In memory of Hildegard Gekiere
who died on 12th August, 2013

It is with great sadness that we report the untimely death of one of our association's greatest mentors and supporters,

Hildegarde Gekiere, after an illness that she bore with fortitude.

She was still teaching until shortly before her death on 12th August 2013.

Hildegarde, who was born on 22nd January 1949, was Secretary General of the Lipizzan International Federation from 1986 to 2004.

From then until her death she was the LIF's Honorary Secretary General.

Hildegarde grew up with horses and went on to become Director of the former Belgian dressage school BLOSO in Sint Ulriks Kapelle

. In that sphere she was well respected and talented.
Her special equine love was the Lipizzaner horse. This led her in 1983 to the State stud of Lipica for the International Anniversary celebrations.

She met many of the original stud directors and had talks with them about maintaining the purity of the Lipizzaner.

Hildegarde felt that Lipizzaner breeders throughout Europe & indeed the world should come together with a common breeding goal

akin to that as laid down by the Hapsburgs in that small town so many years ago.

A year later in 1984 ,she arranged a meeting in Brussels with many of the original State studs and with a few private breeders associations too.

The result was the drafting of the Articles of International Association by eminent EU lawyer Rudolf Leiner under Belgian law

and so the Lipizzan International Federation was born -

and a large portion of Hildegarde's life was about to be changed forever.

Hildegard for many was the face of the LIF.

Her tireless devotion to the task of uniting all Lipizzaner breeders worldwide led her to many countries where she made lifelong friends.

Her diplomatic prowess was legendary.

She was fearless in her efforts to save the breed when it was in serious trouble and that included masterminding the transport of feed and drugs to

war torn Yugoslavia as it was known then.

Her efforts ultimately saved the Lipizzaners at the Djakovo Stud in Croatia.

She worked tirelessly for the Lipizzaner for 30 years of her life and the Lipizzan International Federation owes it's very existence to that work.

She also managed to fit in her career as an eminent dressage instructor in Brussels and was working until shortly before her death.

She leaves her husband, four children and a great many friends who are all saddened that this bright whirling light has been taken from us.

We will not forget you Hildegarde.