“Paradise on earth lies on the back of a horse.” Our thanks for the wonderful quote go out to the German writer Friedrich von Bodenstedt (1819 – 1892).
For Andreas Kroll, CEO of the in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft, the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS is the “sporting flagship” which, in view of the FEI World Cup status and the organisation, involves mastering enormous logistical challenges. “We’ve therefore made a variety of improvements and changes to the schedule of the 31st STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS,” he said.
From 18 to 22 November, the Stuttgart horse show will feature three FEI World Cup classes and four equestrian disciplines – jumping, dressage, driving and eventing. As agreed with the FEI, there will be no World Cup vaulting competition this year. “The new regulations for the FEI World Cup modus in vaulting are so complex that it no longer fits into our programme and schedule. We additionally wanted to rearrange our day and evening sessions to make the horse show more attractive for equestrian fans. Everything’s worked out nicely,” said a confident Kroll. One could say, less is more.
Five days of sport and show
In 2015, the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS will include nine day and evening sessions. The most important changes are just two sessions instead of three on Saturday and only one on Sunday. It will lead to greater variety, more time to enjoy the horse show and a more attractive schedule. Visitors can also look forward to a fancy dress jumping class on Saturday and perhaps a batman atop a horse. Kroll: “A success last year when it thrilled the crowd, the class was a must.”
Everything starts on 18 November 2015: After the first dressage and jumping competitions in the afternoon, Wednesday once again features an evening of entertainment. Afterwards, there is the eventing class for the Prize of the Firma WALTER solar to excite the audience.
Thursday (19 November), like in previous years, will be “Baden-Württemberg Day” – a home game for many local dressage and jumping riders. The second day of the horse show will be rounded off by an international speed jumping competition. On Friday (20 November) the “Piaff-Förderpreis” decided early on in the morning. Later in the evening, the four-in-hands will race around the indoor arena for the first time before being followed by the jumpers contesting the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER.
New on Saturday (21 November) is that there are only two sessions. The focus will be on the two World Cup classes in four-in-hand driving and dressage in the afternoon. Providing lots of variety in the evening will be two jumping classes and a big programme of shows. As for the final day on Sunday, a single ticket is all that’s needed for the action. It includes the Grand Prix Special with its graceful dressage performances and the highlight of the horse show, the Longines FEI World CupTM for the Grand Prix of Stuttgart presented by Mercedes-Benz, WALTER solar and BW-Bank.
Tickets for the nine sessions cost between eight and 42 euro in category III, day tickets cost between 34 and 70 euro in category I. Season tickets are available for 150, 180 and 212 euro. There are also attractive concessions and special offers for school students, groups and clubs.
