Swiss legendary dressage rider and judge Wolfgang Niggli passed away on Sunday 30 October 2011 at age 89 due to illness and old age. Formerly a successful competitor in all the major disciplines, he was an international dressage judge and chair of the FEI Dressage Committee.
Wolfgang Niggli was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1922 and began his riding career at the age of 12. Although keen to jump he first hat do learn the basics and he won his first junior dressage competition in 1937. His first success in cross-country came just a year later. As a teenager he competed in dressage, showjumping and three-day eventing.
He studied to become an engineer at the Zurich Technological Institute and, at the same time, became an officer in the Swiss Cavalry. Thus, whilst training as an engineer, he was also acting as a part-time riding officer and afterwards, as a riding instructor at the Swiss Army Officer Schools.
In 1947 Niggli was seconds to the French Military Riding School in Fontainebleau where he was given a wonderful opportunity to improve his riding skills : a “cours de perfectionnement équestre” ! (Fontainebleau had replaced Saumur as the main cavalry school at that time) From here, he competed in many jumping and dressage competitions and rode in international steeplechases.
In 1949 he left with his family to work in the USA for almost three years as an engineer and there had only the opportunity to compete in a few local competitions. On his return to Switzerland in 1952 he became an engineer with the North-Eastern Swiss Power Company and was later appointed Vice-President (Construction). He continued to compete in all riding disciplines at a high level, and participated in cross-country steeplechases in Switzerland, Italy and France. He also remained a part-time riding instructor at the Swiss Army Officer Schools.
In 1957 Niggli became a Swiss National Dressage Judge and he was a member of the Dressage Committee of the Swiss National Equestrian Federation from 1961-1986, being Chairman from 1964-1973. During this time he actes as the Swiss Team’s Chef d’Equipe at many international events, including the 1972 Olympic Games at Munich.
In 1963, he was promoted to FEI International Dressage Judge and he served on the Dressage Committee of the FEI from 1973-1976 and from 1979-1981. From 1981-1993 he was Chairman of this committee and as such, became a member of the FEI Bureau. He remains an honorary member of the Bureau to this day. Between 1964 and his retirement from the FEI Dressage Committee in 1993, he judged at numerous international competitions and at three Olympic Games : Los Angeles, Seoul and Barcelona.
For many years, Niggli has worked to improve the consistency and standards of dressage judging and has held courses and seminars worldwide to that end. In recent years, he has spent an increasing proportion of his time helping riders, giving clinics on a broad international basis.
He has marshalled his knowledge and experience to offer clear guidelines to both riders and judges in his book "Dressage a guideline for riders and judges," published by J.A.Allen.
Photo © Elisabeth Weiland
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