Saturday Centennial Celebration

Saturday Centennial Celebration
by Bonnie Rombach

Late Saturday afternoon after the jumping competitions had ended and the marathon drivers had returned, the spectators in the main arena were treated to another gala presentation to celebrate 100 years of the Aachen Laurensberger Rennverein. Past and honorary president of the ALRV, Konsul Hugo Kadenbach, spoke to congratulate the retiring Anton Fischer for his 25 years of service as Sport Director. The well known equestrian families from the Aachen area rode in - such as the dressage families of the Capellmans, the Dahmens, and the Ruebens, and the jumping families of the Melkopfs and the Weinbergs. I doubt if there is another community in the world that has produced as many international equestrian competitors spanning generations as Aachen. It is simply in the blood.

The Rheinland at one time was famous for its coldblooded horses, the work horses of past centuries, and they were presented here in all their old glory in front of huge hay wagons stacked to the hilt, or fully loaded sugar beet wagons, pulling an old streetcar, or a variety of equipment for working the fields and planting the crops, and not to forget the beer wagons with barrels of that all important gold fluid that the Germans love so much. In remembrance of the founding days (Rennverein means racing club), a race under saddle of draft horses ripped flat out around the huge jumping arena. They may not be Thoroughbreds but they can still gallop! The crowd let out a cry when the two German dressage trainers, Klaus Balkenhol and Jo Hinnemann galloped around the field on two palomino colored draft horses. The one that Klaus was riding let out such a big buck that it almost unseated him, but the two dressage aces were grinning from ear to ear.

Rheinlander Stallion

Rheinlander Stallion at Warendorff State Stud Farm

A group from Holland that plays old war games on horse back entered with two cannons being pulled by horses. They demonstrated how the cannons were set, the horses moved out of range, the cannons aimed and fired, and before the enemy could prepare a counter attack, the horses were again hitched to the cannons and the troops moved to another spot. Those horses had to have nerves of steel to not panic when the cannons went off.

An Arabian breeding farm brought a herd of 12 Arabians which were turned loose, presenting a lovely picture of horses in nature. Two more big quadrilles from the Brandenburger state stud and from Warendorf thrilled the audience. The Brandenburgers are from what had been East Germany. They brought 6 chestnuts, 6 grays, 6 bays, and 6 black stallions for another wonderful show of German breeding stallions under saddle. The Warendorf stallions presented their jumping quadrille to show off the rideability and reliability of their stallions. The band played and the international horn players again called to the hunt, and a good time was had by all.

Email Bonnie Rombach: Lorbas@aol.com

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