‘Americana 2025 was an event of superlatives.’
This Americana exceeded all expectations: there were more visitors than ever before, and it was more international than ever! A great atmosphere, enthusiastic spectators and exhibitors, and fantastic sport – from 31 August to 7 September, Messe Friedrichshafen and Americana Show Management brought together top-class sport, trade fair and entertainment in eight halls. ‘Americana 2025 was an event of superlatives: never before have so many people come together to celebrate Western sports and this very special lifestyle,’ said Klaus Wellmann, Managing Director of Messe Friedrichshafen. "The number of visitors to the four evening shows exceeded all expectations, and the new music formats were also almost completely sold out for their premiere. With the most successful edition in the history of Americana, Friedrichshafen has finally established itself as Europe's epicentre of the Western way of life." Over 56,200 visitors flocked to the exhibition grounds over five days, which, with almost 500 horses and their riders from 16 nations and 650 cattle, was “Europe's largest ranch” for a week. The major riding and breeding associations were also present, including officials from the AQHA, NRHA and NRCHA, who had travelled to Americana from the USA especially for the event.
Extensive programme covering all aspects of western riding and the western way of life
‘From the very first day of the fair, we sensed that this edition would be a record-breaker,’ said project manager Roland Bosch happily. ‘The international trade audience flocked to the grounds in droves, filling the stands for the demonstrations and shows, bringing with them a great desire to shop and celebrating late into the night at the Yellowstone Saloon. We owe this result to a great team effort.’ Around 300 exhibitors ensured that no wish was left unfulfilled for horse lovers. In addition to the sporting highlights, the programme offered over 500 live demonstrations in four riding rings, lectures in the health forum and seminars, including a very well-received bit seminar with Kay Wienrich. The fun factor was not neglected either: in the West outdoor area, there were plenty of opportunities to listen to country music, try line dancing or relax in the new Yellowstone Saloon.
‘We are delighted with the overwhelming response and the many positive comments,’ explains Sandra Quade, who is responsible for Americana show management together with Joachim Bochmann. ‘We have had months of intensive preparation behind us, full of commitment, great challenges – but also great anticipation. We are very proud that we have been able to put together such a strong Americana event together with so many committed partners and helpers.’ Joachim Bochmann adds: ‘For us, AMERICANA is always a barometer, a source of inspiration and a driving force for our great sport and the entire western riding industry. We have listened carefully over the last two years, talked a lot and learned a lot, and with this AMERICANA we have realised that we are still on the right track. We are absolutely delighted about this and it gives us a lot of energy for 2027.’
Sandra Quade and Joachim Bochmann particularly appreciate the cooperation with Messe Friedrichshafen and the commitment of the entire organisation team: "An event like this can only succeed if everyone pulls together. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the team at Messe Friedrichshafen for their trust, openness and close cooperation – and to our tireless AMERICANA team, who have been putting their heart and soul into this event for years. They are all part of AMERICANA."
Visitors flock to Friedrichshafen
The figures quickly showed that the mix of sport, show and trade fair was exactly to the audience's taste: over 56,200 visitors found their way to Friedrichshafen. The livestream alone attracted well over 26,000 viewers worldwide. By Saturday morning, there were already not enough parking spaces, so a meadow had to be converted into a car park at short notice. The Saturday evening show was sold out weeks in advance, with the Friday evening show following suit shortly afterwards. The evening shows on Wednesday and Thursday, which were all about infotainment, attracted record numbers of visitors with 3,200 and 4,200 spectators respectively. Western fans continued to crowd the outdoor area until late in the evening.
The exhibitors were delighted: ‘We are very satisfied,’ said feed manufacturer Josera, which also sponsored the health forum. ‘Americana customers are our favourite customers. They value quality and are willing to spend money on it.’ Timo Reichhart from Nice Horse Fashion was also very positive: ‘I'm super happy! It was very busy and sales went very well.’ Samuel Pfrommer from Sulzberger Stalltechnik confirmed this: ‘It went really well for us – especially on the first two days, when a number of people came to us with specific ideas and took their time to find out more. The response was very positive.’
Optimal conditions for participants
Around 1,000 starts in 50 classes came together at this Americana event, which offered EUR 215,000 in added prize money and lots of non-cash prizes, including beautiful trophy saddles from Feel For Horses / Hi Tack and Deuber und Partner. Also highly sought-after were the handmade champion buckles and spurs by Achim Oberdorfer and the high-quality boots by the American company Fenoglio, whose representatives had travelled from the USA to better understand and further develop their European business – another indicator of the international significance of Americana. In addition to the cash and non-cash prizes, the Americana show management had done a great deal to provide optimal conditions for riders and horses. ‘The ground was excellent from day one,’ was the verdict of NRHA Million Dollar Rider and President of NRHA Germany Grischa Ludwig, who was in the Bronze Trophy Final with two horses. This was thanks in particular to Adi Wagner, who tirelessly took care of the indoor arena floor throughout the show and even built his own dragmaster for Americana, which creates the individually optimal conditions for each of the four discipline categories (reining, cutting, cow horse, ranch and super horse). The well-frequented ‘Riders Bar’ proved to be a popular meeting place and retreat for the riders during and after the rides, and is set to become a permanent fixture at the Americana in future.
