Geislingen Horse Market

Over Three Centuries of Horse Breeding Tradition

The Geislingen Horse Market is one of the oldest continuously maintained horse breeding events in Southern Germany. With over 300 years of tradition, the format dates back to a time when horses were still central working animals—for agriculture, transport, and crafts. Today, the Horse Market is one of the few dates in the year when regional horse breeders publicly present and have their breeding work awarded. The venue is the TVA grounds in the Geislingen district of Altenstadt—a sports facility with ample space, an ideal presentation area, and the necessary infrastructure.

Shrove Tuesday as a Historic Date

The Horse Market traditionally takes place on Shrove Tuesday—not on a weekend, which would be commercially more sensible. The reason lies in history: Shrove Tuesday was an established market day in the southwestern German farmers' calendar before the Lenten season. Horses were sold in February because the previous year's inventory was being cleared out, and spring fieldwork was about to begin. This date has been preserved—even though the economic context is long outdated. In 2026, Shrove Tuesday falls on February 17.

Awarding of Breeding Horses

The awarding of breeding horses is the central focus of the event. Various classes are judged—warmblood, coldblood, Haflinger, South German coldblood horses—by a jury of experienced breeding supervisors and veterinarians. The prizes have multiple values: for the breeders, monetary recognition, but above all, an increase in reputation on the breeding association lists. For spectators, it's a rare opportunity to experience a world that usually remains behind stable doors—the quiet, diligent work of horse breeders.

Carriages, Stalls, and Culinary Accompanying Program

In addition to the awards, horse-drawn carriages will be presented—single and double-harnessed, with historical carriages or modern sports carriages. The carriage parades are a visual highlight: groomed horses, polished leather harnesses, carriages from several generations. Alongside this, stalls with regional products, saddleries, horse accessories, insurance, and horse feed providers. The culinary offerings are classically Swabian: bratwurst, fries, mulled wine, Maultaschen, cake. Admission is completely free, and the opening hours are concentrated in the morning (9 AM–1 PM)—fitting the traditional market character.