Annemarie Kierkegaard

Dedicated dressage judge, competitor, instructor and dressage show manager Annemarie Kierkegaard died Nov. 25 at York Hospital in York, Pa. She was 90.

Mrs. Kierkegaard was born in Vejle, Denmark, the daughter of a Danish cavalry officer who won awards for his prowess as a horse trainer and competitor. He taught her early on that dressage was the basis for all horse training, and this fueled her love of the sport.

Along with her husband, Wagn, Mrs. Kierkegaard moved to the United States in 1949, and later they became U.S. citizens. Mrs. Kierkegaard spoke many languages, including her native Danish, along with English, French and German. After earning her teaching degree, she taught French and German to high school students. For a brief period of time, Mrs. Kierkegaard also taught English to German students in Karlsruhe, where her son, Michael, was riding at the time.

Mrs. Kierkegaard was a lifetime member of the American Horse Show Association (now the U.S. Equestrian Federation) and an S-rated dressage judge. She organized top-level dressage competitions in addition to her time spent as a dressage instructor and competitor.         

During her lifetime she also took every possible opportunity to observe and to learn from the best classical trainers and competitors in the world, and she sought to preserve and protect that standard in her active judging schedule. She was kind and diplomatic but also demanding.

“She loved to teach and always wanted to share what she knew,” said her son, Michael. “She had a sharp eye for a horse, and people used to say she could see the other side of the rider.”

Mrs. Kierkegaard is survived by her husband, Wagn, York, Pa.; her son, Michael Kierkegaard, Brogue, Pa.; three grandchildren and one great grand- daughter.

This obituary appeared in the January 2, 2012 issue of the Chronicle.