On Thursday evening, the focus at the Zurich Youth Masters was not only on sport, but also on the shared responsibility for the future of equestrian sport. During the Riders’ Meeting, important values were highlighted that shape the event and extend far beyond the competition arena. The evening was hosted by Yves von Ballmoos, President of the Organising Committee of the Zurich Youth Masters, Peter Jegen from the Stiftung Pro Pferd, and Kim Fuchs, member of the Organising Committee and responsible for sustainability.
To begin the evening, Yves von Ballmoos warmly welcomed all riders and spoke about the core values of the Zurich Youth Masters. The event is built on four central pillars: Social Responsibility, Economic Resilience, Environmental Consciousness, and Expressing Culture. At the heart of everything lies the shared passion for horses. At the same time, he emphasised that horse welfare must always come first in every daily action and every decision made within the sport.
Responsibility Towards the Public
A key topic was also the public perception of equestrian sport. Yves von Ballmoos highlighted that there is often a fine line between what may be allowed by regulations and what is accepted by the public. Many people form opinions about equestrian sport without having professional knowledge or a deeper understanding of horses. This makes it even more important for everyone involved to actively represent the positive values of the sport and to take responsibility for its future.
Making Horsemanship Visible
It is from this idea that the Horse Welfare Award was created. The award honours riders who demonstrate exceptional horsemanship in and around the arena and who set an example through respectful and horse-friendly behaviour. Ultimately, it is not only rules and regulations that shape how equestrian sport is perceived, but also the emotions and impressions shared with the outside world.
Scientific Foundations for Horse Welfare
Afterwards, Peter Jegen introduced the Stiftung Pro Pferd and the Resort and Stud Hasenacher. Together with various partners, the foundation supports research projects focusing on horse welfare and helps create a scientific basis for a sustainable and responsible equestrian sport. He also stressed the importance of positive public perception. If the image of the sport deteriorates, external control and criticism will continue to increase. Therefore, the equestrian community must actively demonstrate how horse welfare and everyday work with horses can exist in harmony.
Linus Hanselmann: The Horse as a Partner
Peter Jegen then interviewed Linus Hanselmann, winner of the 2024 Horse Welfare Award. Strongly influenced by his mentor and trainer Karin Hanselmann, Linus places great importance on both the physical and psychological wellbeing of his horses in his daily work. For him, every horse is an individual with specific needs. He explained that a horse is not sports equipment, but a partner with whom success can only be achieved together. Through his studies in veterinary medicine, he continues to deepen his understanding and knowledge of horses.
Horse Welfare Award 2026: Teamwork in Focus
To conclude the Riders’ Meeting, Kim Fuchs explained the criteria for this year’s Horse Welfare Award. This year, the award will honour a team consisting of rider and groom who best represent harmonious cooperation between horse, rider, and team. The jury will evaluate not only the riding performances in and around the arena, but also the handling of the horses during warm-up, preparation, stable management, grooming, stable organisation, horse management, and fair interaction with fellow competitors.
With the Riders’ Meeting, the Zurich Youth Masters sent a strong message for respectful, sustainable, and future-oriented equestrian sport. We are now looking forward to exciting competition days filled with emotions, valuable experiences, and unforgettable moments with the horses.
The Horse Welfare Award is proudly supported by Stiftung Pro Pferd and Equine Resort & Campus Hasenacher.