Rick Klaassen was born to Dutch parents in Indonesia and went to Holland at the age of five.
At 17 years old, after his schooling, he began apprenticeship under Robert Schmidtke in Hilden. Other mentors were Hans Biss and Hand Gerlach in Bielefeld.
In the summer of 1970, Rick passed his riding trainer's exam and worked with the legendary dressage trainer George Theodorescu, trainer to many Olympic medallists, in Steinhagen from 1971 - 1974.
In December of 1974 he successfully completed his riding instructors exam. During his studies he was successful in winning jumping events up to the German M/A class riding and German L class in dressage. During his time as riding trainer with Theodorescu he won the German L and M class dressage. He also competed in eventing.
After one year as riding instructor at the Birkenhof riding school in Wuppertal, he took over the facility in Hilden in 1975 as successor to his mentor.
Rick is also now a certified judge.
In 1979 and 1980 he was National trainer for the Dutch team: Francis Verbeek van Rooy was amongst his students. She was an Olympic athlete and today is a recognized international judge.
In 2008 and 2009 , Rick was active in both the National and International competitions throughout the eastern states of North America with wins in both the small tour and the Grand Prix.
He trained the champion in North America, including
Canada and Mexico Junior Championship - Nicole Delgiorno.
His success in dressage includes the Grand Prix and he holds the Golden Rider medal
in Germany and the U.S. His students participate in the German as well as the Rheinischen Championships.
As an instructor, Rick is active
all over Germany, the USA, Portugal and Holland.
A close cooperation arose between Rick Klaassen and Eckart Meyners, lecturer for movement training and sport pedagogy at the University of Lüneburg.
After returning from the U.S., he made his
exam with Eckart. Rick is now a Certified EM Trainer, so he can
currently combine high class dressage training with seat
exercises.
