Hannoveraner Erleben
This program of the Hanoverian Verband was founded by Dr. Ludwig Christmann and was designed to cater to the enormous market of leisure riders in the factual sense. Like the YPSOS study, a wide-based survey performed on behalf of the German equestrian federation in 2001 had already revealed, the vast majority of riders is not interested in competitive riding at all. Motives these non-competitive riders named to be essential for their equestrian activity were to...
Experience the partnership between horse and rider
Improve their own riding skills and level of fitness
Socialize / ride in a group of friends
Roam outdoors
Relax from job-related stress
A shockingly low number of interviewed equestrians deemed these incentives satisfactorily served by the institutions in place and the FN found an increasing number of private businesses was addressing this clientele in a very heterogenous form. Subsequently efforts were made to adjust the FN-politics to the new facts. It was also found that aspects such as
Equine welfare
Adult beginner riders
Modern horse-husbandry
were equally underrepresented in the equestrian world of the present.
Based on these facts the Hanoverian Verband raised further questions and took action to promote the Hanoverian as being the suitable horse for non-competitive riders as well as equine top-athletes. They felt it was reasonably proven the Hanoverian breed is capable of dominating the sport as far as olympic disciplines are concerned. Now a new goal was determined: To pay attention to the needs of those roughly 90% of riders who never participate in shows or not participate anymore for some reason.
So partner farms were selected and a cooperation begun with a trainer specializing in training leisure horses and riders, Peter Kreinberg as well as with leading representatives of the German leisure-riding-scene such as the Leisure-Rider academy Reken founded by Ursula Bruns.
Criteria for partner farms were they had to
Practise horse-welfare-conform husbandry and year-round turnout
Provide quality upbringing and training programs
Make special efforts to provide qualified 'amateur-proof' horses
Provide an opportunity for outdoor riding
Activities the project has established so far are
The Hannoveraner Erleben-Sales Fest
Created test sites for the GLP-test initiated by the FN
Trained horsemen and -women in ground schooling techniques
The Hannoveraner Erleben Logo stands for particularly qualified offers for leisure riders
