Stories from Bad Kleinkirchheim

Author: Verena Schneider

A column of cars is winding up the road from Bad Kleinkkirchheim to St.Oswald. I‘m in the middle of it, and am quite amazed as the Friesengestüt Nockalm appears from behind the Hill. All around me cars are piled up … and all of them are swarming to the „Festival of Baroque Horses“, which takes place every year on the third Sunday of August.

Ok, I‘ll admit, I like horses, and rode for years myself…but the varied show program doesn’t cast its spell just on horse lovers. People young and old gaze in amazement at the versatility of the baroque horses, especially the Friesians, for an entire day. It doesn’t matter if they are for show or hobby, these precious creatures enchant people, and so it’s no wonder that the rush on the raffle is huge –seeing as the main prize is a three year old stallion.

Ask yourself this question: How did these “black pearls of the north“ come to the Nockalm? It all began, as so often, with a childhood dream - Elizabeth Schneeweiß’s dream; the owner of the stud farm. As a small child she saw the picture of a Friesian in a newspaper. From then on she pursued her dream – one day there would be Friesians grazing in the Nockberge National Park. In 1988 the time had finally come … the first mare explored the alpine pastures. Since then, for more than 20 years have passed and the single mare has now become an entire herd, and the stud has become the central point for all „Friesian needs“. And on the way back to my car I heard a kid yell „Mom, please wait, I don’t want to drive home yet!“ …so who knows? Maybe it’s the beginning of a new childhood dream.

This year the Friesengestüt Nockalm hold the festival on the 14th of August 2011. Further information: +43 (0)4240 / 20 603.

Image and text courtesy of Verena Schneider for the editorial team of the website www.badkleinkirchheim.at