I have so many emotions about Herr von Neindorff.  I will start by saying that when I first found out about the school about 9 years ago, I didn't have a clue that a "regular person" could even go there, and then when I found out that it was ALLOWED that "regular" people go there, I didn't think I would ever get the chance before he passed away (after all, I knew he was in his 70's even then).  But this year things just came together for me, and I knew I should take the chance while it was available. During my stay, I realized he is the Classical Master! 

He is up at 6:00 am every morning to oversee (meaning dish out) the first feeding for each horse, and then goes back up for his breakfast, comes down at 8:45am to assign horses to the first session's students, gives the first lesson, assigns horses and gives the second lesson, does some individual lessons, oversees the noon feeding, speaks to visitors, talks with students, manages the working students, conducts business over the phone, has lunch SOMEWHERE in there, then at 5:00pm, oversees the evening feeding, begins the evening session at 6:00pm, the second evening session at 7:00pm, and then does some of the miscellaneous instruction including overseeing students on the longe, new horses being ridden, work in hand, etc. until almost 9:00 at night, and then a final feeding at about 9:30 or 10:00pm.

Three times a day, at 6:30 a.m., noon, and 9:30 p.m., 
Herr von Neindorff dishes out individual rations for each
of the 60 horses in his care.  The feed cart with the
various grains, supplements and fresh carrots, is rolled
down the center aisle, Herr von Neindorff mixes each ration
especially formulated for each horse, and staff and students
carry the feed to each stall.  The entire feeding takes only 
20 minutes. Hay is fed three times a day in between the grain. 

And to me, he doesn't look any older than he did in the School promotional video which was made in 1994!

The second thing I want to say is that his relationship with the horses is nothing short of amazing. He knows each of them, and they all know him (all 60 of them), and his voice, and they pay attention....each one seems like they just want to be close to him, to touch him, or to be patted by him.

I am not the type of person to put human feelings on horses, nor do I have any kind of "groupie" mentality about human beings, but after spending a month at the School, I now feel like I have been in a special place.....a Horseman's place. And Herr von Neindorff is the Master.