For the first time, a whole family has been honored for their life’s achievements by the German Equestrian Federation (FN). On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the purebred Arabian Stud and Tierpark Ströhen, General Secretary Sönke Lauterbach hands over the Graf Landsberg Medal in bronze to the owner family Ismer.
The Ismer Stud is the largest private Arabian stud in Europe with about 200 hectares and about 60 broodmares. The stud was founded at the end of the 50s with the purchase of the first purebred Arabian by Rolf Ismer. In Ströhen, however, is also the origin of the Hanoverian riding ponies, because Rolf Ismer refined already in the 1960s Welsh Pony mares with purebred Arabians. After Rolf, his son Holger Ismer took over the leadership of the stud. “It is particularly thanks to him that the breeding of Arabian horses was established in Ströhen and that the stud has grown into one of the most successful Arabian stud farms worldwide,” said Lauterbach. Since 2007, the stud is in the hands of the third generation, of Dr. Nils Ismer. He was able to further consolidate the world-wide importance of the stud farm and today exports Arabian horses around the globe. “Even in the homeland of the Arabian horse, in the Arab countries,” said Lauterbach. There is also a close cooperation with the studs Babolna and Marbach, for example, through the exchange of stallions.
The purebred Arabian Stud is part of the Tierpark Ströhen (zoo), also founded in 1959. In addition to exotic animals, it is mainly native, European species that are native to the area. On the petting grounds, kids can experience various types of domestic animals, such as chickens, goats and lambs. “With the Tierpark Ströhen, the Ismer family not only contributes to the preservation of endangered species, but also teaches the visitors in the animal school how and why animals allow themselves to be guided by humans. Last but not least, the zoo and the stud provide insights into the attitude and handling of animals. Especially the last points are of essential importance in a time when humans no longer naturally grow up with animals. Here children see that there is no purple cow”, says Lauterbach.
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