Significant growth in non-pro classes – Fourth Pillar Ranch Horse established
For cutting and cowhorse riders, there is no way around Americana every two years, and the number of entries was correspondingly high. Thirty-three horses alone were entered in the Open Go Round for the European Championship Cutting. It was striking that the Non Pro classes were generally very popular. The NRHA Non Pro Bronze Trophy was excellently attended with 28 participants, while several well-known names were missing from the Open Bronze Trophy, probably due to the busy schedule. Ultimately, however, this made no difference to the visitors, as the top-class finalists provided a thrilling finale and the best in reining on Friday evening.
The ranch horse classes, which had improved enormously in quality, were the most popular ones. There were some outstanding rides on display, which were also highly praised by AQHA President Jeff Tebow. This has secured ranch horses a permanent place at Americana.
You ride for the Brand: Evening shows as the figurehead of the sport
From the very beginning, Americana has been a pioneer of western riding, and the show management came up with some important details to promote the sport again this year. The action in the arena was recorded from four camera positions and broadcast on five large screens, so that every spectator could follow the action perfectly at all times. In addition, there were dynamic slow-motion shots, as seen in other sports. It was a great idea to project the scores of each individual manoeuvre in the Open Bronze Trophy Final onto the screens – making reining understandable, so to speak. The spectators were also introduced to cutting, and before the Super Ranch Horse, Diana Royer rode her mule Fine through the pattern in a very entertaining manner. The Americana show management had also taken further measures to ensure safety in the cattle disciplines. The entire show arena had been raised by 20 cm, so that the side panels were now 2 m high. Combined with rounded corners and kick pads on the walls, this meant an additional plus for animal welfare, which also impressed the official veterinarians on site.
Combined with the outstanding sporting achievements in the various disciplines, one could not have wished for better publicity for western riding. Legendary announcer Darren Moore from Texas, who once again accompanied the Americana this year together with Boris Kook – in cutting even directly from horseback – summed it up perfectly: ‘The Americana is much more than a show – it's an event. Those who compete here don't ride for themselves, but for our “brand”, the Western Way of Life.’
Some sport highlights
Klaus Lechner & Tinseltownsmokingun claim NRHA Bronze Trophy Open
Twelve riders and horses made it to the final, and in the end it was a very close race at the top. With a score of 225.5, Klaus Lechner (AUT) and his 15-year-old stallion Tinseltownsmokingun (Colonels Smoking Gun x Miss Tinseltown) won the EUR 40,000-added NRHA Bronze Trophy Open, having already led the go-round. ‘I still can't believe it,’ said an overjoyed Klaus Lechner. ‘Tommy was just incredible. You can always rely on him.’ This was already the fourth Americana for Tinseltownsmokingun. In 2019, he was Intermediate Open and Non Pro Champion, and in 2021 and 2023, he was among the top 3 in the Intermediate. With his successes here, his NRHA LTE exceeded the $100,000 mark. For Klaus Lechner, this was the latest in a string of top successes over the last four weeks, after winning the Austrian Reining Futurity and already becoming NRHA Bronze Trophy Open Champion in Wiener Neustadt.
Reserve Champion was Davide Brighenti (ITA) on BB Gotta Gold Tinsel (Gotta Gold Chain x JP Grays Starlett), owned by Barbara Braun, with a score of 225. Third place went to Stefano Ferri (ITA) on Spook Design, owned by Gregory Morat, with a score of 224.5.
Pietro Valeri wins Bonda Ranch European Championship Open
Twelve top-class horse-rider combinations competed once again in the final of the Bonda Ranch European Championship. In front of more than 5000 spectators in the evening show, Pietro Valeri took home the European Champion title with Starry Eyedd, owned by Marco Salvatori. It was Valeri's third AMERICANA Champion title overall, and the victory rounded off the success of Marco Salvatori's Rosy O'Grady Ranch. Marco had become European Champion Non Pro on the final Friday with his Highbrow Time and was able to ride him to 5th place in the Open Final with a score of 148. Marco Salvatori had a total of five horses in this final, including the preliminary round winner Stevie Reyvenge (Stevie Rey Von x Pettys Dual Pep) under Martina Annovazzi, who came 8th with a score of 145.
Andrea Favaretto became Reserve Champion with a score of 151 riding Silvia Viaggi's Trendzetter, with whom he had already won the Masters Cutting Open. Favaretto also rode Sofies Choice Cat (High Brow Cat x Sofie Rey) for Silvia Viaggi to third place (150). Fourth place went to Rob Gerrits, who came second in the preliminary round, with Alll The Creyz (Stevie Rey Von x Creyze Eights), owned by Yvonne Bonda, who scored 149. The Bonda Ranch had a total of three horses in this final.
