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Criticism of hot air balloons: Horses in panic during Kiel Week!
Hot air balloons cause conflicts with horse farms in Plön during Kiel Week. Security and de-escalation in focus.
Criticism of hot air balloons: Horses in panic during Kiel Week!
In the tranquil community of Tökendorf in the Plön district, the effects of hot air balloons on local horse husbandry are currently being discussed. A horse farm has reported massive problems: During the Kiel Week Some balloonists apparently did not pay enough attention to the safety of the animals. A balloon landed on a riding arena near the stables, which understandably frightened the horses.
Christoph Laloi, balloonist and organizer of the International Willer Balloon Sail, which took place from June 20th to 29th this year, commented on these incidents. He emphasizes that the wind direction is always checked before takeoff and balloonists are made aware to pay particular attention to the presence of animals. In addition, when landing, attention is paid to areas that are easily visible and shouts loudly to calm the animals.
Conflicts between balloonists and horse owners
The situation is complicated by nature reserves, power lines and unharvested fields, which significantly reduce the number of available landing sites. Laloi shows understanding for the concerns of horse owners and emphasizes the importance of de-escalation in such conflicts. To increase safety, larger animal holdings should be identified by the balloonists before take-off so that they can cross them at a height of at least 150 meters.
“Improving togetherness” – that’s Laloi’s approach. He advises promoting communication and friendliness between balloonists and horse owners to avoid misunderstandings. It could turn out that both the balloonists and the horse owners benefit from treating each other with respect.
Legal framework and responsibility
A strange case from 2019 could shed new light on the discussion about the responsibility of balloonists. A hot air balloon landed in a fenced-in pasture that was secured by electrically charged barbed wire. The wind pushed the balloon so badly that it was a total loss. The balloon owner sued for damages of 27,000 euros. Courts ruled in favor of the farmer because he could not expect any danger from above. This shows once again how important clear regulations are in order to protect both the rights of farmers and those of balloonists agrarheute.com reported.
The organizers of the Kiel Week have set themselves the goal of making the experience pleasant for everyone involved. The eighth International Willer Balloon Sail attracts around 40 hot air balloons every year, which usually take off at the same time and are ideally staged for the “night glow”. With this scale, the community could find new ways to promote togetherness - without it being at the expense of the animals.