AVIAIR met the former national player in Berlin. Our day with Dr. Riese begins on a polo field – a place where the fascination for this sport becomes palpable. We immerse ourselves in the unique atmosphere, admire the horses, talk to players, and feel the deep affection they hold for their animals. These were hours filled with impressions that deepened our respect for the sport and everyone involved.
Afterwards, we had the privilege of accompanying Hans-Jürgen Riese home, where AVIAIR editor-in-chief Sabine Kühlwetter Meiers had the chance to sit down with him for an in-depth conversation. And Riese – entrepreneur, athlete, family man – answers openly, thoughtfully, and in his own calm and composed manner.
AVIAIR: How did you get into polo?
DR. HANS-JÜRGEN RIESE: My first encounters with horses happened during my studies at FU Berlin – at the stables in Düppel, where I learned the basics through the student riding club. I was never particularly gifted in dressage. What truly captivated me wasn’t the technique, not the perfection of dressage –it was the horse itself. Its character, its sensitivity.
And how did you transition from dressage to polo?
I saw a poster announcing a polo tournament at Maifeld, so I stopped by – though I didn’t linger by the champagne tents, I stayed by the horses. That’s where someone approached me: Was I interested in polo? Could I ride? Would I like to try sitting on a polo pony? Of course I was interested!
At the time, I didn’t really expect to hear from them again, but a few days later, the call came – a real invitation to explore polo.
The first time I sat on a polo pony, I experienced what it truly means to become one with the horse. You stop thinking about how to control it – you move as one.
It’s about trust.
Exactly. The dynamic you share with a horse at a gallop is unlike anything I’d experienced before. And that’s what drew me deeper into the sport.
So it wasn’t really the sport itself, but the love for the animal and the feeling of riding that inspired you – the dynamic, the sense of well-being on the horse.
Absolutely right.
You became so passionate that you played polo at a world-class level.
Well, in Germany, we were far from world-class. But what set German polo apart in the early days was that those who got involved were all riders first. That’s important – because sometimes, new players are put on a polo pony without knowing the basics of riding.Opportunities in Germany have improved tremendously over the years.
When I started, polo in Germany was a zero-project. The British, who were stationed here in Berlin – the tank regiments – were former cavalry units who traditionally kept horses. And what do officers do in peacetime?They play polo – shaped, of course, by the English tradition.And naturally, they didn’t just want to play amongst themselves. They wanted to face new opponents.
It’s fascinating how, through the British influence, you became pioneers of polo in Germany. You weren’t just a player, though – you also promoted the sport, serving as Vice President of the German Polo Association. For you, the fascination lies in the connection with the horse,right?
Yes, absolutely. The bond between rider and horse is everything in this sport. As a polo player, you have no chance if your horse isn’t with you.And then there’s the sense of freedom – the feeling of being at one with the horse, the joy of a team sport. And it doesn’t end when you dismount. After the match, you come together for an asado, a barbecue, sharing the sunset. That’s part of the sport too – and that’s what fascinates me.
It almost sounds like polo isn’t just a sport to you – it’s a philosophy, a way of seeing life.
(nods) You can’t force it; it follows because it wants to, not because it has to. That shaped me – not just as a player, but also as an entrepreneur.
Because Riese isn’t just the man on the horse – he’s also the man who keeps the bigger picture in mind, who orchestrates, negotiates, designs. In the world of real estate, he’s known for tackling complex projects with strategic foresight – new builds, renovations, marketing. He thinks in big frameworks, combining passion with discipline, vision with practicality.
“In business, as in polo, it’s not about imposing your will. It’s about leading a team so everyone can do their best. You need a goal – yes – but above all, you need the instinct: when to let go, when to lead, when to listen.”
Berlin, 1987 – when it all began
Tell us how it came about that the European Championship was held in Germany for the first time.
The era of major polo tournaments in Berlin started with what seemed like an insignificant moment. A Swiss player, Reto Gaudenzi, suggested we organize a match: Switzerland versus Germany. At that time, there was hardly any infrastructure. The polo field in Frohnau was rudimentary, the grass mowed by hand, horses hauled in on trailers. But the crowd was huge. Even before the match, traffic reports warned: the roads were jammed, people were flocking in droves. That’s when we realized something bigger was happening.
That was the spark?
“Yes,” Riese says. After the tournament, the three of us sat down together – Reto, Florian Barghausen from the public radio station Sender Freies Berlin, and I – and someone said: Why don’t we think bigger? Why not the European Championship? And if we’redoing it, let’s do it on the Maifeld – this legendary place where polo was an Olympic discipline in 1936.” The idea was born. The execution was daring, improvised, a feat of sheer determination.
“The British officers supported us, especially the city commander, Patrick Brooking. Suddenly the city was plastered with posters, as if a state visit were taking place.
The Maifeld – then part of the British sector – was ours to use. And so we went for it. In 1987, we hosted the first European Championship on German soil. And after its success, we brought the first World Championship to Germany in 1989.” Riese shares a particularly special moment from that World Championship: the match between Argentina and England.
