Herbert Rehbein
A tribute from
Bernadette Faurie
'Talent instantly recognizes genius,' said Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The
most talented of the dressage world recognized the genius of Herbert Rehbein...
Born in the north of Hessen, a horse-mad boy from a non-horsy family,
Herbert Rehbein found his first mentor in an old retired army major, who recognized the
eight-year-old's keenness. When he left school at fifteen, Rehbein took up an
apprenticeship with Karl Diehl, whose other renowned students included the late Walter
Christensen, in Flensburg.
During his apprenticeship, although it was predominantly a dressage
stable, Rehbein competed up to advanced level in jumping. Once qualified as a bereiter,
Rehbein continued training with the late Walter 'Bubi' Günther in Hamburg-Flottbeck. He
confirmed Rehbein's path would be dressage, and was to become his greatest influence.
During this time he met, at a show, a sixteen year old girl, Karin, who was to become his
future wife and partner.
During ten years of working for dressage rider Karin Schluter, where
horses such as Liostro and Gassendi, came into his life, Rehbein established a formidable
reputation as a trainer and rider. It was when the Schluter stable was dispersed that the
late industrialist Otto Schulte Frohlinde, invited the Rehbeins to set up a stable at
Grönwoldhof, near Trittau.
What was then, over twenty years ago, a twenty metre long barn and one
yard became the luxuriously designed and world-famous home of stallions such as Pik Bube,
Donnerwetter and his son, Donnerhall, and a dressage 'mecca' for pupils from all over the
world, including Finland's Kyra Kyrklund
and Sweden's Louise Nathhorst.
Herbert Rehbein won the Hamburg Dressage Derby eight times and seven
titles in the German Professionals Championships. He was voted 'Trainer of the Year' by
the International Trainers Club in 1991 and in '94, the German Federation conferred on him
the title of 'Riding Master'. The accolades may have been an honour, but Rehbein was
essentially a private person who never sought or expected recognition. He loved all
animals as well as horses and bred long haired rabbits, which he loved to give away to
friends. He also had a renowned sense of humour.
As a rider, he was the incomparable master. Anyone who ever saw him get on
a horse which had never attempted flying changes before, could be mesmerised to see after
a short time, the horse producing lines of correct tempi changes.
'As a trainer the biggest inspiration for me was when he was riding,' says
Kyra Kyrklund, 'Even if there was a problem he would never get a horse upset, he knew what
he wanted and could make any horse understand. He gave great confidence as a trainer
because he could get on and do it, there was never any doubt, you believed it 100% because
he could get on and do it, there was no question. Sometimes now when there is a problem I
still have in my mind's eye how he looked on a horse, and think if I can copy that even
50% , I'm getting there.'
Madeleine Winter-Schulze, now a member of the German Dressage Committee,
trained with Rehbein for many years: 'He was the same person all his life, he never
changed. We will feel his loss as a rider and trainer, but just as much as a person. He
was the best 'colleague' of all the professional riders on the scene. He would help
everyone, there was no nationality or border. If anyone had a problem he was always ready
to help, that was what made him so special and when he was at the side of the arena, he
gave you security to be sure that things would go alright.'
Kyra adds: 'Most do not become a legend until they have become old or have
died, Herbert was a legend when he was thirty. He must have known he was the best, but he
never felt he had to show it.'
At the age of fifty, Rehbein died after nearly a year of fighting cancer.
Up to his last days he was in place every morning at Grönwoldhof, overseeing the busy
traffic of horses in the school, from the home string, to the teams of foreign riders. A
few months before he died, with typical lack of self-importance, Herbert Rehbein said:
'I'm very lucky that my wife is here, and that we have good bereiters. Karin has it all in
hand.'
It is certain now, but it wasn't then, that things will go on at
Grönwoldhof. Of course it won't be the same, he is irreplaceable. All Herbert Rehbein's
staff and students describe him as the light that went on when he entered the yard. But
Herbert Rehbein's 'no barriers' left a legacy immediately taken up in support of his wife
and her team. At the German Championships in Munster, Karin competed Donnerhall with the
encouragement and support of her colleagues. Dr Schulten-Baumer helped her there, and will
do so until the European Championships.
And maybe someone up there was watching too. At Munster, Donnerhall's
performances were deemed by the most qualified observers to be the greatest of the
stallion's career, earning Karin the runner up position in the Ladies Championship, and a
resolute place on the team.
Over two thousand people attended the funeral of Herbert Rehbein. Not even
half could get into the church at Trittau, but stood outside to listen. As Dr Reiner
Klimke said in his address, Herbert Rehbein never wanted or triedÊ to be at the centre of
things, he just was.