In Radochen, on a farming property, an equestrian facility for up to 13 horses has been established. Gundula Lorenz, the owner of the Equinopathy business, commissioned the construction of a modern and forward-looking riding facility. On a plot of land covering around three hectares, a stable with an integrated riding arena roof, adjacent horse boxes, and a secondary building with seminar rooms, an office, a rider’s lounge, and an apartment for the agricultural worker on the farm were newly constructed alongside the existing residential house. The total built area is approximately 2,000 square meters. The old outbuilding was demolished and replaced by a new building with the required functions, while the remaining buildings, such as the equipment and material storage of the original agricultural operation, were repurposed, as well as the residential house with its garden area.

Energy-Self-Sufficient Facility

The outdoor areas were also designed, and a photovoltaic system was installed to generate energy. All buildings on the property are supplied year-round with energy from the photovoltaic system, equipped with corresponding battery storage. The secondary building is heated and cooled by a heat pump. All roof water is collected in a cistern, a rainwater storage system, and is used to feed the horse swimming pond. As a result, the consumption of drinking water is limited to the areas that actually require this quality. An electric vehicle charging station was also installed in the parking lot.

Animal Welfare as the Top Priority

Animal welfare was the highest priority for this project. A “particularly animal-friendly housing” standard was chosen. The minimum requirements set by the Animal Protection Act (TSchG) and the 1st Animal Housing Ordinance (1. THVO) must be adhered to by all operations. However, the “particularly animal-friendly housing” standard set by the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, and Water Management exceeds these minimum requirements. In Radochen, the horse boxes, each with 12 square meters, and the paddocks, each with 24 square meters, exceed the legal minimum requirements of 10 square meters (for horse boxes) and 20 square meters (for paddocks).

The open spaces are used for winter and summer pasture operation. A 600-square-meter horse swimming pond serves as a place for horses to move in the water. The facility has a capacity for up to 13 horses. In addition to the five horses of the Equinopathy business, which are also used for courses, eight other horses can be stabled. The focus is on strengthening the horses’ physical condition through special training. The concept also includes horse rehabilitation, allowing horses to be stabled and trained for a period to restore their health and fitness. A solarium and a salt chamber for horses were newly built, as these contribute to strengthening their immune system and help with illnesses.

Construction Period and Special Aspects

The planning took place from 2019 to 2022, with construction completed within 2022. “The challenge was to find companies with sufficient capacity in a time marked by a construction boom. This was a large construction project for the region, with a short construction period of seven months. Often, during the construction phase, the schedule had to be adjusted, or resources had to be sourced from other places due to capacity issues. This could only be achieved with the commitment of all involved,” said Christian Lorenz, Managing Director of Lorenz Consult.

“We paid special attention during the planning and execution of the riding facility to ensure that we implemented a forward-looking and animal-friendly concept,” explains Lorenz. “The use of renewable energy, the spacious horse boxes and paddocks, as well as the horse swimming pond, are just a few examples of how we put sustainability and animal welfare at the center of the project.”

The project was executed by Lorenz Consult in collaboration with various partners, including Baumeister Rück, Bodenleger and Trockenbau Pazelt, E-Technik Lafer, Holzbau Roposa, Installateur Krobath, Spenglerei Zidek, Stahlbau Müller, and Zimmerei König & Gruber.