The field track that branches off towards the south from the main road between Rendsburg and Heide is lined with birches. Behind them are pastures, which are bordered by groups of trees here and there. At the end of the unpaved road stands a brick house with a thatched roof. The Romeike family lives in this idyllic setting. Next to the house, two brown mares cavort in the paddock. Hinrich Romeike sits on the terrace and watches them. Everything is quiet. Hinrich Romeike learned to ride in the local club when he was ten years old. His father, who is an enthusiastic rider, encouraged him to start. “At the beginning I actually put a lot of effort into riding, until I saw that my sister was better than I,” laughs the fifty-year-old. Success didn't wait long. In 1983, he became the German runner-up for young riders in eventing, victories and rankings in many national tournaments followed. “Then somewhere along the way I bought Marius,” reveals the father of three. Marius is his bold, reliable and fearless Holsteiner gelding, with which he has won countless national and international competitions. “In his entire career in eventing, the horse has not once refused to compete. He always wanted to do everything right,” he says, praising his grey horse. Today the Olympic horse enjoys its retirement with the other eleven horses that belong to the Romeikes in the stable and on the paddock across from their home, which is adjacent to the riding area.

“If things have to be done quickly on the farm, then comfort, user-friendliness and reliability as well as the Vario transmission of a Fendt 200 are indispensible,” he continues and confirms that he can practically move the Cargo front loader with his little finger.

It is practically Hinrich Romeike’s fault that the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein also has competitions in the equestrian discipline of eventing since 2007. That’s what he says, and he is really proud of that. Because, as the German eventing team claimed the title in the World Championships 2006 in Aachen, it was their friendly behaviour, fairness and pleasant manner that convinced the organisers of the event and prompted the decision to include eventing in the CHIO Aachen.

Despite thick grey rainclouds, many people have gathered there to tour the cross-country course with the Olympic winner and Antje Kröber, AGCO Event Manager. Romeike explains the special features of the obstacles, describes the cross-country course and explains what the rider and horse have to pay attention to on their way through the course together. After the march through the Aachener Soers, the tour ends in the jumping stadium, the finishing line of the cross-country course. Several 200er Fendt Varios are just in the process of setting up the course. The small, manoeuvrable narrow track and standard tractors can be seen all over the grounds, for ground maintenance in the dressage stadium or in the warm-up arena. Overall, AGCO Fendt has provided ten tractors for the CHIO. The Fendt logos on the riding jackets and T-shirts of the national German equestrian team and the advertising in the big jumping and dressage stadium as well as on the cross-country course are also evidence of the great commitment Fendt has for equestrian sports.

Back at the exhibition stand, the Fendt stand supervisors Bernd Brischwein, Fendt Factory Representative, Thomas Fischer and Stefan Menne, both product specialists at Fendt, have their hands full. Internationally successful dressage riders, such as Anabel Balkenhol, Fabienne Lütkemeier and Isabell Werth are signing autographs for visitors. Guests such as Martin Richenhagen, AGCO Chairman, President and CEO, Steve Clarke, AGCO Vice President Sales and Marketing, and Peter-Josef Paffen, Chairman of the AGCO/Fendt Management Board, meet here. Hinrich Romeike is also at the stand. Despite the pouring rain, he is satisfied with the course. The Soers in Aachen is something like his second home. He has won many prizes here with Marius. Of course, it is a long way to such success. The experts therefore advise young riders to learn to ride properly, to continually work on themselves and their basics skills and, as far as possible, to ride different horses every so often.