When the starting bell rings for the first time in less than a week at 12.30 hrs (all times are local) in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, it will herald five exciting and attractive days of action with the world’s top riders. Equestrian fans can, in the words of Horse Show Director Kai Huttrop-Hage, look forward to “five stars, four disciplines and three World Cup classes” as the protagonists can earn themselves valuable points in jumping (Sunday 15.15 hrs), dressage (Saturday 17.00 hrs) and four-in-hand driving (Saturday 12.45 hrs) in the quest to qualify for the 2024/2025 World Cup finals. About 180 participants from 20 nations will be saddling more than 300 horses in the so-called “Hallenduo” in Stuttgart’s NeckarPark. The three World Cup classes will be joined by the eventing Indoor Derby (Wednesday 21.25 hrs) and the FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy (Saturday 14.30 hrs). Baden-Württemberg’s elite will be competing in the final of the BW-Bank Indoor Championship, (Thursday 19.45 hrs), the iWEST Dressage Cup (Thursday 14.30 hrs) and the NÜRNBERGER Burg Cup for juniors (Wednesday 15.00 hrs)
A major draw once again for the crowd is the grand opening show on Wednesday (19.00 hrs) with attractions like the equestrian triathlon, Lisa Röckener’s liberty dressage, the LILA LOVES IT Dog Agility or the spectacular performances by Wolkenstein Riding Group from South Tirol, Italy. Young rainers belonging to the Marbach State Stud will not only display their schooling skills with exquisite horses in the enthralling “Dancing through the Century” but also their dancing prowess and the high quality of the traineeships at the stud’s base in Marbach.
Only a few tickets left for Friday and Saturday
Equestrian fans are eagerly awaiting the horse show, something shown by advance ticket sales: “To date we have sold about 40,000 tickets for the nine sessions,” said a pleased Andreas Kroll, before continuing, “We are expecting a full house on Friday and Saturday as there are only a few tickets still available.”
Six of the world’s Top 14 riders are on the list of entries for the international jumping classes – the top-placed Swede Henrik von Eckermann, the 2024 World Cup winner in Riyadh, the world No. 2 from Switzerland Steve Guerdat (silver medallist in Paris), the Munich-born Austrian Max Kühner (7th), Richard Vogel (Germany, the 2022 Grand Prix winner in Stuttgart /10th), Martin Fuchs (Switzerland /12th), the 2019 individual European champion and the team winner in 2021, plus Frenchman Kevin Staut (14th), the team Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and the 2009 individual European champion. Other Germans saddling up in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle include Hans-Dieter Dreher (winner of the 2013 Grand Prix of Stuttgart), the four-time eventing Olympic champion Michael Jung, Marcus Ehning and Jana Wargers, who won the Nations League final with the German team in Barcelona at the start of October. Countryman Armin Schäfer, winner of the 1999 BW-Bank Indoor Championship, is also in the mix as is Marco Kutscher, the three-time European champion (2005 and 2011).
Strong dressage line-up: Ingrid Klimke and newcomer Katharina Hemmer
Strong opposition for “Dressage Queen” Isabell Werth, who won four times in four starts last year in Stuttgart is set to come from her home country. Newcomer Katharina Hemmer, a prodigy of the riding instructor Hubertus Schmid and the reserve rider in Paris, and Raphael Netz, fifth in the World Cup Final in Riyadh, are sure to challenge the world No. 1. A very welcome guest in the city on the River Neckar is the two-time team Olympic champion (2016 und 2021) and team world champion (2018), Dorothee Schneider. Sönke Rothenberger will be back in the saddle in Stuttgart this year. Ingrid Klimke, two-time Olympic team gold medallist (2008 and 2021), two-time team world championship winner (2006 and 2014) as well as five-time European Championship winner with the German equipe – all in eventing – will be competing in the dressage, and will be in action in the Indoor Derby on Wednesday.
Five Top 10 drivers – Australian Boyd Exell is the big favourite
Five of the Top 10 four-in-hand drivers will be “racing” in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle – the big favourite, the seven-time world champion and nine-time Stuttgart winner, Boyd Exell (Australia), Dutchmen Koos de Ronde (No. 3) and Ijsbrand Chardon (4), the three-time winner in Stuttgart (2007, 2016, 2018), the Belgian Glenn Geerts (5) and the German Georg von Stein (7). Given a wild card by the organisers, Michael Brauchle (Germany), currently the world No. 12, the 2015 European four-in-hand champion and the 2019 team European Championship gold medallist on home soil in Donaueschingen is also in the field that is completed by the Swiss Jérôme Voutaz, the world No. 13.