“Because of the Falklands crisis, there had been no direct contact between the British and Argentine national teams for fifty years – until our World Championship in ’89. We had 156 accredited journalists at the Maifeld, covering it. The world was watching.It was wonderful to see how sport can bridge political divides.”
Incredible what you achieved through this sport. Tell me again about the story with South Africa – you mentioned it briefly at the polo field.
We received an invitation from the South African Polo Association – at a time when many avoided South Africa due to apartheid. But we said: Sport is sport. We reject apartheid, absolutely – but you can’t change it by staying home. You have to face it.
Several tournaments were planned in South Africa. Riese describes their first tournament in Cape Town: new horses, unfamiliar people, a politically charged atmosphere – but despite all obstacles, the German team won.
“We beat the Cape Town team, though I still don’t know how,” he says, laughing. “And the South African press? They blew it up. You have to understand: The Boers and the British there – they have this underlying rivalry. And we Germans, right in the middle – it was something special. ”But Cape Town was just the beginning. “Next, we went to Durban – a place deeply influenced by Boer culture. When we arrived, there was already a huge newspaper article about us. The interest was there, the expectations high.
His gaze sharpens as he describes how they meticulously prepared their horses: “Bandages, wraps – everything done as we knew it in Europe. Butin Durban, it was different. They loaded ten, twelve horses onto a truck – no order, just a jumble. More horses than saddles. And the saddles? Just thrown on, wherever they fit."
He laughs, almost incredulously. “And there we were, on horses that were trained completely differently. In Europe, polo ponies are ridden with a draw rein to keep their heads in position and prevent injury to the player. They’d never heard of that in Durban. So we sat there and realized quickly: These horses don’t respond like ours."
He recalls trying to control the horses: “If you hit the ball – great. But after that? Nearly impossible to turn them back around. I was pulling on the reins with both hands, trying to steer, to reposition. It wasn’t the polowe knew – but it was an experience I’ll never forget. That’s when I realized: Polo is different. Everywhere in the world.”
And wasn’t the story with the ostriches also in South Africa?
"Yes, that was also in South Africa. We went on to Autzhorn, where there was an ostrich farm. The locals rode ostriches for fun. Boldly, we said: We can do that too.
When the South Africans expressed their doubts, we just put on our polo gear – helmets, mallets in hand – and gave it a try.” Riese explains that you could steer the ostrich’s neck like a joystick – forward, back, left, right.
“A strange feeling – two legs instead of four, a completely different dynamic. Of course, we didn’t actually play polo – that was just a joke. But we did ride the ostriches – and somehow, it worked.
The locals found it hilarious. “They thought we were crazy, of course. But that’s part of what polo is about: courage, curiosity, fun.Trying things others say are impossible.”
Courage, curiosity – those are qualities that drive people forward, in sport and in their careers. Discipline is also part of any great career. You’re an entrepreneur, a visionary. Would you say the discipline you need in sports is the same as in business?
Fundamentally, yes. But I think discipline is often misunderstood. It’s always connected to passion.
When you truly love something, you don’t need discipline in the classical sense – you just do it.
Discipline is something you apply when you don’t want to do something but feel you have to. That doesn’t work in business or in sports.
If you don’t feel the inner drive – the desire, the calling – discipline won’t get you far. Then it becomes obligation – and obligation is never sustainable.Of course,” he adds, “there are times when structure helps. Sure, you have a tournament, a goal, a deadline – discipline helps you stay focused, prepare. But the foundation must always be passion. The excitement for what you do.
Without that, discipline is just a cage.”
Have you ever learned something about leadership from horses? Something you’ve applied to your life as an entrepreneur, to working with people?
I used to believe you could lead teams through discussion and intellectual exchange. But that was a mistake. People must be led like a horse – not forced, but clearly guided. They have to feel that someone knows the way forward. Someone inviting them to come along.
And what’s the greater challenge for you: a stubborn horse or a hesitant team?
Riese (laughs): A team. A horse feels you immediately – people often take longer to understand what you really want.
When we talk about leadership, we’re also talking about responsibility. Responsibility for people, for decisions, for what remains. And responsibility often takes courage. Has there been a decision in your life that required particular courage – one you’d make again today?
That’s a hard question. Let’s just say this: There was a personal loss that forced me to think deeply about how to move forward, especially for my family.
Without going into too much detail, I can say this: I would make that decision again, every time. Because the outcome has been wonderful. And that’s not about me – it’s thanks to my wife. She made it possible.
A beautiful statement to close a conversation that was about so much more than sport and entrepreneurship.
And we learn what polo can teach us about life: it’s more than a game. It’s a mirror – for life, for leadership, for trust.
“It’s not about the ball,” Riese says at one point. “It’s about the horse. About the partner, the team. And about the feeling of creating something together that’s bigger than yourself.”
A sentiment that stays with you.
