Kinderringreiten Goldebek

Goldebek — A Village with Riding Tradition

Goldebek is a small municipality in the Nordsee-Treene administrative district in the Nordfriesland district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. With significantly fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, the village is one of the more tranquil places in North Friesland — and it is precisely in such villages that the North Frisian ring riding tradition has been preserved to this day.

Ringreiten — A North Frisian Equestrian Game

In Ringreiten (ring riding), riders gallop at full speed under a high crossbar from which a small metal ring is suspended. Using a long wooden lance, they must spear the ring as they ride past. The custom is practiced in North Friesland and western Schleswig-Holstein, often integrated into village festivals similar to Schützenfest (marksmen's festivals), featuring a parade through the village, music, and a festival tent. The winner of a tournament is proclaimed 'King' or 'Queen'.

Kinderringreiten — The Next Generation Festival

At the Kinderringreiten Goldebek, the focus is exclusively on the youngest riders. They usually ride ponies or small horses, the bar is hung accordingly lower, and the atmosphere is familial: parents, grandparents, and club members accompany the young participants at the ring riding grounds. It is both a sporting tournament and a village festival for all generations.

Organizers and Tradition

The organizer is the Ringreiter- und Schützenverein „Freie Bahn“ Goldebek (Riders' and Marksmen's Association 'Freie Bahn' Goldebek) — a typical North German traditional club where several family generations are active. Associations like this are the custodians of the ring riding tradition in North Friesland and ensure that the custom is passed down through the generations by organizing the Kinderringreiten.