Heinz Schütte

Heinz Schütte began his lifelong love of equestrianism when he took up horse riding at the age of seven. In 1962 Schütte became the chair of the Braunschweig Riding Club where he dedicated more than 50 years of his life. As an international dressage judge he worked as an assistant to Count Rothkirch at the 1972 München Olympics before judging himself at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. During his career he judged at five editions of the World Championships, multiple European Championships, and 25 national dressage championships in his native Germany.

Schütte served on multiple committees, including the German Dressage Selection Committee (1972–2005) and two spells on the FEI Dressage Committee (1981–85, 1989–93). He was almost killed in a car accident while on holiday in South Africa in 1990 but survived after spending many months in hospital. In 1998 Schütte retired as a dressage judge but continued to be involved in the sport in addition to working in his day job as a lawyer.