The Free State of Bavaria is investing heavily in the main and state stud in Schwaiganger - and is expanding the flagship company into a modern training center in the horse sector.
Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) has now broken the first sod for a new teaching stable.
Schwaiganger
- All horse fools get big eyes when they hear Schwaiganger.
Because the traditional main and state stud, wonderfully located at the foot of the Heimgarten near Ohlstadt and well-known far beyond the state's borders, is known as the “horse competence center”.
Now the establishment of the Free State, which looks back on over 1000 years of history, is being further upgraded and developed into an educational center for all of Bavaria.
Considerations and plans have been around for a long time.
On Thursday, the starting signal was given in the form of a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new teaching stable, which is being built east of the main building.
The complex, which should be completed by the end of 2021, costs around 5.8 million euros.
The federal government contributes around a third of this.
Riding as a national sport
Money well spent, as Bavaria's Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU), who is responsible for Schwaiganger, noted at the ceremony.
"None of this is cheap, but the Bavarian horse lovers are worth it to us," she said in front of the invited guests, including many officials and local politicians.
The industry is booming, stressed the minister.
“Riding is a popular sport.” With around 134,000 horses, the Free State is number two in Germany.
And horse keeping is an important source of income for many businesses. According to Kaniber, around 500 million euros in sales are generated in this area every year - and around 30,000 jobs are secured, especially in rural areas.
The said teaching building will be equipped with 24 horse boxes, washing areas, solariums, saddle rooms and training rooms.
The ambitious training center project does not end there: a boarding school and a riding arena are also planned.
A total of around twelve million euros will flow to Schwaiganger, which has been part of the newly founded Bavarian state estates since the beginning of the year, as was learned on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony.
This location, emphasized Kaniber in her speech, “is and will remain irreplaceable for Bavarian horse breeding and especially for the further education and training of the horse industry”.
Strengthen the unique selling proposition
District Administrator Anton Speer (Free Voters) was pleased with this clear commitment.
The state stud is a "lighthouse for the district and the region".
And the investment will further strengthen the facility's unique selling proposition.
Whether horse keeping, riding, breeding or sport - the spectrum that Schwaiganger covers is unique in Germany.
"The main and state stud provides important impulses for the breeding of traditional horse breeds such as the German sport horse, southern German draft horse, Haflinger and noble-blood Haflinger", says a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
In addition, the field of education plays an important role.
For example, the profession of horse trader can be learned there and the corresponding master craftsman examination can be taken.
Even the craft of the farrier is taught.
There are numerous further training courses on everything to do with horses, for example for farm managers, trainers and service providers.
And in the medium term, the subject of “classic riding training” is to be relocated here.
In addition, around 450 hectares of agricultural land are cultivated according to ecological specifications.
With this, the Free State of Bavaria would live up to its role model function, said Kaniber during a tour.
