Redefin State Stud: Minister Backhaus secures the future despite protests!

Redefin State Stud: Minister Backhaus secures the future despite protests!

Last weekend, the Redefin Horse Days took place at the Redefin State Stud in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, with a remarkable turnout of almost 4,000 visitors. This event not only attracted horse lovers, but was also marked by protests against possible plans to sell the traditional state stud farm. In an interview with NDR, Environment and Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) made it clear that the stud farm would not be sold, which brought relief to those present.

The future of the state stud

Backhaus also emphasized that the goal is to find new partners to make the stud farm future-proof and to integrate new tasks. The state stud farm needs around 1.8 million euros in subsidies every year in order to survive on the market. A decision should be made by the end of the year as to which new partners will join the state stud and what impact this could have on the 315-year-old facility.

However, there are major concerns in the horse industry about the stud's future. A prominent voice is the former stud manager Antje Kerber, who has launched a protest call. As part of her initiative, the petition “Mrs. President Schwesig, don’t let the Redefin State Stud die!” brought into being. In just ten days, almost 4,000 people have signed this petition on openPetition, including supporters from countries such as Belgium, Hungary and Cyprus. Max Freiherr von Malzahn, the initiator, expressed concern that the state stud could possibly be wound up without a viable concept and economic considerations.

Federal Ministry reacts

The Ministry of Agriculture of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has rejected the allegations in the petition and assured that a sale of the state stud is not up for debate. A tense personnel situation as well as a need for optimization in administrative processes and recurring structural renovation measures are addressed. According to Backhaus, the examination of an alternative operator model is completely open-ended, and he announced that he would organize a dialogue forum with the petitioners in order to listen to the concerns of supporters.

The discussion about the state stud farm also raises fundamental questions about animal protection and the species-appropriate keeping of horses. As part of the Animal Protection Act, which was updated last year, the protection of animals and the responsibility of animal owners are clearly regulated. According to the guidelines, it should be ensured that animal owners have the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure species-appropriate husbandry. The well-being and lives of the animals are our top priority.

The coming months will be crucial for what happens next at the Redefin State Stud. The public's concerns, which are clearly expressed in the petition, contrast with the state government's plans and the desire to promote the economic stability of the location. The discussion about alternative operator models could have a lasting impact on the future of the traditional institution.

For the further development of the state stud, it remains exciting to see whether the required changes can be implemented and to what extent the voice of the citizens will be heard.