Welcome to the FEI European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and Juniors 2012

Unanimous opinion: «This was an extraordinary event»

The European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Berne will not be soon forgotten. Spontaneously, local and international participants, team leaders, officials, delegates, and spectators expressed their enthusiasm. The perfect infrastructure, the magnificent location of the tournament venue, exceptional stables for the horses, the compactness of it all with short distances, the style, and the smoothly running organisation were all met with a very positive response without exception. «The tournament was exceptionally well organzied and the atmosphere was extrmely cheerful. We will keep the championships in good memory», was the tenor after the – accompanied by 16 Alphorn musicians from Oberaargau – last award ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

What had begun on 10 July with the colorful, cheerful opening ceremony, and 300 ballons in the national colors of the 21 participating nations rising into the Bernese sky, remained true to the end: The European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Berne became a flawless – reflecting the youth – joyful and festive event offering outstanding performances. The aim of the organzier Dressage Academy Silvia Iklé, the organizing committee, and the countless volunteers under the leadership of the organization's president Urs Schiendorfer, and tournament director Gotthilf Riexinger has been reached. A – hopefully – progressive signal has been set!