After a tumultuous affair of signing and dropping the sponsorship of the 2025 Falsterbo International Horse Show, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of Al Shira'aa stables in the UAE, has sent a powerful message across by signing for the title sponsorship of the 2025 German Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.
Secure the Existance of the BuCha
"This commitment will secure the future and continued existence of the event," the German Equestrian Federation posted today.
"No one can handle an event of the size and importance of the Bundeschampionate alone. For years, Al Shira'aa has honored the horse as a cultural asset with deep respect for its history, breeders, and riders," says FN President Martin Richenhagen. "I'm looking forward to the first 'Al Shira'aa Bundeschampionate' in late summer."
"Equestrian sport must belong to the people, not to profit"
Al Shira'aa has been mainly sponsoring show jumping events, including the Hickstead and Hamburg Derby, and the Turnier der Sieger in Münster.
"Promoting horses is particularly close to my heart," said Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "That's why I am committed to ensuring that this competition, which is so important for Germany, can continue and maintain its usual high level of quality."
The vision of the new Bundeschampionate Honorary President is to preserve equestrian sports as a valuable cultural asset, far removed from short-term commercialization. Her Highness Sheikha Fatima says: "I believe that equestrian sport must belong to the people—not to profit. My motivation is always the love for horses and the people who preserve it."
Falsterbo
Falsterbo was on the Sheika's list of sponsored events, but the contract was annulled after the Swedish people suspected ulterior motives
Accusations of sport-washing were made against the Swedish show organizer. On social media a hate campaign erupted against the sponsor, while volunteers allegedly had backed out of the show and ticket sales seemingly dropped.
Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a three-page statement shedding light on the situation from her perspective.
Warendorf
The German equestrian federation (FN) saw no issues in accepting UAE funding to secure the future of its event.
Furthermore as of 2025 the German FN has taken over the marketing of the Bundeschampionate. For this purpose, the German Olympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR), has founded the "DOKR Servicegesellschaft mbH."
FN Breeding Director Dr. Klaus Miesner will assume management of the company.
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 Bundeschampionate Qualifiers and Final
Al Shira'aa: "I Came To keep this Show Free from the Forces Turning Equestrian Sport into a Greedy Business"
Al Shira'aa Drops Title Sponsorship of Falsterbo Horse Show
Al Shira'aa: Unfolding the Map
Al Shira'aa to Sponsor Dressage at 2018 Royal Windsor Horse Show