Edward Gal

Edward Gal was born on March 4, 1970, in Rheden, Netherlands. He began his equestrian journey at age 14, initially focusing on jumping. However, upon realizing his horse preferred other disciplines, he transitioned to dressage. In his early twenties, Gal committed to an equestrian career. In 1996, he co-founded Dressuurstal Werner/Gal with business partner Nicole Werner, where he trains horses and coaches riders. This enterprise laid the groundwork for his future success, leading to his first international debut in 2000 representing the Netherlands.

Gal’s career saw a significant turning point in 2008 with the stallion Totilas. Their partnership quickly gained recognition, setting multiple world-record scores in Grand Prix Freestyle and Grand Prix Special. In 2009, they secured team gold and individual gold at the European Championships in Windsor, followed by a World Cup Final gold in 2010. The pinnacle of their collaboration came at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, where they made history by winning three gold medals (Team, Special, and Freestyle Dressage), making them the first horse-rider pair to achieve such a sweep. Following this monumental achievement, Totilas was sold. Despite this, Gal continued to excel with other horses.

His continued dedication to the sport is evident in his long-standing partnership with the Glock Horse Performance Centre, which began in 2012. Throughout his career, Gal has garnered numerous awards, including the 2010 Athlete of the Year by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and multiple Dutch Horse Rider of the Year titles. He continued to compete at the highest level, including the 2012 London Olympics, where he earned a team bronze medal with Glock’s Undercover. In April 2022, Gal announced a temporary break from competition, returning in May 2024. He also coaches and trains horses, including developing new talents such as Gladiator, a Dutch Warmblood sired by Totilas, first shown publicly in January 2023.