Mourning the loss of Peter Luther

16. October 2024

He was a top-class sportsman and an idol to many, yet despite all his international successes he always remained down-to-earth, approachable and accessible: Peter Luther has passed away. He was 85 years old.

The Holsteiner Horse Breeders’ Association (Verband der Züchter des Holsteiner Pferdes e.V.) joins Peter Luther’s family, his colleagues and friends in mourning the loss of a truly special horseman. He was what one might call a ‘Holsteiner institution’ and, despite his remarkable sporting career, he never lost touch with his roots. Peter Luther was based in Wittmoldt in the district of Plön, where his family still runs a training, competition and trading stable, which he once established together with his wife Ursula, who passed away recently. In the 1980s, he was the most successful show jumper from the ‘Land between the Seas’. Riding Livius by Lord, he won the German Show Jumping Derby in Hamburg in 1980. Two years later, he was part of the German team that won team silver at the World Championships in Dublin (IRL). At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (USA), the Holstein pair won team bronze. At the European Championships, Luther and Livius won team gold in 1981, team silver in 1997 and team bronze in 1985. After retiring from active competition, he became one of the most sought-after trainers both at home and abroad, including at the Holsteiner Verband. Here, he was jointly responsible for the training of show jumpers. Among his most successful pupils was Lars Bak Andersen, who, under his guidance, competed at the European Championships with the association-approved stallion Con Air, for example. His sons Thieß and Hauke also trained with him and achieved sporting success, as do his grandchildren Jesse and Jarka today.

Peter Luther was a member of the Holsteiner Licensing Commission from 1997 to 2009. As the first athlete representative on the commission – following the transition from a state-run to a breed association licensing process – he enriched the commission with his proven expertise. Peter Luther was a recipient of the Holsteiner Verband’s Golden Pin, the highest honour the association awards. He received the award, amongst other things, for his outstanding achievements as a member of the Licensing Commission. Peter Luther was also awarded the Fritz Thiedemann Medal, which is presented in honour of its namesake for down-to-earthness, modesty and fairness in sport. He was, furthermore, the recipient of the Meteor Prize, awarded by RathmannVerlag to outstanding figures in breeding and sport.