"Will be extremely impressive": Anticipation for the equestrian tournament in Schönbrunn

In the picturesque setting of Schönbrunn Palace, a highlight of the season awaits Katharina Rhomberg. Thousands of local fans will be cheering for her when the Global Champions Tour visits Vienna from Friday to Sunday. The Vorarlberg native, Austria's first female Olympic show jumper last year, is looking forward to a "really cool event" in her first season on the tour.

"It will be extremely impressive, right in front of the palace," Rhomberg said, looking forward to a competition that has long been on her wish list. "For my 18th birthday, I received a voucher to visit the Global Champions Tour. Back then, I thought, I don't just want to visit, I want to participate," she said in an APA interview. The GCT was hosted in Vienna and Ebreichsdorf from 2012 to 2016, and Rhomberg didn't manage to attend as a spectator, "so it's even cooler to be part of it now."

"Always Top Conditions"

The 32-year-old has competed at four venues so far and praises the atmosphere and organization in the highest terms. "The tournaments are always in extremely beautiful locations, there are always top conditions," said Rhomberg, who also appreciates the comparison with the world's best riders. "I can ride significantly more five-star tournaments. You become stronger when you constantly compete against such competition."

In Vienna, Rhomberg forms the team of the Shanghai Swans with her Austrian compatriot Max Kühner, the overall winner of 2024, and the British 2021 Olympic champion Ben Maher, which is ranked third in the overall standings of the Global Champions League (GCL). She contributed to the victory in Mexico and second place in Madrid. "It's even more fun when you have podium chances," said the European Championship bronze medalist with the team in 2023.

On her two top horses, Cuma 5 and the three-year younger Colestus Cambridge, she now wants to contribute in the Ehrenhof of Schönbrunn to ensure that the Swans finish among the top three at the end of the season. "My horses are very fit, we have a very strong team at the start. The most important thing is to deliver the rounds and stay focused," emphasized Rhomberg.

The motivation is, of course, great to showcase all their skills in front of a home crowd. Because with the return of the financially strong tour to Austria after a nine-year break, they want to promote themselves. "It is very important to make equestrian sports visible, to inspire as many spectators as possible, or to encourage young people to start riding," explained Rhomberg.

"Austria has a lot of good riders"

Promoting equestrian sports is also a concern for Kühner. He has in mind not only the fans but also the horse owners. "Austria has a lot of good riders, but comparatively few top horses - only about 15 horses that can jump 1.60. Such horses are repeatedly sold to other countries," he describes the unsatisfactory status quo.

Owning good horses is also a question of cost, but Austria's best show jumper is convinced that there are many people in the country who could afford it. "Keeping such top horses has a lot to do with horse culture, how the sport is perceived. In Switzerland, it is really chic to have a sport horse. We definitely need to expand this culture, this lifestyle. Once it is ignited, it doesn't let you go. If there are more such people, then we can achieve more in the sport," he explained. Therefore, the tournament in Vienna is "certainly helpful for people to realize what a special lifestyle it is."

(APA/Red)

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