Michael Rheinheimer, show manager, course designer and trainer, died on Dec. 1 in Wilmington, Ohio of a blood clot at age 54.
Shows that Rheinheimer managed included the Brandywine Summer Series in Devon, Pa., the USEF Pony Finals and the National Horse Show when it was at Madison Square Garden in New York.
He was also a popular course designer, building at the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg, Pa., the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., the Washington International and the Capital Challenge in Maryland.
He was honored as the American Hunter Jumper Foundation Course Designer of the Year in 2009.
Since 2008, he, along with his fiancee Amanda Lyerly, focused on training out of Madison Hills Farm in Gates Mills, Ohio.
Their students and horses won championships at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, in Devon, Pa., the Pennsylvania National, Washington International, WEF and the Pony Finals.
One of his best students was Emma Kurtz.
Rheinheimer is survived by his fiancee Lyerly, his daughters Hillary and Madison Rheinheimer, his mother Mary Wehmeier and his brothers and sisters Allen, Christine, Dean and Stanley, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hilary and Madison Rheinheimer, Donation Account, Chase Bank, 100 Center St., Chardon, OH 44024, or to the USHJA Foundation's Horseman's Assistance Fund, 3870 Cigar Lane, Lexington, KY 40511.
