Ingrid Wiegmann from the foal emergency service "Ammenstuten Deutschland" died

Ingrid Wiegmann may have saved the lives of so many foals with her foal emergency service “Ammenstuten Deutschland”. Her own has now ended at the age of just 72.

Ingrid Wiegmann was at home in Barmstedt in Schleswig-Holstein. However, her roots are in Berlin. Her first love was harness racing. This is how she met her husband, with whom she turned her back on Berlin and moved to Lower Saxony to work at a trotting stud farm. However, this was sold. A breeder of Hanoverian riding horses moved in and Ingrid Wiegmann stayed.

The founding of the foal emergency service was more or less a coincidence. A mare died giving birth to her foal at her own stud farm. What to do with the little orphan? Wiegmann turned to the breeding association and received help. Word got around. Other breeders in a similar predicament asked her for advice. And so a network developed.

For over 20 years, Wiegmann brought mares and foals together in this way, on a voluntary basis, 24/7 throughout Germany. She has helped hundreds of horses and breeders in this way. The Holsteiner Verband, of which she was a member, reports that she recently received up to 600 inquiries a year from Germany and abroad.

She not only had a heart for foals, but also for children. She organized courses for young breeders on her farm. Wiegmann was awarded the bronze Gustav Rau Medal by the German Equestrian Federation (FN) in 2023 for her great commitment.

Our deepest sympathy to Ingrid Wiegmann’s family and friends!

Ten years ago, NDR filmed a report on Ingrid Wiegmann’s work, which you can watch on YouTube.