Renowned German dressage trainer and riding master Siegfried "Bimbo" Peilicke passed away today 17 April 2012 after a long illness just months before his 80th birthday on 30 September.
For more than 20 years Peilicke was the German team trainer for junior and young riders and collected over 80 medals at championships of which 47 were gold.
Peilicke was born in Prachenau, East Germany in 1932 and came to live in Holzhausen near Minden with his parents in 1947. He discovered his passion for horses working in the agricultural sector. First he competed at regional level and then followed an equestrian training at the Westfalian Riding School in Munster where he was tutored by Paul Stecken.
Peilicke first worked at a dressage barn in the U.S.A. before moving to Stable Linsenhoff in Kronberg in 1959. There he rode a chubby Lippizaner stallion named "Bimbo", which became the trainer's nickname for life.
In Kronberg, Peilicke worked closely together with Herbert Kuckluck until 1974. He taught Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff at the beginning of her career. Linsenhoff called Bimbo "the most successful and strictest trainer ever."
In 1976 Willi Schultheis recommended Peilicke with the German Olympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR) and Bimbo was hired as team trainer for the junior and young riders. Peilicke was extremely successful as team coach and supervised riders such as Nadine Capellmann, Sven Rothenberger, Ulla Salzgeber, Monica Theodorescu, and Nicole Uphoff at the time.
Peilicke received the Riding Master title in 2002 and until this spring he was still riding and working as trainer.
Photos © Barbara Schnell - Astrid Appels
Related Links
Siegfried Peilicke Honored With "Ritmeister" Title
Holger Schmezer, New German Dressage Coach
Jurgen Wirths Calls it Quits