Communication from the FN on the subject of "100 school horses plus"

Drawings are held every three months as part of the FN’s “100 school horses plus” project, in which riding schools receive support in a variety of ways. This ranges from grants in the form of feed and bedding, equipment and materials for theory lessons to show horse registrations, business consultations and support for the training of trainers. Funds are even made available for the purchase of new school horses. Thomas Ungruhe explains how many riding schools have benefited from the campaign so far in an interview with the FN.

15 new school horses placed

The FN initiative “100 school horses plus” was officially launched a year ago. How would you summarize the first year in one sentence?

Thomas Ungruhe: “The first year has shown that our initiative hits the nerve of the riding schools and provides tangible support in the school horse sector with concrete funding.

What is your assessment after twelve months?

Thomas Ungruhe: Very positive. Around 1,500 clubs with riding schools applied. This has clearly exceeded our expectations and shows how urgently the support services are needed. So far, we have been able to acquire funding of 1.5 million euros, of which we have already distributed 500,000 euros to the clubs in the first year.

The school horses are at the heart of the initiative. How many new school horses have been purchased through the initiative so far?

Thomas Ungruhe: In the first year, we raffled off 22 school horse grants totaling 5,000 euros. 15 clubs have already found a school horse. After winning the grant, the clubs have the opportunity to take their time looking for a school horse. Everyone knows that it is not easy to find a horse that suits the needs of a riding school. I am therefore all the more pleased that the clubs have shown that they have found horses with a great deal of energy and passion. But not only that, the strategy of consistently supporting and focusing on riding schools is bearing fruit and follow-up projects are being created that address these aspects.

What follow-up projects have developed from the initiative?

Thomas Ungruhe: A great example is the school horse casting in Marbach, which the Equestrian Sports Association of Baden-Württemberg launched together with the Horse Breeding Association. Here, horses are specifically sought for use in riding schools and brought together with potential buyer associations. Such projects are a valuable addition to financial support because they help clubs in the often difficult search for a suitable school horse. This is precisely the kind of impetus we would like to provide with 100 school horses plus.

How important is cooperation with partners such as the World Equestrian Games Aachen 2026 and other supporters?

Thomas Ungruhe: Extremely important. Without the commitment of our partners from the equestrian industry and equestrian sport, this level of funding would not be possible. The FEI World Equestrian Games Aachen 2026 makes a special contribution here, because in addition to the financial support, we want to work together with Aachen to highlight the importance of the school horse as the basis of equestrian sport as part of the WEG 2026. Top-class sport and grassroots sport are deliberately linked here, because we are building the bridge from grassroots to top-class sport and filling it with life in close cooperation.

What can the clubs expect in the further course of the project?

Thomas Ungruhe: We are currently in the second phase of the project and are preparing the next funding rounds. The sixth prize draw is due to take place in March and there will once again be numerous sponsorship benefits and school horse grants. Applications are still open and clubs can register at any time – each draw offers new opportunities for funding. In August, we will be presenting the topic of school horses and riding schools as part of the World Championships. Sunday, August 16, will be Riding Schools Day. We are already looking forward to it.

What else would you like to say to the clubs with riding schools?

Thomas Ungruhe: My thanks go to all the clubs that put their heart and soul into running a school horse area despite all the obstacles. Riding schools are crucial for access to equestrian sport – this is where the enthusiasm for our passion originates. 100 school horses plus is a joint initiative and movement that shows: When we work together, we can create real improvements.

About “100 school horses plus”

The FN initiative runs until the end of 2027, during which time more than 1,000 non-cash or sponsorship prizes will be drawn every three months thanks to the commitment of partners from equestrian sport and the equestrian industry and will benefit German clubs with riding schools. Clubs that have not yet taken part can register at www.100schulpferdeplus.de to secure their chance of receiving funding in the next draws.

fn-press/mly