Herbert Gugganig has beaten Elisabeth Max-Theurer in the vote for the presidency of the Austrian Equestrian Federation (OEPS). This will end Max-Theurer's reign after 23 years in the top seat of her national federation.
The vote was held at the OEPS general assembly in Ansfelden on 28 April 2026, where 126 delegates met. The general assembly decided by a large majority (123:3 votes) to conduct the vote by secret ballot. They voted 66:60 in favour of Gugganig.
Elisabeth Max-Theurer had announced she would be running for one last term in her career, but the delegates voted otherwise.
The Vote
The resolution to discharge the board of directors based on the auditor's report on the annual financial statements was adopted by a vote of 118 to 8.
Max-Theurer had suggested that her board would include members Udo Hatzl, Ludwig Hoffmann, Vera Schmitz, Andreas Stückler, Thomas Groisshammer, and Angelika May; but it was Herbert Gugganig who won the vote and his proposed board will chair. His board will include Andrea Blaszczyk, Leopold Erasimus, Inge Margreiter, Johannes Mayrhofer, Gerhard Buchinger, and Berthold Kirchtag.
“I thank you for the trust placed in me and would like to thank the president and the executive committee for their work," a triumphant Gugganig said after the election. "We will work with all our strength, especially with regard to equestrian sport and the horse industry, to make the association as a whole even stronger.”
Herbert Gugganig
Gugganig lives in Sankt Peter Am Kammersberg, Steiermark. The 64-year old comes from the restaurant and hotel business and is the incumbent mayor of Irdning-Donnersbachtal (stepping down in June 2026). He is also the president of the Styrian Equestrian Federation since 2006. He was Austrian show jumping champion in 1999. He is married and is a father of three children.
In an interview with Pferde Revue, Gugganig said that his mission is to "reconnect with the grassroots. My impression is that equestrian sport is less deeply rooted in the population today than it used to be. If we want to remain successful internationally, we need to become stronger nationally – and a broad base is crucial for that."
He added, "we need to bring all stakeholders closer together – sport, breeding, agriculture, business, and politics. The challenges are growing, and resources are becoming scarcer. That makes it all the more important to pool our resources. Other countries show that it can work."
When asked about his international contacts in the sport, Herbert replied, "I'm less internationally connected than others. However, through my political work, I'm used to building networks and approaching others positively. Furthermore, I have a very experienced team at my side with excellent national and international contacts. Ultimately, what matters isn't just the number of contacts, but what you make of them – and whether you can consistently represent and assert the interests of Austrian equestrian sport at the international level."
Read the full interview on Pferde Revue
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