George Williams started riding dressage seriously in 1973. As a 17 year old he traveled to Germany to study with Egon Von Neindorff. It was there at the Reitinstitute von Neindorff that he earned his German Bronze Rider Medal. After winning two national AHSA and USDF Championships in 1981, Williams followed his mentor, Karl Mikolka, to ride the famed Lipizzan stallions of Tempel Farms in Illinois. After a 20 year association with the dancing white horses, Williams decided to follow his dream to compete internationally.
In 2001, he began his partnership with the charismatic and popular black, lop eared Westfalen mare, Rocher, owned by Chuck and Joann Smith of Gypsy Woods Farm in Richwood, Ohio. Working with US Olympic Team Coach, Klaus Balkenhol, in 2003, the pair’s highlights included fifth place in the World Cup in Sweden, USDF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle Horse of the Year as well as being named Dressage Horse of the Year by The Chronicle of the Horse. They achieved a BCM ranking of 16th in the world. After an injury forced them to withdraw from the 2004 Olympic Selection trials, Rocher returned to competition in 2005. Proving herself once again, together they earned the title of the 2005 USET/Collecting Gaits National Grand Prix Champion as well as a team bronze at the CHIO Aachen. However, the crowning moment of the year was winning the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at Dressage at Devon for an unprecedented third time.
Williams is a sought after instructor and trainer. He has coached four NAYRC Individual Medal winners and numerous NAYRC Team Medal winners. He has earned the USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. Recently Williams was co winner of the USEF William Steinkraus Equestrian of Honor Award for his success in 2005. A strong believer in giving back to the dressage community, Williams is currently active as the Vice-President of United States Dressage Federation (USDF), Co-Vice Chair of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Committee, a member of the USEF Board of Directors, and is the Chair of the USEF High Performance Committee. He was a contributing author to the USDF’s booklet on arena footing, Underfoot, and his accomplishments and training techniques have been featured in many publications.
| 2006 George Williams | May 13-14th- Paxton Farm CDI 3* US League Finals, USFC, OH Class GPS: 2nd place- Marnix Class GP: 4th place- MarnixMay 18-19th 3rd place at WEF Dressage Classic CDI-W- Marnix March 4-5th Feb 2-5th- Florida Dressage Classic ’06 |
| 2005 | Sep 30th- Oct 2nd- Dressage at Devon CDI*** Class GPF: 1st place- Rocher Class GP: 1st place- RocherAug 24-27th- CDIO Aachen, Germany Class GP: 15th place- Rocher Class GPS: 15th place- Rocher Class GPF: 15th place- Rocher Aug 13-14th- CDI***Hagen Jun 16-18th- USET Foundation FoC Jun 3- 5th- Raleigh CDI*** May 14-16th- Paxton Farm CDI*** Feb 18-20th- Florida Dressage Classic Feb 4-6th Wellington Dressage |