Show Jumping Nostalgia

Hermann Schridde at 22, in 1959

Hermann Schridde (* July 3 1937 in Celle, † May 18 1985 in Meißendorf near Winsen) was the most stylish of all German riders. He was a natural talent with an elegant and smooth style that always was a joy to watch.

Schridde had his breakthrough when he in 1954, only 17 years old, won the Puissance in Münster over all the big stars. He was invited to become a pupil at the famous Warendorf federal equestrian center by its head Gustav Rau. In Warendorf he started out with eventing. He rode a couple of eventing competitions, but it was show jumping that attracted him most. His dream came true when he in 1955 was offered to ride for Hans Günter Winkler. He stayed with Winkler in Warendorf for nine years. Despite his youth he got some very good horses to his disposition from the DOKR (German Olympic Comittee), much thanks to the backing and support of Winkler. Fine horses like Fugosa, Hardenberg, Flagrant and Ilona came to him.

His first big international success came in 1957 when he shocked the Italian audience by winning the Grand Prix in Pinerola and leaving champions like Piero d’Inzeo and Pierre Jonquères d’Oriola behind him. In 1960, 23 years old, he became German champion ahead of his master H. G. Winkler. It looked like he would take a place in the German team for Olympics in Rome. But to Hermanns big disappointment his Flagrant was not fit in the last qualification jump. Instead Alwin Schockemöhle on Ferdl took the last place in the German team that won the Olympic Gold in Rome.In 1963 Schridde won the prestigious Presidents Cup in Washington on Ilona. Of all his horses, Ilona was the one he loved most. A difficult and sensitive mare, but she was a fighter with enormous scoop.

Hermann Schridde on Ilona

After getting married to the daughter of a Swedish ship-owner he left Warendorf in 1963 to take over his parents farm in Meissendorf and set up his own stable. In 1964 he took over a new horse, Dozent, from Alwin Schockemöhle. Alwin had problems with this horse but under Hermann Dozent went to win the 1964 Hamburger Derby. On Ilona and Dozent he earned himself a place in the team for the Olympics in Tokyo 1964. Tokyo was a big success for him. He won the Olympic individual silver medal and the team gold medal. His luck continued when he in 1965 won the European Championships in Aachen on Dozent.

The Olympics in Mexico City 1968 became a nightmare for Schridde. In the team competition he started Dozent together with Alwin Schockemöhle on Donald Rex and Hans Günter Winkler on Enigk (in those days the teams had only three riders and all rounds counted). Dozent had a black day and just didn’t care to lift his legs, fence after fence fell and he finished the first round with 33,75 penalties. His second round was as bad, adding another 36,50 penalties. Despite this disaster the German team managed to win the bronze medal, after Alwin Schockemöhle had got the best result of all starters, 13+5,75 penalties, on the extremely difficult and big course.

Schriddes career didn’t really reach the highest levels again after 1968, even if he won the Aachen Grand Prix on Heureka in 1970. He also qualified for the Munich 1972 Olympics on Kadett, but he renounced his place since he was not convinced that his relatively new horse Kadett was ready for it. By the mid 1970’s he had lost his passion for show jumping and instead dedicated himself to his new hobby, being a pilot. He set up a his own new business with a private school for parachutists.

In 1980 he was back in show jumping  as chef d’equipe and trainer for the German team. He was also trainer for Sweden. His life ended in 1985 when his plane crashed in a tragic accident.