About Melissa Simms
The pure art of classical horsemanship, kept alive.
From a Marine Corps childhood to the head rider of the Reitinstitut Egon von Neindorff, and Tressa's mentor for more than twenty years.
Melissa Simms
Melissa Simms, the daughter of a Marine Corps officer, traveled extensively with her family, including places like Japan, in which they stayed for four years. The military family life made it possible for her to always have access to excellent riding facilities. The first instructor Melissa had, when she was eight years old, was in Japan; he also taught the children of the Emperor.
When her family was stationed in the United States, she had opportunities to learn about other riding disciplines as well. This included hunter-equitation lessons with George Morris, western equitation and gymkhana riding classes, in which she won awards including a silver buckle for first place at the Camp Pendleton rodeo.
Later, while studying gemology and working to become a registered jeweler, she continued to ride extensively with Klaus Albin, a German riding instructor in Seattle, Washington. He had served his apprenticeship under Felix Bürkner and Otto Lörke in Germany and had been stationed at Potsdam Cavalry School along with Egon von Neindorff. This is how Melissa Simms found her way to the Egon von Neindorff Institute. Klaus Albin recognized Melissa to be very talented and decided to make a call. He contacted Egon von Neindorff about this student who "he thought could be useful for him in Karlsruhe." And so her journey continued.
In the riding master's own words
Melissa Simms, who was referred to me by her German riding instructor in America, arrived at my institute as a working student in February 1982. She worked in the stable to acquire experience and received daily riding instruction. I immediately noticed her diligence, interest and understanding for horses and for the naturally oriented schooling represented in my institute. Therefore I was able to conduct intensive daily riding lessons with her on well trained horses. She advanced very quickly. Over time I trusted her judgment and gave her my horses to school, which she accomplished with feeling, knowledge and patience. At the same time she became integrated into my performances of Classical Horsemanship that I conducted twice a year from 1954 onward. Over the years she developed into a most important and dependable assistant for me and for the successful completion of the festival evenings. Today, she possesses the aptitude, professional qualifications and ability to school horses of all different breeds to Grand Prix niveau and has developed a particularly fine feeling for work "in hand" and for the airs above the ground. Because of this and the twenty years that she has been a major support to me personally and to my riding institute, I believe that she has understood, can interpret and write about my life's work.
Riding Master Egon von Neindorff, March 20, 2002
Heir, and translator
Herr Egon von Neindorff passed in 2004 and Melissa became his heir. She was left with the responsibility of the riding school and had to tread many rough waters and legal entanglements. Melissa assembled his unfinished manuscript, which became Die reine Lehre der klassischen Reitkunst, published in Germany in 2004, and she was now the person who would translate the late Egon von Neindorff's book from German into the English version, The Art of Classical Horsemanship. She began that process in 2005 and the book was published in English in 2009. Melissa was really the only person who could have made this a personal interpretation, translating his book with such accuracy, for she understood his body of work in a way no one else could, due to her 24-year close relationship with Egon von Neindorff.
Since the passing of Egon von Neindorff and the translation of his book, Melissa lived between Germany and the USA. She gave clinics, wrote articles and dedicated her life to promoting the awareness of classical riding as learned from Egon von Neindorff. Melissa Simms encapsulated the pure art of classical horsemanship that for the most part can now only be read about. She hoped that her students may bring this forward into the future of dressage riding.
Melissa Simms died on February 14, 2018.
2004
Becomes von Neindorff's heir; assembles his unfinished manuscript for publication in Germany.
2005 to 2009
Translates the book into English as The Art of Classical Horsemanship.
Germany and the USA
Clinics, articles, and a life devoted to the awareness of classical riding.
Traditions Farm
Taught clinics at Tressa's farm in Sonoma County a few times a year for over twenty years.
Classical work in-hand, the airs above the ground
Continue
The tradition, as Tressa teaches it today.
Calm, forward, straight, supple. Objectives for the horse and for the rider.