Equestrian Center: Walter Zetti

Walter Zetti was born in 1929 in Altrohlau, Czechoslovakia. Following are a few highlights of his illustrious career with horses. We are most honored to have him teach regularly at Houghton College Equestrian Center, and strive to be worthy of his time.

1946-1952 Bad Kissingen, Kronberg, Ludwigsberg: Student of Col. Herbert W. Aust.

March 1950 Awarded German Federation Gold Ring Medal. This medal was awarded for success in competition upper level dressage and jumping in a single competition season. Mr. Zettl was the youngest person to win the medal at the time (21).

1952 Selected to ride Cronist for the German dressage team at the Helsinki Olympics, but his professional status prevented his participation.

1953-55 Succeeded Willi Schulthesis and Otto Loerke as trainer at Gestut Vornholz.

1954 Awarded Reitlehrer certification (professional teacher) upon reaching the minimum age of 25 years.

1955-57 First assistant to H. W. Aust in Ludwigsburg. During this time, Mr. Zettl coached 3 young riders aged 18-20 to Gold Riding Medals. This resulted in 5 riders in a single riding club which had attained the Gold Medal -- a feat never replicated in Germany.

1957-65 Chief Reitleher in Munich.

1961 Bavarian Dressage Champion 1964 Won the International Grand Prix in Salsburg.

1965-77 Chief Reitlehrer at Reitclub Heidelberg, where all students from juniors to highest classes in dressage and jumping were very successful.

1977-80 Chief Reitlehrer Alpstott Riding Club. Of 250 ribbons won during this period, 180 were for first place.

1981-83 Manager of the Canadian I.E.S.S. 1982-84 Coached the Young Riders Dressage Team from Ontario. The team won 3 consecutive Team Gold Medals, 1 Individual Gold, 2 Individual Silver and 1 Individual Bronze medal at the North American Young Riders Continental Championships.

1983 & 1984 Achievement Award presented by the Government of the Province of Ontario in recognition of distinguished performance in the field of amateur sport.

1984 Dressage coach for the Canadian 3-Day Event Team for the Los Angeles Olympics (Bronze Medal).

1988 His book Dressage in Harmony was published after 10 years of work.

2000 December 2 - keynote speaker at the United States Dressage Federation annual convention (His second book, The Circle of Success, soon to be published)

Notable Students include: