Show jumper Markus Saurugg has several pillars. The Gniebinger steps a little shorter than before. One of the horses bred is in great demand, but it is not sold. At the Grand Prix in Lassee things didn’t go quite as planned.
Farmer, horse breeder, stable owner, bus operator and, by the way, one of Austria’s best show jumpers! Markus Saurugg is a real jack of all trades – an extremely successful one.
When visiting the “Steirerkrone” at the farm in Gniebing there is a lot of coming and going. “People almost kick our door in. They call every day for riding lessons, it’s a popular pastime, ”says Saurugg. “It used to be the children, but now many adults want to ride.” He doesn’t sit in the saddle that often anymore. “I ride as little as possible, it’s physically demanding.”
He would have enough horses to choose from. “We have between 45 and 50 animals on the farm.” The youngest foals were born this year, a pony is almost 40 years old. And there is a real treasure in the stable: Casper the horse. “I was offered a lot of money, but it is not for sale. I bred him and I firmly believe that he will ride at the Olympics! “
In the seventh generation of the family business, everyone has to tackle things – including Mrs. Nina, son Moritz and daughter Eva. The 14-year-old is a great talent in show jumping herself, emulates her dad.
At the weekend, the Saurugg family was back in tournament mode: the second stage of the equitron-pro Grand Prix in Lassee (Lower Austria) was on the agenda. For Markus, with two throws in tenth place, things did not go quite as desired. “One less mistake and I would have finished third. But Carethyn jumped to this height for the first time, there is still a little lack of experience. ”