From the classroom to the world of horses: 400 children at the first Kinder Tag of the LGCT Vienna

Vienna, September 24, 2026 – On Thursday morning, 22 school classes from Vienna and Lower Austria entered the midst of the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna | Schloss Schönbrunn tournament. At more than 15 stations, the children got to know horses, professions, and the procedures surrounding an international equestrian competition up close – right where the international show jumping elite would later enter the course and where the first 1.45-meter competition took place, with the first sporting decision already made: Thomas McDermott (Australia) won the first competition of the highest international category over 1.45 meters. For Austria, Christoph Obernauer (Tyrol) with place 3 and Bianca Babanitz (Burgenland) with place 5 provided strong results.

Not only seeing horses from a distance, but getting close to them and getting to know the people who work with them daily: For around 400 children from 22 school classes, the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna began on Thursday in a way that is different from how an international equestrian competition usually begins. At the first children’s day in the honor courtyard of Schloss Schönbrunn, the focus was not on the best riders in the world, but on children between the ages of eight and twelve from Vienna and Lower Austria.

At more than 15 stations, they were able to get to know the world around the horse from different perspectives. They sat on ponies themselves, looked over the shoulders of veterinarians and horsefarers as they worked, tried hobby horse riding with professional timing, and were challenged themselves at movement and dexterity stations. Organizations such as the Lichtblickhof and Gut Aiderbichl also provided insights into their work with animals.

„Today it wasn’t about explaining horse sports to children, but about enabling them to have a real encounter. Experiencing a horse up close, asking questions, taking an active part, and seeing how many different people work with and for horses leave a much more profound impression than just watching. That’s exactly what we wanted to achieve – especially for children who might otherwise have hardly any opportunity to come into contact with horses.“, "explains Sonja Klima, Co-organizer of the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna | Schloss Schönbrunn, the idea behind it.

A look behind the scenes of the tournament

While a few hours later international riders and horses took over the grandstand for the first competitions of the LGCT Vienna, the students were able to witness what happens around such a tournament venue in the morning. At the same time, they also consciously brought to the fore those professions and tasks that often remain behind the scenes in regular sports activities.

How does a horseshoe maker work? What does a veterinarian examine on a horse? How do you properly approach an animal? And what is needed for a horse and a human to function as a team? The children's day combined these insights with many opportunities to experiment. The interest in this was evident long before the event day: the free places for school classes were fully booked within a short time.

22 school classes from Vienna and Lower Austria

The first Children’s Day was made possible with the support of the City of Vienna. Among the participating groups were school classes from numerous Vienna districts as well as two classes from Lower Austria. A class from the Lorenz-Kellner-Gasse school, which provides care for children with autism, also took part. This way, the morning was deliberately structured so that as many different children as possible could access the program.

„Children need opportunities where movement, curiosity, and shared experiences come together. Today they were able to learn something that is not always accessible to many in everyday life. At the same time, it was about health, nature, and a respectful approach to animals. The fact that the places were filled so quickly shows how great the interest in such offers is.“, says Peter Hacker, Councilor for Social Affairs, Health and Sports.

Meeting the horse instead of ready-made answers

One of the aims of KinderTag was to make visible the different relationships between humans and horses. Alongside sports and exercise, it was also about responsibility. Organizations like the Lichtblickhof showed the role horses can play in people’s lives outside of equestrian sports. Gut Aiderbichl, in turn, brought the perspective of animal welfare into the discussion.

The young generation opens up four days of international equestrian sports

On Thursday, Children's Day marked the opening event of the second Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna | Schloss Schönbrunn. A few hours after around 400 children explored the honor courtyard, the course was the scene of international show jumping action: In the first competition of the highest international category over 1.45 meters, the Australian Thomas McDermott secured victory ahead of Sanne Thijssen (Netherlands) and the Tyrolean Christoph Obernauer. Bianca Babanitz (Burgenland) rode to 5th place.

International junior competitions and the show program of the Spanish Riding School also featured on the opening day. From Friday to Sunday, the program for children and families will remain part of the event grounds – including free pony rides and other activities.

Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna | Schönbrunn Palace
September 24-27, 2026
www.lgct-vienna.com

For enquiries, please contact:
Julia Kent +43 664 246 90 55 | julia@komma4.at

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Children's Day at Schönbrunn: Behind the scenes, the students also got to discover the VIP area of the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna – for many, a very special moment. The enthusiasm was great to be able to take a seat there, where otherwise guests, partners, and personalities from sports and society watch the tournament.

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