A ride on the double-headed eagle through Habsburg history on historic ground
The equestrian training cadre of the Dragoon Regiment No. 3 at the former k.u.k. Schlosshof Military Riding and Driving Training Institute organised the Marchfeld Castle Ride again this year from 30 May to 2 June 2024 – for the 31st time.
Imperial feeling in imperial weather with ideal temperatures for horse and rider. The route with its fantastic paths could be mastered with ease, with this great mood you could almost forget that it was a sporting competition.
This ride took place under the patronage of former Federal Minister of Defence Dr. Werner Fasslabend and under the patronage of Hungary’s special ambassador Archduke Georg Habsburg. In co-operation and with the support of Mag. Klaus Panholzer, Managing Director of Schloss Schönbrunn Betriebs- und Kulturges.m.b.H., the heads of the event department, the Schloss Hof animal area, the municipalities, the Federal Forests and the regional hunting community.
The event was planned down to the smallest detail by Hans Günter Ebetshuber. The opening in the Orangerie West with champagne reception and flag decorations, picture gallery with framed newspaper articles from the regional press and the horse revue of the last 30 years. A presentation by the organiser informed those present about the schedule and the tasks for the coming days. With best wishes from Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of the Province, who sent the organisation and the participants her best wishes and warmest regards for the event.
Afterwards, the opportunity was taken to visit the exhibition in the castle and the various special testing facilities in the castle grounds. Riding on historical ground, the riders learnt ‘interesting facts’ about Austrian history from our information sheets; by delivering a dispatch at lunchtime, this knowledge could be used to gain additional points after opening the same.
The competitions were again held in two categories this year. The A-competition, total distance for both days approx. 80 km, with special tests on the way, directly in Schlosshof or during the lunch break in Schloss Eckartsau or Schloss Marchegg, where our honorary colonel Dr. Werner Fasslabend visited us. Among other things, we rode to the Haringsee shooting range, where the k.u.k. Rast and Gasser officers’ pistols were used to score points.
The cavalry tasks included fording, hand-horse riding, overcoming natural obstacles in a group, individual jumping over natural obstacles the next day, estimating distances, reading the map, etc. These were among the special tasks where points could be collected.
Once again this year, one participant achieved the cavalry performance badge for orienteering and trail riding in silver after three placings and, for the first time, three participants achieved the cavalry performance badge in gold after three victories, presented by the Managing President of the Noeps, Lieutenant Colonel Roland Pulsinger and the commander of DR 3 Colonel Hans Günter Ebetshuber, holder of the golden badge of honour of the Lower Austrian Equestrian Federation.
The competition B – approx. 50 km in total on both days – was well appreciated by the 43 participants and was scored separately. Norbert Linsbichler and his team were also completely enthusiastic about the route and the tasks.
The highest military score this year was achieved by Fhnr. Gerhard Kubu (Dragoon Regiment No. 3), who also completed the course faultlessly for his regiment. He was presented with the Cup of Honour of Archduke Georg Habsburg for 1 year.
Once again, many thanks for the support of the Lower Austrian Equestrian Federation through the managing president Lieutenant Colonel Roland Pulsinger and KR Ing. Gerold Dautzenberg and the company ‘Die Werbegestalten’ family Geiger. A big thank you also goes to our helpers, without whom such an event would not be possible.
After the gala buffet provided by the catering company ‘GAST & WIRT’ in the Prinz Eugen Saal, the organiser presented the stable chains, medals, certificates and prizes.
Save the date for the 32nd Marfeld Castle Ride: 29 May to 1 June 2025
RESULTS
Competition A (approx. 80 km in two days)
1st place
Dr. Yvonne Stark-Ziegler, Vanessa Mitterer, Carmen Merwald, Gerda Göttlich, Marie Theres Tomasich
2nd place
Daniela Schäfer and Otto Buchheit
Competition B (approx. 50 km in two days)
1st place
Astrid Schibert, Lea Kaiser
2nd place
Payr Susanne, Payr Julian, Payr Lilja, Payr Gabriele
3rd place
Steiger Sonja, Weiße Susanne, Denise Leitgeb, Stephanie Hilscher
Competition carriages
1st place over 50 km
Norbert Linsbichler, Michaela Gutschka, Beatrix Graf
IMPRESSIONS
Photos: Erwin Nader, Carla Hartberger and private