Szilvásvárad Masters Series with More than Twenty Nations

The Masters international competition series, which brings together three equestrian disciplines, will be held again this year in Szilvásvárad, with more than 20 nations represented by nearly 5,000 riders and racers, announced the Minister of Agriculture István Nagy at a press conference on Monday in the Heves County town of Szilvásvárad.

 

István Nagy underlined that in the past two years, taking all events into account, more than four thousand horses have arrived at the Lipica Equestrian Center, inaugurated in 2018. It is therefore safe to say that one of the largest and most modern equestrian stadiums in Europe, with a capacity of 6,500 spectators, has already proved its worth, he added.

The Szilvásvárad Masters, the organization of which started in 2021, will bring together three equestrian disciplines: the well-known chariot racing with a strong focus, dressage, and show jumping.

The aim of the series is to bring Szilvásvárad back into the world of the equestrian circuit,”

the Minister said.

He said that following the dressage event held in March, the Lipica Equestrian Center will host the international chariot race this weekend, from Thursday to Sunday, and the show-jumping competition from August 3 – 6. The show-jumping competition will also be a World Cup event, with an event to help qualify individuals for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, he noted.

Nagy also drew attention to the 16th National Gallop, to be held in Szilvásvárad at the end of September together with this year’s cultural and sporting events, will be worthy of the State Stud Farm, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2023.

This year’s celebrations are not the end of something, but an important milestone on a road that has been paved with a lot of work, he said, noting that in 2024, Hungary will host the World Championship for Four in Hand, which will also be hosted by the stud farm. It is not an exaggeration to say that the World Championship will be “the homecoming of four-in-hand,” as there are few sports in the world that are this closely linked to Hungarian traditions, innovation, and culture, the Agriculture Minister stressed.

Dávid Cseri, director of the stud farm, said at the briefing that

the equestrian center has become a key point in the world of equestrian sports, the venue of an increasing number of prestigious equestrian events, and thus has a beneficial effect on the economy and tourism of the region.

He pointed out that four national teams are currently preparing for this weekend’s World Cup. In addition, next week they will have their first dressage rider at the European Young Riders Championships. The weekend’s Chariot Race Masters will be the first time in the history of Szilvasvárad that multiple World Champion Boyd Exell from Australia and multiple World Championship silver medalist Chester Weber from the USA will take part, he added.

Featured image: Facebook/Állami Ménesgazdaság Szilvásvárad