Guenter Seidel
September 23, 1960
Encintitas, California

German native Guenter Seidel came to the United States in 1985, after earning his "Bereiter" degree in Germany. Within ten years he was representing the United States winning the Silver Medal at the Pan American Games, and a team Gold Medal at the Can-Am Dressage Challenge. Sponsored by long time owners Dick and Jane Brown, he won the 1992 USET Intermediare Championships and the individual Bronze Medal at the 1994 US Olympic Festival aboard Numir.

With three horses all in good standings for the 1996 Olympic Trials, Seidel rode Graf George, a Hanoverian by Graphit out of a More Magic xx dam, to a Team Bronze Medal, placing eight individually and finishing seventh in the Grand Prix Freestyle. No stranger to the Olympic arena, "George" was on the 1992 Olympic Dressage Bronze Medal team with Michael Poulin in the irons.

In 1997 Seidel and "George" represented the United States in s'Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands at The World Cup Final. In 1998 Seidel and George won the USET Grand Prix Championships, and finished ninth individually at the 1998 World Dressage Championships in Rome, Italy. Graf George was then the USDF Dressage Horse of the Year, retiring on top, and remaining forever in the hearts of many American fans.

Guenter Seidel has created a place in the hearts of American Dressage himself. Popular and easygoing, he is well liked and respected by his fellow competitors, students, friends and fans. "Guenter is one of the most centered people I know." said USET Dressage Team member, Betsy Steiner, who is a long time close friend ("it's a Will and Grace kind of thing with us"). "I think it's because he is so balanced and content in himself that even if he is having his own issues, he can step outside of himself, and into other person's shoes to understand how they feel." During his stay in Florida for the USET Dressage Selection Trials for the 2000 Olympic Games, Seidel was "extremely generous with his time," helping Steiner with her FEI mount Hilltop's Giotto. "Even the morning of the first class, Guenter drove by to check on my horse and see how we were doing."

Steiner, who spent several years in California helped Seidel frequently with Graf George. Currently Seidel trains with Anabel Balkenhol, daughter of German Dressage team coach, Klaus Balkenhol. Anabel has been living in San Diego, California for the past year, and will be returning to Germany soon. Today he rides full-time, teaches and trains dressage riders and horses.

Seidel qualified with two horses for the 2000, USET Dressage Olympic Selection Trials. The first is Dick and Jane Brown's Foltaire, by Voltaire, a thirteen -year-old Dutch Warmblood. With Metallic 15 year old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Uniform, Robert Dover's mount for the 1996 Olympic Games , and now owned by Judith Bernier, Seidel has established a strong position in the selection process for 2000.

Related Links
Guenter Seidel and Foltaire
Guenter Seidel and Graf George