Lake Constance and AMERICANA

Reciting Darren Moore, a famous announcer from Texas:  "The AMERICANA is much more than a (Western Riding) competition – it’s an event. Everybody here rides for the brand, the WESTERN WAY OF LIFE!“

 

Yes, that's what we noticed on our three day trip to Friedrichshafen at beautiful Lake Constance. The Western Way of Life revitalized. AMERICANA is a show focused on everything around western riding for five days. Exhibitors from all over the world present clothing and accessories, horse gear and equipment of all kinds:

 

 

There were show rinks with demonstrations and workshops, horse associations being present, and, Western riding competitions in around 50 classes. Most of the four evening shows were sold out, the new saloon always crowded,as well as the open-air area with stage in front of it, where country music at its best was to be experienced.

 

AMERICANA (somewhat surprisingly) moved from Augsburg, our home town, to Lake Constance after COVID, and, took place there for the first time in 2023. Then, it appeared a bit dull and with some flaws. This one now was much better, with a new saloon, with country music and four evening shows. Messe Friedrichshafen - the fairgrounds next to the big Zeppelin company's area - offers much more space than the fairgrounds in Augsburg. Seven large halls were in use (more available), all of them spacious and airy and top-notch for the riders and their horses. One functioned as a „camp ground“ for participants' tents, a parking area was open to RVs. The large Zeppelin CAT Arena was used for evening shows (max. 5.300). Total visitation on all days were over 56,000 visitors - a new record!

All day long, qualifications took place (great to watch!), in different categories, finals then in the evening shows. Below some scenes from the cutting competitions and far below, a reining participant performing a slide with his horse. 

 

The new, exciting element in 2025 was country music on three stages, including musicians  from the US like Amanda Kate Ferris („New Female Vocalist of the Year“) or the young and talented Cash Muretta from Montana (below, left).

 

 

Another new element was the naming of the halls after Western States! There was Texas (Zeppelin CAT Arena), South Dakota (Foyer West), Kansas (Ranch Boulevard, Extreme Trail), Oklahoma (Horse Associations & breeders, Holiday on Horse), Utah (Horse Wellness), Oregon (Horsemanship) Montana and Nevada („Western Lifestyle“, horse gear, boots, hats, jeans ...), Arizona (trailers), Colorado (kids) and Wyoming (outdoors, Stage, Saloon, Western Town, Food&Drinks).

 

Some more numbers to give you an idea about the dimensions: 

- 50 horse competitions

- over 215.000-added Euro prize money

- 500 horses with riders from 16 nations

- 650 head of cattle

- about 300 exhibitors

 

The main language at the show was English, and, other than at tourism shows/events the atmosphere and mood was purely positive towards the U.S.A. No political discussions. It appeared like these horse/western-lifestyle fans were really sick of the bad publicity here and were longing to get back to their "Land of Dreams".

Besides spending time at the show, we went on an excursion to Tettnang (the second-largest hop growing region in Germany), where they just harvested the hops (photo far above) at Hopfengut #20. We drove to our favorite "Rädle" or Besenwirtschaft, Hofgut Möking "Jammer nich" – sort of a beergarden where different ciders (also made from pears or cherries or mixed) are served together with rustic "Brotzeiten". 

 

We had a good time at Lake Constance and at the AMERICANA, from the press conference on Tuesday until the evening show on Thursday!