History

In 1926, the Prussian Ministry for Agriculture, Domains and Forests defined, for the first time, an exam regulation for riding and driving personnel. Four years later, the German Riding School was established at the knight´s estate Düppel in Berlin. State- approved Riding Instructors and Riding Masters are trained here until its meltdown in 1945.

In 1955, a concern about the continuity of the equestrian culture of post-war Germany resulted in the “Major School for Riding and Driving” being founded at the State Stud Warendorf. This decision was twofold. First, it was influenced by the worry about the continuity of horse breeding since working horses were not needed anymore and sport horses were not needed yet. Second, horse breeding and horse sports were easy to link.

In July of 1959 the foundation assembly of the association “German Riding School” took place whereby the aforenamed “Major School for Riding and Driving” was transferred into the German Riding School. Among others the State of North Rhine- Westphalia, the DOKR (German Olympics Committee of Riding), the FN (German Equestrian Federation), the Association for Agriculture of Westphalia- Lippe, the county of Warendorf, the city of Warendorf and the Association of the Riding and Driving Clubs of the Federal Republic are members. The association has two functions. The first is training courses and advanced training courses for advanced riders, riding instructors and judges.  Second, in a separate department, the international and olympic training takes place.

In 1965 both departments were separated from each other. The department for competitive sports was relocated to the terrain of the DOKR. Three years later the German Riding School was integrated into the State Stud where guest lecturers also support the teaching staff of the State Stud.

In 1975 the German Riding School had to adjust to the new regulation of vocational training for Pferdewirte. Among other things the number of courses for professional riders rose sharply. In the following years numerous courses and advanced training courses for professional riders and drivers, as well as competition experts arose.

In 1997 Hannes Müller reported for his duty as training supervisor at the German Riding School. In 2011, he developed the new regulation of vocational training for Pferdewirte in 2011. The new regulations are based on the change in the branch and the new challenges professional riders (Pferdewirte “Classical Riding”) are facing.