90 SIDELINES JANUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
States Equestrian Federation) Lifetime Achievement award. The
Chronicle of the Horse named Lowell as “one of the 50 most
infuential horsemen of the 20th century worldwide.”
The family suggests Memorials to The Dressage Foundation,
1314 ‘O’ Street, Suite 305, Lincoln, NE 68508 and/or Cedars
Home for Children, 6601 Pioneers Blvd, Lincoln, NE, 68506.
A Northern Ireland event rider has been killed after his horse
landed on top of him in a horrifc fall while competing in England.
Ian Olding,
originally from Carrickfergus, died while taking part
Wolfgang Niggli,
one of the most
eminent fgures
in international
dressage, passed
away on October 30
at the age of 89
Lowell Boomer,
USDF Hall of Famer
and Founder of the
Dressage Foundation
passed away on
November 20
in an advanced section of the Belton Horse Trials in Lincolnshire,
England. The 47 year old was killed during the cross-country
phase of the National Advanced class when his horse, the 12
year old Gran Kiki, fell on top of him at the 13th fence on the track.
A full-time professional eventer, the rider lived much of his life in
Carrickfergus and moved to England 12 years ago, where he was
based at Somerton Park Farm in Condelton, Cheshire.
Wolfgang Niggli (SUI), one of the most eminent fgures in
international Dressage, passed away on Sunday 30 October at
the age of 89. Wolfgang won his frst junior Dressage competition
in 1937. He went on to compete in Jumping as a teenager and
rode in Steeplechases before studying engineering at the Zurich
Technological Institute and becoming a part-time riding offcer
in the Swiss cavalry. In 1947, he took the opportunity of being
based close to France’s prestigious military equestrian school
in Fontainebleau to perfect his riding and competed in many
Jumping and Dressage competitions, as well as Steeplechasing.
In 1957 he became a Swiss national Dressage Judge. Four years
later he became a member of the Swiss National Equestrian
Federation’s Dressage Committee and was Chairman of the
Committee from 1964-1973. During this period he was also
Chef d’Equipe for the Swiss team at numerous international
competitions, including the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
In 1964, Wolfgang became an FEI International Dressage
Judge and served on the FEI Dressage Committee from
1973-1976 and again from 1979-1981. He was Chairman of
the FEI Dressage Committee from 1981-1993 and remained
an honorary member of the FEI Bureau until the time of his
death. Since 1964 up to his retirement from the FEI Dressage
Committee in 1993, he judged at numerous international
competitions and at three Olympic Games. In recent years, he
was dedicated to helping riders around the world by running
clinics using his long experience and knowledge of the sport.
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