FALSTERBO HORSE SHOW – The Swedish Spectators’ Adventure
MERCEDES AT FALSTERBO
Source:FALSTERBO HORSE SHOW – The Swedish Spectators’ Adventure
View Gallery
23 Photos
Year after year they return. And they become more and more. Not just the spectators increase in numbers, but also the staff of volunteers who stand behind the gigantic arrangement, The Falsterbo Horse Show. The sponsors are present, the facilities expanded. There’s no doubt about it – The Falsterbo Horse Show is a giant success.
Text and photo: Therese Alhaug
The Adventure of Zettermann
The summer of 2014. The Swede Alexander Zettermann, 24, is in the arena and is about to complete an historic round at Falsterbo. Many have followed him through the Swedish TV-documentary ”The Riders’ Elite”. They know his story, and how he has fought to keep his horse and the place among the established Swedish elite riders. They also know about his battle to find sponsors and the tough time on home ground. The fact that he is about to win the Grand Prix of this year will peak the atmosphere here at Falsterbo. And that is exactly what he does – enters and wins the prestigious class in front of the whole world elite of showjumping. The national anthem is played, many are all in tears, they pop the champagne and the spectators applaud and stomp their feet. The gigantic equestrian arrangement of the year 2014 is rounded off in the best imaginable way. It can’t be much better than this. The loyal home spectators are ecstatic. It goes without saying that the equestrian TV-series of this winter ”The Riders’ Elite” also has contributed and has had a favouring wind.
Without the number of spectators, Falsterbo would not have been Falsterbo. This is the Swedish spectators’ adventure. 100 years of real horsepower have made its mark within the Swedish equestrianism. Riding is the sport of the people in Sweden. This is recreational sports. When on all levels, the people turn up.
Record public
The number of visitors has peaked higher during the Falsterbo event the last three years, and in 2014 the record was broken once again. 63,244 spectators visited the arena in the days 5.– 13. July. That’s a higher number than ever before.
-I believe the secret depends on our combination of show and international sport, says Jana Wannius, the spokesman of The Falsterbo Horse Show. Jana Wannius has organised the summer adventure in the south of Sweden from the start, and has since that time expanded the arrangement with more arenas, stands and restaurant areas. He thanks his staff especially and the organisation commitee for the success, which he chooses to call ”the World Class-staff”. Volunteer staff stand in line annually to participate in the great horse party. But there are several more factors of success at play. The importance of listening to the public is one of them.
–We use Facebook to charge the atmosphere and listen to the spectators’ wishes. The public has wanted Icelandic horses and more carriage driving. The sport expands more and more, some ride with helmets, others with cowboy hats. We take all this under consideration, relates Jana.
Falsterbo is in constant development. In 2014 they opened a completely new grass arena reserved for the Icelandic horses, carriage driving and shows, in addition to 600 new places in the stands. That was a necessity for the arrangement which has a goal of being one of the best shows in Europe within showjumping and dressage. And they succeed. Everything is to be done in the best possible way – also for the riders and grooms. Last year The Falsterbo Horse Show became enviromentally certified, which sets strong demands to waste disposal and recycling of materials.
Falsterbo attracts the world elite. Here Olympic medallists and world champions compete against the home riders. Amateurs, pony riders and young riders ride side by side with the elite riders. Everybody gets their dosage of earned attention. And the spectators come close to the stars. The warm-up arena lies in the centre of things, and is almost as popular as the main arena. Restaurants and cafés are scattered throughout the area and the exposition and fair offers goods merchandise from more than 100 exhibitors. Close by you find small fish restaurants, holiday lets, hotels and kilometre long beaches. We are in the middle of Sweden’s holiday paradise. And there are horses on the agenda as well.
Today the Swedish Equestrian sport is one of the biggest ahtletic federations in Sweden with more than 9000 clubs.
Jana Wannius
100 Years with Horse Power.
With the beginning in 1912, the Swedish Equestrian Federation is more than 100 years old. 100 years with horse power, proud history and a galloping development from a masculine and military sport to the girls’ and people’s sport of today. The Federation was founded in relation with the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912. At that time they were only men. In 1920 the discussion begun whether women were allowed to participate, but it was first in 1946 the women finally got their place in the sport. In 1952 the women could compete in the Olympics in dressage, in1956 in showjumping but not until in 1964 the women got to ride in Olympic eventing. In 1972 the first Swedish female dressage riders rode in the Olympics, while they today dominate the sport. Ever since then Sweden has been a strong riders’ nation internationally. The blue-and-yellow riders have totally obtained around 40 Olympic medals. Sweden has also arranged two Olympic Games; the first in 1912 and the second in 1956. In 1990 they were the organizer of the World Championships. All this is a part of and constitute the backbone itself of the Swedish Equestrian sport, which represents one of the biggest ahtletic federations in Sweden with more than 9000 clubs. Sweden is thuspowerful within the equestrian sport. This is also the explanation for the record public that we see today at The Falsterbo Horse Show.
Falsterbo has a goal of being one of the best shows in Europe within showjumping and dressage. And they succeed.
Jana Wannius
Sport and Show
With horses and riders by the thousand, over 50 classes, more than 600 staff and as many grooms, Falsterbo is more than an ordinary competition arena. The arena is bustling from morning to night, either you are a competitor or member of the public, exhibitor, media, sponsor or volunteer. Falsterbo is more than sport, it’s also a party filled with excitement, glamour and show – a feast more and more people take part in. Thesummer’s meeting ground for the Swedish horse lovers. That’s the Swedish spectators’ adventure.
Big, Bigger, Biggest.. FALSTERBO HORSE SHOW IN NUMBERS
7, 000, 000 SEK is handed out in prize money, 822 horses visit the arenas, 616 riders from 19 nations. 640 volunteers are in place and 203 journalists. There are 240 exhibitors, 184 toilets and 59 showers…. to mention a few.
The sport expands more and more, some ride with helmets, others with cowboy hats. We take all this under consideration.
Jana Wannius
