Dressage un Ltd., Unlimited Dressage, The Tribute Arena

logo3.gif (5698 bytes) ™

World Equestrian
Games - Rome 1998

When setting out to find the right sand, Duckek searched for two weeks in the environs of Rome. When he didn’t find what he was looking for he "started to get nervous."

Duckek started out in life as a farmer, who spent all of his time in the saddle. His family said to him to either find a way to make a living with horses or leave the farm. So, for the next 30 or so years he trained horses and riders in Dressage, most notably the Swedish and Danish dressage teams.

Hermann Duckek
March 3, 2001

Hermann Duckek, for 25 years the most respected specialist for Jumping and Dressage footing, died on 3 March 2001, at the age of 64. Mr Duckek had been responsible for the grounds at Sydney 2000. Upon his return from Australia, cancer was diagnosed. An operation sadly brought only a short-lived relief. In February, he came home from the hospital and passed away shortly before midnight on Saturday, March 3.

Hermann Duckek at Stuttgart German Masters
© Kyra Beth Houston

German-born, Hermann Duckek came to Denmark as a riding instructor and later, was instrumental in organising international events in Holte, Brönby and Vilhelmsborg. His mark on the international equestrian scene was made with his skill as grounds-specialist. Beginning with the 1974 World Dressage Championship in Copenhagen, Mr Duckek was the grounds-man at hundreds of events, World Cups, World and European Championships and at all Olympic Games since 1976 in Montreal, seven in all. Hermann Duckek is survived by his wife, Wiltrud.

Mr. Duckek personally oversaw and did much of the actual arena building himself as shown in this photo from Stuttgart German Masters, 1996. He tirelessly watered, checked, tamped, and pampered his arena every moment of the competition. Perfect footing not interviews were his only concern.

Continued

Dressage un Ltd. | Join / Renew Dressage un Ltd.