For more than 300 horses, the traditional CHIO grounds in Aachen's Soers will be the quarantine site in the run-up of the Olympic Games 2008. In addition to the Jumping, Dressage and Eventing horses, horses for the Paralympic Games will be accommodated in Aachen.

Subsequent to the CHIO 2008 (July 1-6), the horses will be quartered in the stables of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV). "The quarantine gives the guarantee that the horses are absolutely healthy prior to their journey", says Dr. Johannes Hörmeyer, the official veterinarian for the City of Aachen who is in charge.

Martin Atock is responsible for the horses' transportation to China. The General Manager of "Peden-Bloodstock", one of the world's most renowned horse shipping agents, is very satisfied with the situation in the Soers: "The conditions in Aachen are ideal. The grounds are completely fenced, we only have to add a few more fences. Furthermore, the journey to the airport in Amsterdam is very short." From the Dutch metropolis, the horses will be flown out to China.

"During the quarantine, the stables, training areas, indoor arenas and Deutsche Bank Stadium will all be used", explains Frank Kemperman, General Manager of the ALRV. Within a radius of 100 meters of the quarantine area, no other horses will be allowed. Horses from about 40 nations are expected to come, though it is not confirmed yet which nations exactly. Aachen had already been quarantine site in the run-up of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Source: www.chioaachen.de