The PARTNER PFERD in the Leipzig Exhibition Hall will open this year on 27 April with an equestrian event that is celebrating a world-wide premiere: World Cup Finals in four disciplines and that is only the beginning. Alongside the close to 50 equestrian competitions, there are evening performances which will make the hearts of even “horse rookies” beat faster. And now the programme is completed.
“I’m sure that the different disciplines will complement each other very well and we’ll experience an exciting and diversified event”, said the Finals organizer Volker Wulff, who has set having the best World Cup Finals of all time as his goal.
The PARTNER PFERD begins on Wednesday (April 27th) with a very special hospitality, the VNG Family Day – free entry for kindergarten and students who are already big horse fans, or who will probably become fans, and further special conditions for families. And the international stars will already be in the saddle for the warm-up or also in the illbruck-Poresta Youngster Cup. The highlight of the evening is the PARTNER PFERD CUP Final.
The Thursday (April 28th) beckons during the day with the VNG Prize, an international two phase competition, and the first qualifier to the Rolex FEI World Cup Final Jumping.
Under the title “Leipzig’s Night of the Horses”, the World Cup gala promises top show acts this year for the opening of the world’s largest indoor competition of the year. Classic acts and new stars in the scene will be part of the programme. Further details won’t be revealed yet. The dressage riders will be responsible for the sport of the evening programme in the first qualification for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final Dressage, the Grand Prix presented by Sparkasse.
Friday (April 29th) will also beckon with a mixed programme: The European Youngster Cup is supposed to help young riders find an easier start into the top sport and the Super Final will take place in Leipzig. The World Cup stars will be seen in the second qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup and there is also something for dressage fans: the Young Riders Dressage Series.
Friday enters the evening programme with the „Wernesgrüner Horse Night”. A fixture, and favourite of the Leipzig spectators, is the Wernesgrüner six-horse hitch as well as the Wernesgrüner Grand Prix of Leipzig qualifier. The four-in-hand drivers will also help create an exciting atmosphere when they give full gas in the international speed competition with obstacles, because the results of the welcome competition decide the starting order for the FEI World Cup Final Four-in-hand-Driving. There is also the opportunity to celebrate the vaulters in the first round of their FEI World Cup premiere.
On Saturday (April 30th), the sporting highlights virtually come one after the other: The FEI World Cup Final Vaulting in the morning, followed by the Sparkasse Cup, the Grand Prix of Leipzig. The Final of the Young Riders Dressage Series will reveal what the dressage youngsters have to offer and there is also – like every day – a special ring in the exhibition. For example, this is where it is possible to see the smallest and the largest horse of the world next to each other, gait horse breeds, baroque horses and much more.
The “Sparkasse Sport Gala” opens the evening programme with the Final for the dressage riders. All season long the purpose has been to collect points to qualify for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final in Leipzig. And of course there is also a fast paced speed competition and a show programme to see on Sunday evening.
The German Horse Pellets Tour will be making it’s 17th stop in Germany and will name it’s Final winner on Sunday (May 1) by the PARTNER PFERD in Leipzig. And that is only to get things warmed-up, because the FEI World Cup Final Driving, presented by Sparkasse, will not leave anybody sitting quietly in their seats. The absolute highlight will take place on Sunday afternoon, the Rolex FEI World Cup Final for the jumping riders. The international jumping competition over 1.60m obstacles, with jump-off, promises pure excitement. And the word has already spread that the Leipzig audience can create a very special atmosphere in the exhibition hall….
-- Partner Pferd press release
Related Links
2011 World Cup Finals Allocated to Leipzig
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2011 World Cup Finals