A week that celebrates the horse: From 6 to 12 March, EQUITANA in Essen will once again bring together the best from the world of equestrian sport. Seven days full of innovations, expert knowledge and an impressive show programme.
Dressage, show jumping, eventing, western riding, horsemanship, shows and the biggest shopping mile in equestrian sport - EQUITANA brings together everything the equestrian world has to offer. In the exhibition area as well as in the numerous high-calibre lessons, specialist lectures, live demonstrations and breathtaking show events.
Learning from the best
Each day offers a varied programme with top trainers and top athletes. EQUITANA will be welcoming the entire dressage gold medallist team from the Paris Olympic Games, including sporting legend Isabell Werth, four-time Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Frederic Wandres. Also present: the reserve, shooting star Katharina Hemmer. They all have one goal: to share their knowledge and wealth of experience with the audience.
Sandra Auffarth celebrated her greatest successes in eventing, but recently she can be seen at high-class show jumping competitions. In Essen, Sandra Auffarth will be sharing her experience in a show jumping lesson presented by Agria.
EQUISTRO presents Olympic eventing champion Ingrid Klimke live on Monday. Her focus is on the value of cavaletti work for gymnastics and the fitness of horses. Before the eventing riders at the USG Indoor Cup get Hall 5 shaking, five-star bush rider Anna Siemer will show what is important in cross-country in her educational lesson - presented by EQUISTRO.
horse management at Equitana
On Thursday, 6 March, Western Riding Day, Thomas Günther, Erich Busch, Claudia Miller and Peter Pfister invite you to a lesson in which all disciplines of Western riding will be presented. Under the motto ‘four trainers, one goal’, Luuk Teunissen, Yvonne Gutsche and Dr Vivian Gabor will show how a trusting, harmonious relationship between horse and rider can be created.
On EQUITANA Friday, visitors can look forward to a demonstration of working equitation powered by Signum Sattelservice. Kenzie Dysli and Mirjam Gall will introduce visitors to the multifaceted world of working equitation with dressage, cattle work and speed trail.
Pat Parelli, the ‘Godfather’ of horsemanship, live in Essen
Pat Parelli's Natural Horsemanship method has made a triumphal march around the world. The US-American is a mediator between the species. You can experience Parelli live in Essen. On Thursday evening, 6 March, he will be appearing with his instructors as part of the ‘Parelli live’ show in the large EQUITANA ring in Hall 5. Parelli will give his audience an insight into his way of working and demonstrate that so-called ‘problem horses’ are usually one thing above all else: misunderstood.
Training evening with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Benjamin Werndl
On 10 March 2025, the world's most successful dressage siblings invite you to the training evening ‘Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Benjamin Werndl LIVE powered by Aubenhausen Club’. Their mission: to take their audience on a long, exciting journey in the course of which four-legged talents become Grand Prix horses and sometimes even medallists.
Dressage matinée with Anja Beran
Anja Beran, keeper of the knowledge of the ‘old masters’, shows in her dressage matinée how she puts this knowledge into practice.
Focus on equine health
There is nothing more important to horse owners than the health and well-being of their animals. ‘Our mission is to inspire and support horse lovers so that they can take even greater responsibility for their animals,’ says EQUITANA Event Director Tina Uetz. The programme of events, the special formats and the exhibition area are all geared towards this goal.
Experience health: The new healthcare world
In the Health Forum in Hall 1, experts will provide information on hoof care, feeding and diseases. The Health World powered by AGRIA takes Dr Helmut Ende's famous veterinary educational show into the digital age. Although Dr Ende's impressive exhibits will still be available, they will now be complemented by digital solutions that give trade fair visitors an insight into the inside of the horse's body.
Largest shopping mile in the equestrian sector
New at EQUITANA: Congress powered by AVANT
Many equestrian facilities and clubs are at a turning point - new technologies, legislation and innovative management approaches present exciting opportunities and challenges. EQUITANA is tackling these opportunities and this year has created the specialist congress powered by AVANT, which will take place from 10 to 12 March 2025 as part of the trade fair.
The congress (extra ticket required) is primarily aimed at stable operators, clubs, breeders and trainers. The aim is to show examples of best practice: How can you run your horse business efficiently now and in the future? Which investments are worthwhile? Where is there potential for savings?
HOP TOP Show „Volaris” – Horses give wings
In 2025, EQUITANA will prove that it is not red bulls can give wings, but the horse - in this year's HOP TOP show entitled ‘Volaris’. The entire programme of the show revolves around the lightness of being with a horse, starting with the youngsters having fun with their ponies and ending with Lorenzo, the flying Frenchman.
The harmony between humans and horses, or animals in general, is above all others, as with the Spaniard Santi Serra Camps with his freedom dressage, for which he brings his tame sea eagle into the show alongside his horses.
The animal dressage by Anne Krüger-Degener and her troupe, in which horses, dogs, ducks, sheep and goats work together in perfect teamwork, is simply astonishing. The well-known show couple Kenzie Dysli and Laury Tisseur are also there to dance with their horses.
New: Family show „Hoppi Toppi“
Big Late Night Shopping on EQUITANA Tuesday
After the numerous programme highlights, EQUITANA invites visitors to Essen on Tuesday, 11 March for an extended shopping day - and will even stay open longer. Visitors will be able to enjoy the wide range of products for their hobby and experience unique offers and goodies from many top brands until 10.00 pm. EQUITANA Tuesday offers everything that horses and their owners could wish for, from fashion shows and styling contests to shoots in the selfie booth.
EQUITANA 2025
6 - 12 March 2025
Exhibition Centre Essen
Messeplatz 1
45131 Essen
Opening hours:
daily 10:00 - 18:30
last day of the fair 10:00 - 18:00
NEW: Tuesday, 11 March 2025, 12:00 - 22:00 Late Night Shopping
Programme & Tickets: www.equitana.com