Alf Athenstaedt Legacy Award

Alf Athenstaedt was a master horseman who was integral to the founding and shaping of the Tempel Lipizzans' classical dressage training program in 1958. His decades of dedication to the Lipizzan horse and classical training influenced and touched many, as he played a marked role in bringing dressage to the wider United States.

It is in Alf's memory that the Lipizzan Heritage Institute has founded the Alf Athenstaedt Legacy Award. This award will be given to one individual on an annual basis through a selection process conducted by a panel of international professionals specializing in classical riding, training, and the Lipizzan horse. The award recipient will receive a grant to be used in their pursuit of classical training. 

We ask you to consider nominating an individual for this honor, or to consider contributing to our grant fund so that we may continue to bestow this award on an annual basis. Our first award will be granted in July of 2026.

To nominate an award recipient, please email us at info@lipizzanheritageinstitute dot org, or contact us through our contact page with the header "Athenstaedt Legacy Award Nominee". Your nomination should include a detailed list of qualifications and a cover letter detailing how your nominee embodies the legacy of Alf Athenstaedt. Nominees do not need to be professional trainers, but additional support may be requested for other nominees.