Rangkämpfe der Kraftpakete beim Hengstauftrieb im Brixental

Updated 15.06.2022

On 26 June, an impressive spectacle of the animal world can be observed in the Brixen Valley: At the Tyrolean Noriker stallion drive at the Stallbachkaralm in Aschau, the stud stallions compete in impressive rank battles to determine the position of the lead stallion for the summer months. A unique event in Tyrol, attended by hundreds of spectators every year.

After an intensive breeding season, the stallions of the Tyrolean Noriker Horse Breeders' Association head off to the Hengstenalm in Kirchberg for their summer retreat on Sunday, 26 June. But before the animals can graze peacefully next to each other on the alpine meadows in the farthest Spertental, they have to prove their strength once again. In order to prevent the horses from protracted ranking fights in the summer months, they are invited to the paddock at the beginning of the alpine pasture season to clarify the ranking order in the herd.

Impressive duels of the powerhouses

The Noriker meet in duels in the arena and vie for the position of the lead stallion. Every year it is an impressive spectacle when the strongmen rise up to establish the hierarchy for the alpine summer. The rank battles can last several hours, but once it is certain which horse will set the tone as lead stallion, a harmonious coexistence of the animals is guaranteed for the following three months on the alp.

After the morning pint the horses are loose

For all those who want to make the one-and-a-half-hour journey to the spectacle on the Stallbachkaralm: The starting signal for the stallion drive in the Brixen Valley is given on Sunday, 26 June, at 10 am with a morning pint. At 11 am the animals will be weighed and presented to the public. From about 12 o'clock it's "Ring frei" and the unique spectacle of the stallions begins.