The most beautiful footage of the equestrian procession on Bloody Friday

Weingarten (le) – What a sight – and the basilica rises above everything. Almost 100 groups of horsemen in tailcoats and top hats and countless detachments marched through the city – right in the middle was a relic of the Holy Blood. Brand new this year: the women were there. The sight is unusual for many, but beautiful. We looked behind the scenes and captured some impressions.

Patience is important

What is a real blood racer, you need to have time and patience, because some groups took hours to start. Some climbing aids for younger or older riders served as ideal seats. In emergencies, I had to use the city’s garbage can – just lean on it.

Wait and wait... Leaning against it only helps for a short time - even if it's a trash can. — Wait and wait… Leaning against it only helps for a short time – even if it’s a trash can. (Image: Daniela Leberer)

But what about hunger? The women took care of this, they not only artistically tethered the horses, but also brought sausages and buns. It may happen that the folding cart and the child ended up in the hands of a bloody horseman, and the woman disappeared …

Thanks to this beautiful spectacle, no one notices when the band plays the wrong note. (Image: Daniela Leberer)

Official veterinarians are on site.

Among the many horses, two official veterinarians from the Ravensburg Veterinary Office could also be seen. Dr. Diana Stuk and Dr. Peter Reitmeier had a lot to do and was very frightened by the large number of animals. Are the horses healthy, are their hooves in order, and is the weight and height of the rider appropriate for the horse? Important task.

No freckles on the uniform

The musicians were happy that the sun was shining and fought their way through the many legacies of horses. “What do you mean, what brown-green mud does all this when it rains. Then the skirts of our uniforms are sprayed all over. But it’s Bloody Friday. Being there is everything.”

Rider and horse dressed the same (Image: Daniela Leberer)

60 years old and riding like a woman is “crazy”

In some groups I continue to discover women. They stood side by side with the men, and it seemed to me that they were always there. Ulrika Baumgart was one of those who will definitely open a few more bottles of sparkling wine in the evening.

Ulrika Baumgart (right) is delighted: today she celebrates her 60th birthday and rides with her children in a group of Laupheim bloody riders. (Image: Daniela Leberer)

She performed with the band Blood Rider in Laupheim and is celebrating her 60th birthday today. “I’m happy and happy – what an honor and a party.” Daughter and son will be there. “My father was one of the founders of this group of riders back in 1950. I’m so proud today.”

Alcohol control for racers?

A small private group, lost in the hustle and bustle of Bloody Friday, put up a banner in the Stadtgarten that read “No applause for animal cruelty.” If you wanted, you got a flyer. Among other things, the group demanded: doping control of horses at the end of a bloody race and alcohol control of riders.

Among other things, a small group called for doping control of horses and attracted attention with their banner. (Image: Daniela Leberer)

Celebrities Shouldn’t Be Missing

Politicians from the region, including Minister of Social Affairs Manfred Lucha, Mayor Daniel Rapp from Ravensburg and other celebrities, followed the procession from the town hall balcony and took first place.