Römhild's rider and horse show: Exciting tournament on the Großer Gleichberg!

Römhild's rider and horse show: Exciting tournament on the Großer Gleichberg!

The anticipation of an exciting weekend in equestrian sport is imminent: the annual Römhild rider and horse show will take place at the Großer Gleichberg from September 19th to 21st, 2025. The Grabfeld riding facility of the Römhild Riding and Driving Club (RFV) will once again be the venue for exciting competitions and first-class performances. How southern Thuringia reports, the list of participants is particularly long this year, with riders from Thuringia, Hesse and Bavaria fighting for the podium places.

Since its establishment in 2008, the tournament has become a fixture in tournament sports. On Friday, the first day of the event, the jumping competitions begin at 1 p.m. with the class A* show jumping horse test. A variety of competitions will take place on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., including the qualifications for the coveted “Arwit Piehler Youth Cup”.

Equestrian sport and enjoyment combined

The Arwit Piehler Cup is a combined class A dressage and jumping competition for young talents. And that's not all: On Sunday there will not only be exciting jumping competitions, but also an exciting horse show with the talented Lisa Eckstein, who took third place at the "Mustang Makeover Trainer Challenge 2025" in Aachen this year.
The competitions on Sunday start at 9 a.m., the big highlight is the horse show at 1 p.m., followed by the final test, a class M jumping test with a height of 1.30 meters. Catering is a priority during the tournament; Visitors can look forward to numerous delicacies, from coffee and cake to roasts and dumplings on Sunday.

Strong participation and new formats

A total of 20 different show jumping and style jumping competitions will be held over the three days, as the city of Römhild highlights in another report. Many participants ride several horses in various competitions, with difficulty levels ranging from entry-level competitions to class S. Particularly mentioned is the high participation of riding clubs from Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia, including local clubs such as the RFV Themar and the Eisfelder Reitverein.

A new highlight this year is the horse flea market on Sunday, which has already attracted great interest. The organization of the tournament is led by a dedicated team, with Klaus Menzel ensuring the good tone and thanking the sponsors. Club boss Martina Gundelwein emphasizes the essential role of these sponsors in financing the competition.

The current challenges in equestrian sport

Despite such events, equestrian sport is not without its challenges. Like the reports from show jumping rider To illustrate, tournament sports are facing a downward trend due to a persistent economic downturn and rising costs of living in Germany. While the number of participants in medium-sized tournaments remains stable, there is a noticeable decline in smaller tournaments.

However, the success of the Römhild Rider and Horse Show shows that equestrian sport can thrive even in challenging times, especially thanks to the committed community and the tireless efforts of the organizers.