The "forever home" at Gut Aiderbichl
They could no longer be cared for. Now two former vaulting horses from Egbert Gymnasium in Münsterschwarzach can spend the rest of their lives at Gut Aiderbichl.
Vaulting inspires many children and young people. It was a dream come true for the pupils at Egbert Grammar School in Münsterschwarzach (Bavaria, DE) when teacher Annette Müller-Kaler made vaulting a school sport. However, it is not just the sport itself, but also the stable work that is the responsibility of the pupils. The children and young people spend several hours a day with their horses. The animals are a big part of their lives. So it was all the worse for the children when the number of horses was suddenly to be reduced.
The two friends must stay together
There was room for eight horses at the school’s own vaulting centre. This also included the old horses that were no longer used as vaulting horses. Until now, all of them were allowed to stay at Egbert-Gymnasium in Münsterschwarzach until the end of their natural lives.
When founder Annette Müller-Kaler went into well-deserved retirement, teacher Mona Schwanfelder, who had also been an enthusiastic vaulter as a child, followed in her footsteps. But the shock came in 2022.
Despite intensive efforts, no suitable employee could be found for the vaulting centre, so the number of horses had to be reduced. Which horses did they want to part with with a heavy heart? The coronavirus pandemic had torn a hole in competitive sport due to the cancellation of training sessions. The two top horses Prometheus and Waldez would no longer be used in vaulting due to their advanced age. They are not suitable for beginners. The two friends have to stay together.
Around 700 horses live on the Gut Aiderbichl farms
Prometheus and Waldez were two horses that were no longer used for sport, but the two animals were inseparable. Who should you entrust with two beloved animals? In the end, the choice fell on Gut Aiderbichl. Annette Müller-Kaler and Mona Schwanfelder both travelled to Gut Aiderbichl in person to see for themselves whether the horses could be well looked after.
Around 700 horses live on the Gut Aiderbichl farms. Gut Aiderbichl is also particularly concerned with the health of older horses and their diseases.
Since 2020, VetMeduni Vienna has also been working in cooperation with Gut Aiderbichl on a major joint project researching the living conditions of horses: “Quality of Life”. The aim of this project is to sustainably improve the quality of life of horses. Gut Aiderbichl has also been cooperating with the Sandgrueb Foundation in Egg, near Zurich, since 2020. A medical research team there is looking into the health of older horses and their diseases, particularly with regard to parasitology.
Through these collaborations, we at Gut Aiderbichl are constantly expanding our knowledge of animal welfare. This ensures that older horses such as Waldez and Prometheus also receive the best possible care at Gut Aiderbichl.
Farewell with one laughing and one crying eye
Annette Müller-Kaler and Mona Schwanfelder were reassured: Waldez and Prometheus are in very good hands at Gut Aiderbichl.
To bid farewell to their two protégés, the children organised a big vaulting performance. All the vaulting students said a very emotional farewell to their animals in person. They leave the horses with a smile and a tear in their eyes and will visit them as often as possible at Gut Aiderbichl.
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