Very sadly, the German championship rider and trainer Heinrich-Wilhelm "Kaiser" Johannsmann passed away on May 19, at the age of 71.  

The German Equestrian Federation pays tribute to "Kaiser" and writes:  

“Johannsmann grew up with three brothers on his parents' horse breeding farm in Gütersloh-Ebbesloh and began riding as a teenager. After an apprenticeship as a saddler, he completed a riding apprenticeship with Lutz Goessing. In 1978, he moved to the Römersee Stud in Heiden, where Gerhard Brenningmeyer gave him his first success horses Sarto and Chico to ride. That same year, he participated at the World Championships in Aachen and finished fifth with the team. A year later, he won team silver with Sarto at the European Championships in Rotterdam. 

In 1981, Heinrich-Wilhelm Johannsmann, better known by the nickname "Kaiser" Johannsmann, returned to the Goessing-family’s stables and continued his international sport career with stallions from the North Rhine-Westphalia State Stud: Prosario NRW, Potsdam NRW and Gralshüter. From May 1998 until April 2004, he also worked as an honorary trainer for the DOKR federal training center in Warendorf. In total, he competed in 22 Nations Cups for Germany. 

At the end of 2005 he ended his active riding career, but remained true to the showjumping sport as a trainer. Among others, he was a regular guest at the Beerbaum Stables in Riesenbeck. From 2011 to 2013 he was Chef d’Equipe for the Ukrainian team. One of his most successful students is Karl Brocks, today's national trainer of the pony jumping riders. 

In 2017, with his significant contribution, the DVD "Springausbildung" was published by the FN Verlag, which follows different showjumpers in their daily work, in course training and during show preparations.”

Our sincere condolences go out to Kaiser's family and friends.