2002 European Pony Championships
Hagen, Germany
July 30 - August 3, 2002

Horses and Dreams: Everything the heart desires - excitement, fascination and fun, all to be had in Hagen a. TW.

July 28, 2002

The International Junior Riders Festival and the Gala 'Horses and Dreams' invites all visitors, from the 1st to 4th August, to a festival for the whole family. Sport of the highest level is presented in 3 arenas by young, up and coming super stars and the Lifestyle and Country Exhibition, set in the beautiful surrounds directly next to the stadium, offers the best culinary specialties of its kind.

The Junior showjumpers, and the Young dressage and cross country stars are all here to challenge each other for the individual and team prizes and the highly prized medals of the European Championships.

This is the sixth time Ulrich Kasselmann is holding the International Riding Event and over 30,000 spectators and visitors all look forward to this event alike. This 'horse connoisseur' and 'discoverer of top quality horses' from Hagener Borgberg is always good for surprises and innovations.

Last year, in co-operation with his good friend and business partner, Paul Schockemöhle, he organised the finals of the FEI World Cup Challenge to be held in Hagen. Participants came from countries where riding is not as popular as in Europe, and rode either for victory or at least a placing. Over 10 Nations have already agreed to take part this year, this includes Puerto Rico, India and Bolivia, they will certainly add to the flair in Hagen. The County Championships is a complete new concept in national team competition. The best in each event from any one county will compete against each other for the victory. This means that each county will be compared with each other. This should provide hours of excitement at the festival.

Mr Kasselmann, who is dedicate to supporting and encouraging junior sports, hopes that in connecting lifestyle and sport, he has been able to offer the young participants an attractive forum. "The young need to be animated and supported, and then we can look into a fantastic future for riding", said Mr Kasselmann, and was also very pleased that the very successful trainer Mr Manfred Kötter agreed to give his support and also made his cross country course, in Engter, available. At a press conference at the beginning of April in Hagen Mr Fritz Luther (the Bundestrainer of the Eventing Team) stated "At Mr Kötter's, the cross country ponies will have an ideal, very fair but demanding course for this years Euro".

Whoever wants to represent the German flag, must show a continuous high standard, and that pony and rider are at the peak of their fitness ready for the event.

The Teutoburger Woods and its beautiful backdrop presents the perfect place to create such a Festival with an event character, and so Mr Kasselmann hit upon the idea to include a Gala into the programme, offering the many visitors a moment of pleasure. Household fittings and furnishings, jewellery, culinary delights, and whoever at the end of the day has still not had enough, can go dancing at the popular Gala evening or at the FFN Party.

The 'Grosse Preis', Nations Prize, Junior Sparkassen Cup, culinary delights, fascinating pictures, are but a few of the highlights which will make the Festival in Hagen a spectacular weekend.

Back to the 2002 ECP Index