When Tatiana at the European Championship found a seat in the public gallery on Tuesday and wanted to continue watching the Grand Prix, an older gentleman sat right next to her and wanted to watch as well.
Coming well together: Tatiana with Harry Boldt
Tatiana had already ridden and had brought her almost 70 percent home. The older gentleman proved to be friendly and communicative. They got into the conversation. Obviously, the lord was off the field. A stealthy glance at the suspended competition card caused spontaneous astonishment. Tatiana couldn't believe it. Next to her was Harry Boldt, the very Harry Boldt, who won individual silver in dressage at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and won the gold medal with the team. He was able to repeat the same success in Montreal in 1976 and then from 1981 to 1996 he was highly successful coach of the German national team.
Tatiana was of course known by name. The standard work for the dressage rider "Das Dressurpferd" had already been on the bedside table many times and was repeatedly used to optimize the training work. And now this fogged horseman sat really and alive next to her in the grandstand at the European Championships in Rotterdam. A perfect surprise.
Sönke Rothenberger had just entered with Cosmo when they got into the conversation. Harry Boldt commented restrainedly, respectfully and accurately on the riders and horses that appeared, and he also came to talk about his current life in Australia. When he spoke, he was not remembered for his proud age of 89. He was committed and alive in the cause he knows so well. You can't watch an EC better, an absolute, unexpected highlight.
