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July, 1st 2010

Silver Horse for Dr. Ursula von der Leyen
Federal Minister to be distinguished for her services to the equestrian sport at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen

She is one of the most likeable messengers of the equestrian sport: Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. At the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2010 (July 9th-18th), she is going to be distinguished with the “Silver Horse” in the category “Personalities” for her services to the sport. The prize will be presented during the official Opening Ceremony on July 13th.

“Ursula von der Leyen represents the equestrian sport in an absolutely congenial way,” is how Wolfgang Brinkmann, President of the German Riding & Driving Federation, explained the jury’s decision. Furthermore, the Minister’s commitment attracts high media exposure for the equestrian sport. Ursula von der Leyen is a highly talented rider herself and she has passed her passion for riding on to her children. At the weekend the Minister can often be found at the edge of provincial show rings supporting her children. She is guest to many equestrian competitions, primarily in Lower Saxony, where she lives. She also visited the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, in 2008.

Ursula von der Leyen has not only made the equestrian sport more well-known, but she also often refers to the chances and opportunities that the sport offers. As patron of a therapeutic riding project, the Minister frequently emphasises that working with horses particularly teaches children reliability, to take on responsibility and to accept their own inadequacies.

In the past this distinction in the category “Personalities” has been won among others by the two-time Olympic gold medallist, Hinrich Romeike, the “voice of the equestrian sport“ Hans Heinrich Isenbart and by the equestrian sport legend, Hans Günter Winkler. The “Silver Horse“ is awarded by the German Riding & Driving Federation in collaboration with the CHIO organisers, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. The prize was initiated by the former President of the ALRV, Kurt Capellmann, the father of Nadine Capellmann and Gina Capellmann-Lütkemeier, and Graf Rothkirch. In addition to the category “Personalities“ the Silver Horse is also awarded in the categories “print”, “radio” and “TV” for excellent journalistic contributions in the equestrian sport sector.

The nominations this year for the category print include Christina Hucklenbroich (FAZ), Thorsten Karbach (Aachener Zeitung) and Jan Tönjes (St. Georg), the nominees in the category TV are Wolfgang Bergmann (ARTE), Sabine Kowalczyk (WDR) and Anja Nehls (Kinderkanal) as well as Silke Frenzel (ARD) and Marcus Tepper (ARD) in the category radio. The winners will also be announced during the Opening Ceremony on July 13th.

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