German equestrian photographer and colleague Karl-Heinz Frieler has passed away on 19 August 2025 after a long period of illness. He was 71 years old.
Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Frieler was born 5 February 1954. He grew up and lived in Gelsenkirchen his entire life. He studied mechanical engineering and photo design and initially worked for the Rhine-Ruhr Press Service.
He set up his own press and photo agency in the 1980s and his connection with the horse world came through his colleague Raimund Hesse. Frieler first began working for the Westfalian equestrian federation in 1986 supplying photos for its magazine, "Reiter und Pferde in Westfalen."
The sturdy Kalle became a fixture on the German and international equestrian scene, photographing all major horse events and championships. As Frieler grew older and his health began to decline in the early 2010s, he took colleague Stefan Lafrentz under his wing and the duo collaborated at many shows.
Frieler at the 2013 European Championships in HerningGerman journalist Dieter Ludwig described Frieler as following: "He is truly an honest eccentric in the sports photography industry, anything but conformist. He speaks his mind. And he knows what he says and what he's talking about. Anyone who hired him as a competition photographer was assured of his total commitment: from the morning when the first horse arrived, he would be there with his camera until often late into the evening. He was usually the first and ultimately the last to leave a competition arena. That came at a price; he always delivered, and continues to deliver, performance, and he demands payment for it. And woe betide him if he arrived before the entry office opened its doors. And woe betide all those who cause harm to animals, not just horses, because he could and did literally lose his temper... He became quieter with the years and behind his moustache he hid so much heart."
Frieler in conversation with Jan Toenjes of St. Georg magazine at the 2019 CDI HagenIn 2003 Frieler became the winner of the "Silver Camera Award" for best equestrian picture of the year, bestowed by the CHIO Aachen organisation when the competition was still celebrating and honoring the work of real professional horse sport photographers (now it's more a Best Aachen photo of the year award). Frieler's winning photo was called "Tears of Joy" which he took at the 2003 German Para Dressage Championships in Lingen.
In August 2017 Karl-Heinz was bestowed with the German Riders Cross in bronze by the German Equestrian Federation (FN) for his contribution to German horse sport.
