Stuttgart – The 32nd STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS will today draw to a close with the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Grand Prix of Stuttgart – presented by MERCEDES-BENZ, WALTER solar and the BW-Bank. For Andreas Kroll, the managing director of the in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft, it will be an emotional end due to the parting of Gotthilf Riexinger and Hauke Schmidt, the long time driving forces behind the horse show. “The show’s five days have once again shown just what our equestrian event has to offer – top quality equestrian sport, outstanding dressage, thrilling jumping classes, an enthralling Indoor Derby, the rip-roaring four-in-hand driving.”
The atmosphere over the five days in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle was once again excellent. Knowledgeable and with a feel for the riders, the crowd paid tribute to all the top-placed horsemen and women at every victory ceremony. “We were again sold-out on Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon,” said Kroll. A total of 55,100 equestrian fans visited the 32nd STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS up to and including Sunday. “Over the years we’ve sold more than 70 per cent of the seats and the figure this year is no exception. Highly important is that we have reliable partners and sponsors backing us in our efforts to develop the horse show. My thanks go out to the whole team, both in front and behind the scenes, all the riders and our equestrian fans.”
This year’s horse show marks the end of the Gotthilf Riexinger and Hauke Schmidt era – two driving forces right from the very beginning. The Horse Show Director and Technical Director respectively launched the horse show in 1985. And it was a premiere with a bang – Paul Schöckemöhle said at the baptism: “Stuttgart was straightaway the best indoor horse show in Germany.”
In the three decades of the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS the show has grown rapidly with many highlights and it has remained one of the world’s best indoor shows right up the present day. The mixture of show and top class sport with three World Cup classes make the 5-star horse show so unique. An important component is the big arena in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. “We know what we have to thank the two for and we also know that we can hand on a successful horse show to their successors,” said in.Stuttgart Managing Director Andreas Kroll.
Starting in the coming year, Kai Huttrop-Hage, Andreas Krieg and Carsten Rothermund will manage the equestrian side of the Stuttgart horse show. “We firmly believe that we and the trio will be able to jointly continue the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS success story,” said a convinced Kroll. Show jumper Andreas Krieg from nearby Villingen will be returning to the Schleyer-Halle in a new function. The show jumper last competed in Stuttgart in 2011, but that is a thing of the past now. These days his children Niklas and Leonie are responsible for the sporting successes. He himself, together with his wife Kirsten, concentrates on running their riding stables on the edge of the Black Forest. Kai Huttrop-Hage is also a well-known face at the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS. One however knows him more for his voice as the 44-year old has been involved in the horse show as an announcer for years. His main job is that of managing director of the Hofgut Albführen and Gut Ringelsbruch stables in Dettighofen and Paderborn respectively. The third member of the new equestrian management team is Carsten Rotermund. A part of the horse show organisation for a number of years now, he will take on additional responsibilities.
The 33rd STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS will take place from 15 to 19 November 2017.
