For the first time in weeks, a show is actually being organized in Germany this weekend. We talked to Jennifer Kathrine Fogh Peddersen, one of the riders competing at the show. She told us all about how everything is organized, how riders are reacting to each other and which measures have to be followed, ...
" The show is actually running very nicely", the lady rider starts. 'It’s organized by a club called “Der Montagsclub e. V. ” which is an organization mainly for professional riders and students, who normally do gives us the chance to ride several shows in different places also on weekdays, so we can produce our young horses. The Chairman Karl-Heinz Klasen managed to get this pilot-project up and running to give us the chance to continue our business and our work with the young horses in this challenging time".
"This show is only allowed for professional riders - and there are only classes for young horses from 4 up to 7 years of age", she continues. "The horses are only allowed to jump every second day. The show grounds are only open to riders and their grooms, no owners or other people from the public are allowed to enter the area. When the trucks arrive they are all “checked” - every person need to deliver a paper stating name, Adress etc, and then receives a wrist band and face masks. At the entrance to the show ring and by every warm up ring there are security people".
"Everybody have to wear a mask, except from the riders when they are on their horses. Everybody have to pay attention to the social distancing of 2 meters. So they have 4 warm up arenas - two of them with jumps. Depending on their sizes only 6-8 horses are allowed in the rings at a time. In the competition ring 2 horses are allowed at a time. There is no price giving ceremony. The show office is without personal contact, it runs over the phone or online".
"How the atmosphere between the riders is? There is a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere among the riders and the officials. Everybody are doing their best to make sure all the safety measures are kept, and all seem to understand the importance of this. We are very aware that we are extremely fortunate to be allowed to start showing at this time, and we hope that it will continue to all other areas of Germany and the rest of the world very soon! We are all trying to be good examples!"
Jennifer actually won her class today. She was very excited to tell us something about her horse as well: "The horse I won with today is a very talented 6 y old approved stallion called Catdaddy- by Cascadello/Quidam de Revel. He came to our stable one week ago, and is very nice to ride - he was previously ridden by Thomas Kleis who did a super job producing him this far. He is very competitive in the ring and has a super instinct and talent for jumping. I think he has the mind and the ability to be a very good horse for the future, and I am super happy to have him in the stable".
Picture: Facebook