Stuttgart – 30 years STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS – the big birthday has once again showed just how attractive the Stuttgart horse show is after all of three decades. World class equestrian performances, great entertainment, a fantastic atmosphere, thrilled spectators and a new attendance record in the last 20 or so years. Speaking at the Closing Press Conference ahead of the highlight on Sunday afternoon, the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Grand Prix of Stuttgart – presented by MERCEDES-BENZ, WALTER solar and the BW-Bank – both the organisers and main sponsors showed themselves to be highly pleased with the way everything has gone. Andreas Kroll, CEO of the in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft: “The horse show really is a success story with around 1.7 million spectators since 1985 and the figure for this year will total about 63,500. It means we have easily exceeded our target of 60.000.”
In his view, it was noticeable this year that more and more young equestrian fans streamed into the Schleyer-Halle. “It’s an indication of just how attractive our horse show is.” He picked out the fancy dress competition, which has been reintroduced after a long break, on Saturday as being a particular highlight. “My thanks go out to the whole team in front of and behind the scenes, all the riders and especially our sponsors and partners.” Some favourites like Michi Jung, Isabell Werth, Ludger Beerbaum, Pius Schwizer or Roger Yves Bost were naturally successful during the five-days of the 30th STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS but young riders like Kaya Lüthi, Jonathan Gordon and Fabienne Lütkemeier have broken into the limelight of top class equestrianism.
Stefan Schütz, the Head of Group Marketing at LBBW which has been a part of the show as a main sponsor right from the start, also showed himself to be excited by the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS.”We’ve enjoyed five days of exciting competitions and entertaining horsemanship. The horse show has grown fantastically and we, the BW-Bank, will continue to be a part of everything.”
For Manfred Hommel, the CEO of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Stuttgart, the horse show is an event of the highest class. “The STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS is a premium event and is the perfect match for our premium brand.” Mercedes has been supporting equestrianism for many years and Hommel firmly believes: “One has to support such an event and one that takes place in front of the plant’s gates in Bad Cannstatt.” For Wolfgang Walter, CEO of WALTER konzept, the horse show “went excellently”. His son Mario won the Jump and Drive to hand his family an A-Class model from Mercedes. WALTER solar has now been involved in the Stuttgart horse show for the past four years and will carry on its support. “We’re currently in the middle of talks to continue the partnership,” said Walter.
The future for the horse show after three decades therefore looks good. According to Andreas Kroll it also applies to the involvement of the Horse Show Director Gotthilf Riexinger and the Technical Director Hauke Schmidt. “We want to continue our cooperation with them and we’re sure to come to an agreement soon, especially in view of the remits.”
The 31st International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show
will take place from 18 to 22 November 2015.
