When Dr Reiner Klimke died at the age of only 63 in 1999, the equestrian world lost one of its most inspirational leaders. Reiner was one of the rider / trainers who introduced the modern, athletic dressage horse, but always insisted the training should follow the classical model. While nothing will ever make up for his untimely departure, his teachings live on through the work of his daughter, Ingrid, who like her father, combines both eventing and dressage at the highest levels.
Ingrid was born in Munster, Germany on April 1, 1968 and from an early age was taught by her father, Dr. Reiner Klimke how to train horses in the correct, classical way. She trained in not only dressage but also eventing and show jumping with world class trainers including Major Paul Stecken, Fritz Ligges and Christopher Bartle and has achieved success in all three disciplines. She also holds a Masters degree in Equestrian Management and in 1998 set up her own yard on the outskirts of Munster, Germany of dressage, show jumping and eventing horses.
By the end of 1991, in addition to many honours and national championships, Ingrid had already won her first bronze medal (individual/team) at the European Championships that were held at Flyinge, Sweden. She has twice competed for Germany in 3 day eventing at the Olympic games in Sidney and Athens and was on the Gold medal team at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006. A year she also won the World Championship for six year old dressage horses and finished 2nd at Badminton Horse Trials, the highest placing for a German rider.
Her training philosophy is the same for all her horses regardless of whether they are dressage, eventing or show jumping horses and is firmly rooted on Classical principles with an emphasis on the use of cavalletti training. Ingrid believes as her father Dr Reiner Klimke did, that the consistent use of cavalletti training loosens a horses back and creates the impulsion and elasticity so necessary for not only true self carriage in top level dressage but also the gymnastic ability to compete successfully at the highest levels of 3 day eventing.
The use of cavalletti training is clearly described in both the book, which she co-wrote with her father and her DVD.