Relevant topics are taken up and dealt with in practical specialist articles, with the customs and importance of rural regions as an interface between traditional knowledge and current specialist information being the central content.
On October 11, 2024, the second forum with a focus on hems and horse breeding in the Alpine region took place in the Styrian municipality of Irdning-Donnersbachtal. The event kicked off in the premises of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein castle building, providing perfect conditions for over 100 participants, active participants and exhibitors from all over Germany. After a welcome from Mayor Herbert Gugganig, who is closely associated with the horse industry, Paul Kendlbacher, President of the Rural Riders and Drivers Austria, noted in his speech the importance of the horse as a work animal through to its current uses. Since the historian MMag. Gertrud Grilz-Seger was unfortunately not available to speak at the event due to a short-term illness, but this part was taken over by Irene Mösenbacher from Haus Raumberg-Gumpenstein, who outlined the history of the hem trade with reference to regional peculiarities such as the mule route on the Sölk Pass, which was only accessible late. She received support from the hem expert Albert Schweizer, who was in the audience as the network headquarters of the hem friends in Bavaria, Switzerland, South Tyrol and Austria, who spontaneously shared his wealth of knowledge with those present. In a rousing lecture, Walter Werni, who is an integral part of the horse scene, showed the great importance of correct exterior characteristics of stallions and mares being bred, gave recommendations with regard to mating decisions and repeatedly referred to the functionality of horses in a variety of areas of application. Ultimately, the interior decides whether today's working horses are willing and therefore suitable for the respective purpose as riding, driving or work horses.
When the weather conditions were favorable, we moved to the research institute's outdoor area. This was followed by the best technical commentary by Walter Werni, a breeding show consisting of the most important and best dam lines in the Liezen district, which breeder and owner Peter Neuper from Bad Mitterndorf with his Noriker black mare Evita, born in 2016 (1st state reserve winner at the 2019 state elite mare show in Laintal and 2nd. Group rank on the occasion of the Federal Show 2020 of the mother mares and show class 1b) from the Edelweiss drawn to Franz Elmar XIII opened. On the initiative of Heinz Hutegger, there was not only the presentation of the foundation mare of his Haflinger breeding, but also a very interesting offspring show. Daughter Sarah Hutegger from Rohrmoos/Schladming led the mare Paris, born in 2003 (breeder Johann Stocker, Ramsau), out of the VPr. Princess to Wilderich. Numerous successful offspring decorate this mare, which, as the second reserve champion of the state elite mare show at the 2007 Federal Show, achieved show class 1b among the Galt mares and in 2008 produced the Federal Champion filly foal with Padolina. She was followed by her 7-year-old daughter StPrSt, who was highly successful in breeding and sport. Parola according to PrH. Adonis bred by Heinz Hutegger, owned and presented by Michael Waldmann (Kuchl, Sbg.). As the second federal reserve champion of the 4-year-old riding horses and federal reserve champion of the younger Galt mares (Federal Show 2023), she was able to achieve 7th final place at the European Championships for Haflinger Horses in the Stadl-Paura Horse Center in addition to a 3rd place at the Federal Championships for Rural Riders in Viechtwang this year. She also has a licensed son, Ambros-W (born 2021). The conclusion of this show of outstanding breeding horses was Avalon, born in 2018 and bred by Heinz Hutegger, a licensed stallion owned by the Pongau Haflinger Club and presented by stallion owner Josef Rohrmoser from Flachau (Sbg.). Avalon from the StPrSt. Padolina (daughter of Paris) after PrH. Adonis was state winner and federal reserve champion of the 2018 stallion foals, licensing and winner of the stallion performance test 2021, state reserve winner and federal reserve winner of the riding horse test in 2022 and has already produced state champion and federal reserve champion foals from his offspring.
Walter Werni congratulated all those who supplied them on the excellently produced horses and wished them continued luck in breeding and sport.
After a short break, an insight into the world of hemming followed, with a high level of specialist knowledge and practical experience presented by Anja Greunz (Upper Austria) and Christian Aigner (Lower Austria) and well supported by the two Noriker mares Lady and Evita. A wide variety of equipment was presented, with a good fit and correct and even loading of the saddles being of crucial importance. A wide range of possible uses aroused great interest among the participants, with many options available, from supplying food to alpine huts to supporting the maintenance of pasture fences.
This second horse forum came to a wonderful end with closing words from Wolfgang Ehmeier (chairman Pferdekraft Austria) and Irene Mösenbacher as organizer with a big thank you to all the helping hands, exhibitors/sponsors and speakers and will be continued in 2025.
Pictures from the Horse Forum 2024 in Gumpenstein
