Reiner Klimke

Background

Reiner Klimke was born on the 14th of January in 1936 in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He was the son of a psychologist and a neurologist.

Education

Klimke studied at the Westphalian Riding- and Driving School in Münster. He also studied Harry Boldt and Gustaf Rau.

Career

Klimke was a 6-time Olympic champion (Tokyo, 1964, Mexico City, 1968, Montreal, 1976, Seoul, 1988 - in the team championship and Los Angeles, 1984 - in the individual and team championships). He was a bronze medalist of the Olympic Games (1968 and 1976) in the individual championship. He was also a 6-time world champion, including the team (1966, 1974, 1982, 1986) and individual (1974 and 1982) championship. He was an 8-time European champion (1959–85) in the team (5 times) and individual (3) championships and 9-time champion of Germany (1967–88).

Klimke also competed in eventing early in his career. He was a member of the winning West German three-day event team at the 1959 European Championships, and finished 18th in individual eventing at the 1960 Summer Olympics, making him the best German combination. He also won a Grand Prix show jumping competition in Berlin.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Basic Training of the Young Horse: Dressage, Jumping, Cross-country

    (This new edition of the highly regarded international bes...)

    2015
  • Cavaletti: The Schooling of Horse and Rider over Ground Poles

    (A classic work--the definitive text on this essential tra...)

    1985
  • Cavalletti: For Dressage and Jumping

    (A revised edition with new photographs and textural updat...)

    2018
  • Klimke on Dressage: From the Young Horse Through Grand Prix

    (Text: English (translation) Original Language: German)

    1992
  • Grundausbildung des jungen Reitpferdes. Von der Fohlenerziehung bis zum ersten Turnierstart.

    (Grundausbildung des jungen Reitpferdes. Von der Fohlenerz...)

    1990
  • Ahlerich: The Making of a Dressage World Champion (English and German Edition)

    (Text: English, German (translation))

    1986

Connections

With his wife, Ruth, he had three children: Ingrid, Rolf, and Michael. His daughter Ingrid is a well-known master of dressage and show jumping. She is the champion of the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) in the team championship, multiple champion of Germany and participant in two more Olympic Games (2000 and 2004). Michael also competes at the Grand Prix level in dressage.

child:

Ingrid Klimke

Ingrid Klimke is a well-known master of dressage and show jumping.

child:

Rolf Klimke

child:

Michael Klimke

Wife:

Ruth Klimke

References

• Great Russian Encyclopedia