Holger Schmezer has told German equestrian magazine ST.GEORG that his position as German Grand Prix team coach will come to an end after the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Schmezer's co-trainer Jonny Hilberath is expected to take over his function.
Holger Schmezer will be turning 65 in March 2012 and his contract runs until the end of 2012. The German Olympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR) has not offered him an extension so far and Holger told St. Georg he is not interested in one.
Schmezer wants to focus on training individual students. "I can pick out those I like and then I can do what is fun to me," Schmezer commented.
At the moment Schmezer is visiting the German Olympic short-listed team riders at their homes to check the current training and fitness level of rider and horse. Today and tomorrow he's at Ulla Salzgeber's to inspect Herzruf's Erbe. Next week Monday and Tuesday he'll be going to Matthias Rath's stable in Kronberg to check upon Totilas.
Holger Schmezer has been German team coach since November 2000.
Source: ST.GEORG
Photo © Astrid Appels
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