Formerly a banker German-born Christof was just four-years-old when he was introduced to horses. “My father went showjumping and hunting and when I was 14 I had my first horse, a Hanoverian, which I competed in eventing and jumping. Later I had one trained by Dr. Reiner Klimke, which was when I developed a passion for dressage.”

He worked in the banking business for twelve years. ”But I’m not a banker any more – I’m a professional trainer.”

As a young German GP judge he was invited to many events. “This gave me opportunities to exchange ideas with experienced colleagues, and also broaden my horizons by constantly liaising not only with other judges, but with riders, trainers, event organisers and the media.”

In the last 22 years Christof’s home has been in Luxembourg where he heads the Grand Ducal Dressage Centre situated close to the city.

What he also feels has changed in the dressage world is equine management. “Horses, generally, are now treated better.  Thirty years ago they were in small stables 23 hours a day and only taken out to ride; they had no social contact. Now they go out into the fields. Stables today are bigger, arenas better and there’s an improvement in the quality of training and riding.

“At the end of the day the most correctly ridden horses are the ones that go the best.”