944 to serve at the Russian front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
in Hungary, and a brief wartime imprisonment, he returned to the Spanish Riding School.
On one of the Tours of the School in Switzerland, Wahl met Fredy Knie, of the famed Circus Knie
Circus Knie
Circus Knie is the largest circus of Switzerland, based in Rapperswil.The circus was founded in 1803 by the Knie family and has existed in its present form since 1919 when it changed from an open arena to a covered tent. The circus has been long famous for its animals and now operates a zoo and a...
and left the School in 1951 to work for Knie. For two years, Knie and Wahl performed a widely-known Pas de Deux
Pas de deux
In ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable Pas de deux:...
exhibition. In 1955 Wahl took over the Community Riding School (Stadtreitschule) in Bern, Switzerland where he first met Christine Stückelberger
Christine Stückelberger
Christine Stückelberger is a Swiss equestrian and Olympic champion. She won an individual gold medal in dressage at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.Her trainer is Georg Wahl....
.
In 1967 Hans Handler, who succeeded Podhajsky as director of the Spanish Riding School, rehired Wahl, promoting him to Chief Rider (Oberbereiter), where he remained until 1971.
Upon his return to Switzerland in 1971, Wahl devoted himself to the training and promotion of Stückelberger and her Holsteiner gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
Granat. Wahl and Stückelberger eventually became life partners. The horse and rider team of Stückelberger and Granat made dressage history as the most successful performers in international Dressage competition for the nation of Switzerland. They won team silver at the Dressage World Cup
Dressage World Cup
The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage is an annual international dressage series among the worlds best dressage horses and riders. It is held since 1985.- History :...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
1974, individual gold at the 1975 European Dressage Championship
European Dressage Championship
The European Dressage Championship are the European Championship for the equestrian discipline of dressage. They are now held every 2 years, in odd-numbered years. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded in both an individual and team competition...
s, and an Equestrian
Equestrian at the Summer Olympics
Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It disappeared until 1912, but has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since. The current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping...
individual gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Following their Olympic win, they took gold again at the 1977 European Dressage Championships and at the 1978 Dressage World Championship
Dressage World Championship
The Dressage World Championship is held every four years. The best horse and rider competitions in the world compete for individual and team titles. The Dressage World Championship is since 1990, held at the World Equestrian Games in conjunction with other equestrian world championships.-Individual...
s in Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
.
Georg Wahl was married twice. He and his first wife, Maria, had four children. He also has two daughters from a second marriage. Today, he and Stückelberger currently live in Kirchberg
Kirchberg, St. Gallen
Kirchberg is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Toggenburg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-Geography:Kirchberg has an area, , of . Of this area, 59.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.9% is forested...
near St. Gallen
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
. He also remains committed to the classical theory of dressage
Classical dressage
Classical dressage evolved from cavalry movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today...
, and values the preservation and dissemination of classical horsemanship.