It is one of the most important facilities in Austrian equestrian sport: the Stadl-Paura horse center has been on a successful course for years; as a venue for major tournaments and a training center, it is a meeting place for the entire scene. The center welcomes 180,000 visitors a year. “Unfortunately, only a tiny fraction of visitors are from the region,” says managing director Johannes Mayrhofer. The center is also well-known as an institution in the surrounding area. “But many people have never been here – that’s pretty sad considering its 200-year history,” says Mayrhofer.
With a new series of events, the equestrian center now wants to open itself up to a broader target group: During the “farm tour,” which is held regularly, visitors get to know horses, equestrian sports, and what the facility has to offer. “It’s a very low-threshold, free offer. We also want to specifically appeal to people who have not had any connection with horses before,” says the managing director.
“Horse farming explains itself”
A horse trail will be set up on the grounds for the farm tour. Children can try out riding for a small fee. The show blacksmith shop will also be put into operation, and there will be highlights such as a leather workshop. “The aim is for the horse industry to explain itself – this topic is always controversial,” says Mayrhofer.
Getting people excited about horse riding is an “inner urge” of the horse center, explains the managing director: “There is also interest from various sides – for example from state politics – in making institutions like ours known to the population.”
The project was implemented with the support of the Leader region of Wels-Land. “I live nearby myself and for a long time I didn’t know what was going on at the horse center,” says Leader managing director Christina Gnadlinger. She is very pleased with the success so far: “We have already had two events that were very well received. The visitors were enthusiastic.”
This year, the farm tour will be offered on selected Saturdays – but in the future the program will be expanded further, says Johannes Mayrhofer: “We currently offer tours every Saturday – when we have finished expanding, we want to be present with the farm tour on these days in the warmer months.”
An extension to public holidays is also conceivable, says the managing director: “We will see how this tourist route develops further – the opening process is a multi-stage program, there is still a lot planned,” announces Mayrhofer.
Further information about the Hofrunde can be found online at pferde-stadlpaura.at
Source: Nachrichten