Will Michael Jung manage to win his tenth eventing Indoor Derby?
Starting at 21.25 hrs, the competitive highlight on the first day of the horse show is the Prize of WALTER solar, the international Indoor Derby with natural obstacles. Local hero, Michael Jung will be aiming to claim his tenth win in the eventing class under the roof. As already mentioned, Ingrid Klimke will be looking to make it as tough as possible for him to win – something the now 54-year-old she has already done when winning in 2012 and 2018. Also in the line-up is the 22-year-old title-holder Pia Schmülling, German championship runner-up and the U-21 European Championship bronze medal winner. It will be an evening to remember for Sven Lux, the long-time riding instructor at Jung’s stables, as he will be awarded the prestigious so-called “Goldenes Reitabziechen” after the displays at about 20.40 hrs. Perhaps it will motivate him for the following Indoor Derby.
BW-Bank Indoor Championship: five previous winners set to compete
The highlight for regional riders every year is on Thursday, “Baden-Württemberg Day”, when the final class of the BW-Bank Indoor Championship is on the schedule at 19.45 hrs. After the qualifying events in summer, only the top 25 riders will be in action. Leading the standings on 62 points, “Super Mario” Walter will head for the Hallenduo venue as the favourite. Just behind him is Andy Witzemann (55 points) and Lea Sophia Gut (51 points). The warm-up class - Prize of Schmidt Sporthandschuhe - will begin at 16.30 hrs. The six-time indoor champion Timo Beck, two-time winner Andy Witzemann (2017, 2018), Alexander Schill (2006), Armin Schäfer (1999) and last year’s winner Markus Kölz, who was also successful in 2012 and 2015, have already inscribed their names in the BW-Bank Indoor Championship roll of honour.
iWEST Dressage Cup with 11 women riders – no males in qualifying
The final of the 22nd iWEST Dressage Cup will be on Thursday at 14.30 hrs – the warm-up is on Wednesday at 12.30 hrs. After the five qualifiers in summer, the top ten riders – all women as no men competed – have secured their tickets for the Schleyer-Halle. The number of riders has actually gone up to 11 as Nina Kudernak, Anna-Louisa Fuchs and Linda Jung all finished tied on 27 points. Topping the standings ahead of the trip to Stuttgart is Kristina Olson (51 points). One place behind is Kathrin Burger (50 points) and she is followed by Carina Harnisch 48 points) and Vera Breitenbach (47 points).
Equestrian juniors also on show in the style jumping and the Ponies Trophy
Equestrian excellence will not only be on show in the BW-Bank Indoor Championship and the iWEST Dressage Cup, but also in the other classes. All eyes will be on the finale of the NÜRNBERGER Burg Cup for Baden Württemberg’s juniors (Wednesday, 15.00 hrs) – a class M style jumping with a jump-off – as they will be on the two international FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy classes for the Prize of Ensinger Mineral-Heilquellen which are scheduled for Friday (14.45 hrs) and Saturday (14.30 hrs).
Supplementing the action in the ring, equestrian lovers in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle and in the Porsche-Arena can browse around the numerous exhibitor stalls, stock up on riding equipment and buy everything relating to horses.
Tickets include travel to and from the venue with the VVS public transport system
Advance ticket sales have been possible since May, tickets for the nine sessions of the 38th International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show cost between nine and 65 euro, all-day tickets between 35 and 86 euro. Tickets for the whole event are priced at 189, 236 and 258 euro. Tickets can be purchased at Easy Ticket Service (Tel: +49 711 25555-55), all recognised advance ticket offices as well as online at www.easyticket.de. There is also a variety of discounts for single tickets as well as special offers for groups.
Children up to the age of six will be admitted free of charge. All prices include booking fees plus a 4.90 euro delivery cost.
All tickets are so-called “combi tickets” entitling holders to use busses and trains belonging to the regional VVS public transport system free of charge to and from the venue.
