Aachen reveals plan for Euro Equestrian Games in 2015

Ambitious plans for a new European Equestrian Games are in the pipeline — but could scupper Britain’s hopes of staging the European Eventing Championships in 2015.

Aachen officials will present a concept for the games, which will be a one-off to be held in the summer of 2015, replacing the annual CHIO Aachen, to the FEI at the end of July.

Bid chairman Frank Kemperman told H&H: “We like to do new things at Aachen and our plan is to hold a games in five disciplines — eventing, dressage, showjumping, vaulting and four-in-hand — at one venue.

“We want to show the world how good horse sport is,” he said. “The games would be fantastic PR not just for Aachen, but for the whole horseworld.”

But the British Equestrian Federation may disagree — it is bidding for the 2015 European Eventing Championships, with Blair Castle the hopeful venue.

The FEI refused to discuss Aachen’s plans, but will make a decision on whether the games can go ahead next April.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (21 April, 2011)

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