Remembering Klaus Fraessdorf
I was very saddened to hear of the death of my friend, Klaus Fraessdorf, who succumbed to cancer yesterday, after a long and hard-fought battle. Klaus was many things to many people and one of those was absolutely not a “weakling”!
I met Klaus 38 years ago when my family moved from the Bahamas to Florida. A young teenager with a 3rd level horse which I also evented and Pony Clubbed, Klaus introduced himself to me and we became pals. Klaus ran a dressage stables in the Orlando area and I would see him when out competing. My family decided to move to Atlanta and, once there in training with Elisabeth Lewis, I decided to sell my horse, Somerset Son. Now a 4thlevel horse, when Klaus heard “Sonny” was for sale, he called and ended up purchasing him from me. From that day forward, Klaus has played an enormous role in my career and that of countless dressage enthusiasts. Yes, he taught and trained for many years, but then he began organizing competitions 
and, along with his wonderful wife, Maria, running shows including many CDI’s, Olympic and World Championship qualifiers and even Final Selection Trials.
Now, when it came to rules, Klaus was a pain in the ass sometimes, but sadly, he was always right, even when we were sure he could not have been. And when it came to complaining about one thing or another, as I could do with the best of them, Klaus would listen (unless he saw me coming first and found a way to jump into his golfcart and get away 
)and try his best to find a solution. Without Klaus, the Florida circuit would never have happened as it has, and American Dressage sport would be decades behind. I will miss seeing him at the ring and having to endure one of his corny jokes which he never ran short on.
There will never be another Klaus Fraessdorf - he was most definitely one of a kind! He will be remembered as long as there is Dressage sport in Florida - forever!
Cheers, Klaus!
RD
shawna — September 1, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
I was very sorry to hear about Klaus. He was “The Rule Man” and kept us all straight. He will be missed.
Shawna
Jane Gennaro — September 1, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
I bought my first horse from Klaus - a nine year old Holseiner gelding named Marlandus. Klaus gave me lessons and taught me that “it isn’t the horse’s fault - its yours.” Of course, he was right. He never sugar-coated his statements but was able to deliver the truth in a compassionate, understanding and, very often, humorous manner. I cannot imagine Orlando dressage without him.
Jean Dover — September 1, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
Dearest Robert,
I just showed Dad the picture of Klaus and You at a Dressage compition I presume. He immediately recognized Klaus.
As soon as we walked into a show, and the two of them saw each other, they would holler Nuggy, Nuggy. No one knew what meaning it had for them, but they would both burst out laughing afterward.
Klaus was always kind to us, making sure we had good seats, and were in need of nothing.
He was as fine a gentleman as ever was.
God bless him. Dad & I send our sympathy to his Wife and Family.
Roberts Mom & Dad
Janet Foy — September 1, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
He is playing his harmonica in heaven and laying down the rules to the angels as we speak! We will all miss him!
JB — September 2, 2009 @ 10:17 am
A few years ago I had the opportunity to scribe for him. It was evident he was sick and during the day an EMT stopped by several times just to ask how he was doing. Our ring ended around 3PM and we sat and talked while waiting for a golf cart. He told me how he got to this country and his cancer . . . while smoking a cigarette no less. He was great fun to scribe for, never taking himself seriously. Here’s my stickler to the rules story.
The last ride before lunch, I believe it was a PSG class, and you could see the black cloudy front of rain was going to be on us in 2 minutes. I asked him if he wanted to let this gal ride after lunch. No, the rules say she must ride . . . blah, blah. She comes down centerline and the heaven’s open and so does the wind. He is shouting the comments and number, I’m writing with a pen which is skipping over the wet paper. She does her final salute and looks exhausted, everything is soaked. After he writes his final comments he hands me the test, I look at him and say “you should at least make a comment about the rain”, “you’re right he says and writes “too bad about the weather”.
Barbra Reis — September 3, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
I showed under Klaus last year in OH on a mare that was at her first show and he was SO nice - gave me my first 9 for the year as well as a couple 8’s. Talk about building confidence!!!!
Maureen — September 3, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
I first started my “real riding” at Klaus’ barn back in ‘86 in Altamonte Springs & was in my 1st dressage schooling show there. I still laugh when I see the video! He certainly was Fl Dressage!
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Cheap Auctions — January 24, 2012 @ 12:45 am
Hi! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!