Stuttgart – The decision is of great significance for the International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show in particular and the German dressage scene in general. And it is a great honour too for Thomas Baur. The 42-year-old German has been elected to the dressage committee by the General Assembly of the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) in Copenhagen (Denmark). The marketing expert has been voted on the six man panel as the representative of the world’s horse show organisers.
“It’s vital that the position is filled by somebody that’s actively involved in the sport and that also knows a bit about dressage and the organisation of horse shows,” commented horse show director Gotthilf Riexinger upon hearing that Baur has been appointed to the FEI dressage committee. All these criteria are met by Thomas Baur, especially as he has been a part of the organisation of the horse show in the Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle for the past 24 years. He has also been involved in the Mannheim Maimarkt Horse Show since 1988 and he has been the Director of Dressage at the revived “HAUPTSTADTTURNIER” in Berlin for the past year. Gotthilf Riexinger, Baur’s pre predecessor in the position continued: “The organisers’ representative has to stand up for the interests of the promoters, take action against excessive demands basically simply be able to mediate and ensure there’s an equilibrium.”
The six members of the new FEI Dressage Committee are Margit Otto-Crepin (FRA/riders), Anne Gribbons (USA), Elisabeth Lundholm (SWE), David Hunt (GBR) and Thomas Baur (GER/organisers). The chairman of the dressage committee still has to be appointed by the FEI General Assembly. A decision will be made in the next few days.
“Being called upon to sit on the FEI’s dressage committee is both an honour and a duty,” said Thomas Baur, after the decision was announced by General Assembly. “I’ll do everything in my power and take advantage of all my experience to put forward the interests of the organisers and continue the efforts of my predecessors.”
