2008 Dressage Clinics with Ed Rothkranz

Ed Rothkranz grew up in Germany at a time when he was fortunate to have as dressage instructors men who had been cavalry officers in the German Army, notably Colonel Pollay and others who had been schooled at the Spanish Riding School, when Austria was occupied by Germany.  These teachers were the first ones to instill the idea of "forward and down" into his riding, which Ed still teaches more than a half century later.

As a young man, Ed focused on jumping, winning the prestigious Grand Prix in Berlin (1959).  During this time, Ed also coached three young women who all became German Amateur Jumping Champions in the early 1960's.

Upon moving to Canada with his best horses, Mr. Rothkranz  was Reserve Canadian International Dressage Champion in 1974, Reserve Eastern Canadian Champion in 1975, and Canadian Advanced Level Champion in 1977.  He rode his stallion, My King, in the 1980 Olympics for Team Canada. His students in Toronto included Pam Cowen and Lorraine Fielding, both of whom were Canadian Junior National Dressage Champions.  Another student, Joanne Mintz, won the Ontario and the Canadian Advanced Level Dressage championships in 1978,  and was a Canadian Team rider in the Pan Am Games in Brazil.

In 1975, he began the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Equitation Branch and  continues to travel to Canada annually,  by request from  the Canadian government  “in an effort  to upgrade our riding and teaching standards."
According to G.S. Ogilvie (S/Sgt.Riding Master), Ed’s “teaching ability is unequalled. He has developed, through years of experience, a system of training all types of horse breeds. I feel Ed is one of the best teachers available to North American riders.”

Ed moved to the US in 1980 and established the Rhineland Stud Farm in Adolphus, KY with his wife, Helga, and is currently known for his bloodlines of upper level dressage horses, many of whom are descendants of My King. At the present time, he manages the Farm and teaches his techniques of quiet, gentle dressage at clinics throughout the US, Canada, and Germany.

Contact Gay Anderson for reservations or more information. Private, Semi-Private, and Group lessons are available. A limited number of stalls for stabling may also be available for clinic weekends.

Brier Bank Farm is proud to host many top clinicians around the world at our facility.  Past clinicians include Thomas Ritter (US), Lee Tubman (CAN), Simon Battram (UK), Gigi Nutter (US), and Eberhard Biesenthal (US).  Check back here for more information on upcoming clinics for the 2009 year.