In order to protect the Dülmen herd from territorial fights among the stallions, around 40 animals have to be removed each year Photo: Marcel Kusch/dpa
From BZ/dpa
After a two-year Corona break, the Münsterland has its animal spectacle back: In front of 15,000 spectators near Dülmen, the yearling stallions were captured from a herd of around 400 wild horses and then auctioned off.
For this purpose, the mares were driven into the wild horse arena together with their offspring on Saturday afternoon.
For the first time in the history of the Dülmen wild horses, there was a female catcher. The catchers are traditionally provided by young farmers from the region.
In 2020 and 2021, the public catch on the last Saturday in May failed. In order to protect the herd from territorial fights among the stallions, around 40 animals have to be removed each year. With the proceeds from the auction of the so-called Dülmener, the owner, Rudolf Duke von Croÿ, finances the measures to preserve the herd of around 400 animals.
A prominent visitor to the event was Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU). The former Federal Minister of Defense watched alongside the Duke of Croÿ as one young stallion after the other was caught and separated from the herd.
At least one of the catchers was injured and treated by paramedics.
