Across disciplines, but especially in dressage, the proportion of young female riders predominates. That’s why the Foundation of German Top Equestrian Sports has launched the “Boys in the Square” project.
The aim of “Jungs ins Viereck” is to specifically promote young men in the dressage saddle through courses. The first of these courses was now running in Warendorf. The pilot project is financed by Wolfgang Schmitz-Heinen, a member of the German Top Equestrian Foundation.
13 riders in the age groups children, juniors and young riders were invited to a course at the federal training center in Warendorf with the two federal youth trainers Caroline Roost and Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen. They had distinguished themselves with their performances in the 2022 tournament season and trained with the national coaches at L to S level according to their age.
But there was not only riding, but the organizers had also put together a supporting program. The judoka Frank Wieneke, Olympic champion from 1984, showed the course participants at the Bundeswehr Sports School techniques in judo. Then we went to the Christmas market in Münster and then we had dinner together.
“With this offer, the Foundation of German Top Equestrian Sports, together with its sponsors, would like to inspire more boys for dressage, strengthen the ‘boys’ community’ and take care of the talented youngsters,” explains Astrid Schulte, Deputy Managing Director of the Foundation of German Top Equestrian Sports.
Wolfgang Schmitz-Heinen, managing partner of the Witte group of companies and enthusiastic horseman, who runs the Hof am Eifgen in Wermelskirchen together with his wife Elke, was not only financially involved, but also personally. His impressions:
“The young dressage riders came to Warendorf with positive energy and were able to take a lot of inspiration from the course and exchange ideas with each other. It was a great weekend and there are already ideas on how to continue the project.”
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