 In 1953 Walter Zettl was chosen to succeed Otto Loerke and Willi Schultheis as trainer at Gestuet Vornholz.In 1955, he earned his formal "Reitlehrer" certification as a riding coach, and began training young champions while continuing to compete himself.He won several awards in the Bavarian Dressage Championships and the Salzburg International Jumping Grand Prix on a horse he rode for the first time.