At the first international four-star dressage tournament in 2023 at Schloss Achleiten (Upper Austria) there will be a lot of highlights from June 15th to 18th. Austria's dressage youngsters are particularly interested in qualifying for the European Championships in Pilisjászfalu in Hungary (YR and U25) and in Kronberg in Germany (J and Ch).
In and around the idyllic Schlossparkviereck, there will be a touch of Olympia again. Olympic champion Elisabeth Max-Theurer, as the hostess, is happy about the top-class cast, above all the German Olympic champions Isabell Werth and Dorothee Schneider. Local matador Victoria Max-Theurer plans to present her top horse Abbeglen after a successful tournament comeback at home - the multiple Olympic participant may also saddle Topas at the home tournament - World Championship and Olympic rider Florian Bacher and state champion Timna have agreed to do so Valenta-Zach announced. For Austria's dressage offspring (U25, Young Rider, Juniors) it is also about the European Championship qualifications for Pilisjászfalu near Budapest (HUN, July 11-16, YR and U25) and Kronberg (GER, July 20-23 , J and Ch). "There are great couples at the start, plus a very good group of judges, so we can look forward to dressage sport at the highest level," explains Elisabeth Max-Theurer. “I am particularly looking forward to our offspring, who have already achieved very good results this year. Including even a U21 Nations Cup victory. For all of them it is about qualifying for the European Championships. This is going to be exciting!" Victoria Max-Theurer also has the European Championships in Riesenbeck (GER, September 4th-10th) on her radar: "For Austria it's still about the chance of an Olympic ticket for the team. We want to get there with our best rider-horse pairs, everyone has to be in top condition. That's why it's already important for me to stay in the tournament rhythm with my horses, who have already achieved some nice results." Stefan Lehfellner is also looking forward to the home tournament, even though the Upper Austrian will not be at the start of the first tournament in Achleiten: “Home tournaments are always something special. It makes many things easier. I will support Vici in the usual way in the next few days. Your two horses are in top shape and we will prepare them together. The process has already worked well and hardly differs from a 'normal' day." On the other hand, championship-proven Florian Bacher will start in Achleiten with 13-year-old Amonitas and Broadmoars Ulrich. After Munich, his A-horse Fidertraum will have more time to prepare for the mandatory show in Achleiten, where the final qualification for the European Championships in Riesenbeck (GER) will be at stake at the beginning of August. “Achleiten has been a fixed point for me for years. It's a nice tournament with top conditions and top floors. The frame is just perfect. We are very happy that we now have some CDIs in Austria. I will use Amonitas more often in the future and build him into a reliable Grand Prix backup for Fidi. I think highly of him. The tournament in Achleiten is an important step in his development – we want to score well,” explains Olympian Florian Bacher.
