Fredy Knie senior who just like his son Fredy Junior loved to explain his approach to the interested public. He was nick-named „Horse trainer of the nation“ in his own Switzerland.

Teaching a younger horse piaffe in long lines at Otto Hofer’s yard at the beginning 1990s.

Praise, in form of a pat, a reward with the voice and treats, were indispensable in Knie’s approach.

There’s a whip for every horse and purpose. Fredy Knie senior always made the right choice and was like a conductor using his baton.

Multiple Swiss Olympian Daniel Ramseier competed Fredy Knie senior’s horse Red in dressage competitions, here at Zürich

Considerable time is spent at Circus Knie to make the horses acquainted to the whip so that they remain relaxed and do not get afraid by their touch, instead accepting it as a tool which shows them the way.

Like father like son: Fredy Knie senior observed his son Fredy junior’s training with Parzi. This magnificent PRE stallion from the renowned Domeq breeding in Spain was a birthday present from father to son who trained the horse from scratch to become a star of the manège.

Fredy Knie sr applied the whip like a conductor his baton

Fredy Knie senior first stood in the manège as a toddler and retired from the stage lights in 1985.

Farewell from the manège in 1984 on Ché. Fredy Knie senior always expressed happiness when showing his horses.

It might look unnatural, but laying down in front to allow the rider an elegant jump-off the bare back descends from natural behavior. Fredy Knie junior and his legendary PRE stallion Parzi in the 1970s.

Fredy Knie senior was also a highly sought after Grand Prix trainer. Fredy Knie sr at the 1976 CDI Paris with Hans Syz (right), Ulrich Lehmann (front left), Doris Ramseier (left), Silvia Iklé (behind Knie) and the late Claire Koch (behind Syz)

Fredy Knie senior’s Lipizzans showed excellent airs above the ground, here Alea in a copybook capriole.

Eliane Knie in 1953