BiG exhibition «Im Galopp: Pferde in der Schweizer Armee - Ausstellung und eine Intervention des Künstlers Henry Althaus»
Event Date
For centuries, horses played a central role in armies, serving a means of transportation for riders, and more importantly for goods. Despite motorisation, around 300 horses are still in service with the Swiss Armed Forces today.
The Library Am Guisanplatz BiG is holding an exhibition in four parts on the varied history and function of horses in the army. The exhibition was organised in cooperation with the National Equestrian Centre. The exhibition includes a lecture series on various topics and guided tours, which will take place at the BiG and the National Equestrian Centre.
Event Details
Language of the event
German
Contact
Bibliothek am Guisanplatz
Papiermühlestrasse 21a
CH - 3003 Bern
The exhibition begins with a look at the early Federal Horse-Training Centre on the site of today’s National Equestrian Centre.
The second part of the exhibition focuses on the training of horses in the Armed Forces, such as the training of remounts or the riding of mounts. It also sheds light on the various uses of horses in the different branches of the Armed Forces, such as part of a pack train, cavalry and reconnaissance.
The third part of the exhibition takes a look at the traditional trades that are still necessary to care for horses today, including saddlery, blacksmithing and wainwrighting as well as the importance of veterinary medicine.
The fourth part of the exhibition showcases recent figurative paintings by the artist and veterinarian Henry Althaus (*1970) on the topics of the National Equestrian Centre and horses.
Guided tours and lectures
Guided tours of the exhibition and the National Equestrian Centre, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the BiG, will take place for the duration of the exhibition. They will be led by Beat Wampfler, veterinarian and deputy manager of the National Equestrian Centre, and Mathias Kobel, exhibition curator and BiG employee.
Please register for public guided tours via email at bibliothek@gs-vbs.admin.ch up to one week before the tour date. You can also book private guided tours of the exhibition. Groups for the guided tours can include up to 12 people. The meeting point is the reception area of the Library Am Guisanplatz. The guided tours, visits to the exhibition and the lectures are all free of charge.
Dates for public guided tours
2024
- Wednesday, 12 June 5 – 6:30pm
- Thursday, 22 August 5 – 6:30pm
- Wednesday, 23 October 5 – 6:30pm
2025
- Wednesday, 30 April 5 – 6:30pm
- Thursday, 12 June 5 – 6:30pm
- Wednesday, 20 August 5 – 6:30pm
- Thursday, 16 October 5 – 6:30pm
You will find the topics and dates of the lectures on the BiG website.
The exhibition runs from 17 May 2024 to 28 November 2025 and can be visited free of charge during the BiG’s opening hours (free entrance):
Monday–Friday
8.30 – 11am / 2 – 4.30pm