Joschka Werdermann & ND Platinum Card claim ARIAT Super Ranch Horse Championship
The Friday evening show provided the perfect setting for the highly competitive ARIAT Super Ranch Horse competition. In the end, the top rides were separated by only half a point each. The Super Ranch Horse Champion title ultimately went to two-time AMERICANA Ranch Riding Open Champion Joschka Werdermann with ND Platinum Card (by Platinum Vintage), owned by Celine Beisel. The judges awarded 161.5 points for an outstanding performance that showcased ranch horse riding at its best. With the 7-year-old stallion bred by Nathalie Derua, who is very successfully shown in reining by his owner, Joschka was, among other things, Ranch Riding Champion at the LQH Masters 2025.
Jana Haug on One Army Soldier was Reserve Champion, just half a point behind. The pair had already been Ranch Riding Open Reserve Champions at this AMERICANA. With the 8-year-old gelding bred by the Haug family, Jana had already been EWU German Champion Junior Western Riding and Junior Ranch Riding, among other titles. Third place went to Annika Viecenz with her Despacito Whiz, scoring 160.5. The pair won the Ranch Trail Non Pro Champion title at this Americana.
ERCHA Derby:
Giovanni Campanaro wins Open, Markus Schöpfer the Limited Open
The decision on the ERCHA Derby Open and Limited Open Champion was made during Saturday evening's show. Over 5,200 spectators watched the thrilling fencework of the top 10 riders and horses from the go rounds. In the end, Giovanni Campanaro (ITA) secured the top three places, as he had done in the preliminary rounds. He won the Derny Champion title in the Open on Rey Smart Tuff, owned by Carlo Mulatero. The pair scored 224 for their fence work, bringing their total to 880 points. With NR Ruby Time Cat, owned by Giuseppe Sgalambro, he scored 874.5 and thus the Reserve Champion title in the Open, and with Top Tuff Rey, with whom he rode the top score in the fence work final (227.5), he also came third with a total score of 873. Giovanni Campano thus added another Americana victory to his success story – he was already Americana ERCHA Futurity Champion in 2015.
Fourth in the Open and thus ERCHA Limited Open Champion was Markus Schöpfer (ITA) on Oh Cay Eastercat, owned by Sandro Peretto, with a total of 868.5 points. With the 5-year-old stallion by Oh Cay Mc out of Snapper Victoria, bred by Sandro Peretto and Markus Schöpfer, Markus was already Ercha/Nrcha Derby Open Reserve Champion and Limited Open Champion in 2024. Reserve Champion Limited Open was Samuele Poli Barberis (ITA) with SR Fletch In Black for Samisa Ranch (854.5), followed by Andrea Favaretto on SDP Bowser owned by Silvia Viaggi (854).
Italy wins ERCHA Nations Cup, France second place
Once again, the Italian team was unbeatable in the ERCHA Nations Cup. With a total of 1912 points, defending champions Italy took the lead. The team consisting of Giovanni Campanaro on Trix Aristocrat Mr, Georgia Grardello on Girl Of Spark, Samuele Poli Barberis on Cats Got Freckles and Markus Schöpfer on Metallics Journey had already achieved the best overall result in the herd work (653), then followed up with 639 in the rein work and was tied with the French team in the cow work with a total of 620 points. The French team became reserve champions in the Nations Cup with a total of 1877.5 points: Franck Ayache with Maquistador, William Coulomb with Smart Bobby Time, Marie Mura with Woody Choco Pepzo and Marie-Claude Segonzac with Gunnafoxy.
Third place went to the German team (1874.5), consisting of Maik Bartmann with Mr Joker Cat, Dr Achim Götz with UT Diamonds In Town, Patrick Sattler with Justa Shiningsparkle and Stefanie Steidle with Metallic Rooster Dr. Switzerland came fourth with 1717.5 points: Antoine Cloux with Wares The Nurse, Shirley Schalcher with DG Little Rey Merada, Christoph Seiler with Just Metallic Light and Eliane Seiler with CR Rosie The Riveter.
The winner in the individual classification was Antoine Cloux on Wares The Nurse (646.5). Second place went to Samuele Poli Barberis on Cats Got Freckles (635.5), followed by Stefanie Steidle on Metallic Rooster DR (630).
About Americana
Americana is Europe's largest western riding exhibition and transforms the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen into a paradise for horse enthusiasts every two years. With over 400 horses, 600 cattle and almost 1,000 competition starts in around 50 classes, it is the highlight of the western riding scene. From clothing and accessories to stable construction, fans of equestrian sports and the Western lifestyle will find what they are looking for among the international exhibitors. After the fair closes, the Western atmosphere of Americana invites visitors to linger and join in the excitement, for example at the evening shows or during a visit to the saloon.
Images courtesy of Messe Friedrichshafen
Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH is one of Germany's leading trade fair companies and is based in the four-country region around Lake Constance.