Saint Leonhard horse procession in Pettenbach

One of the largest traditional events in Upper Austria is the Leonhardiritt in Pettenbach.

One of the biggest folklore events in Upper Austria is the Leonhardiritt (Saint Leonhardi horse procession) in Pettenbach.
It starts at 9:00 clock at the parish church Pettenbach, at about 9:45 the blessing and then the Rittmesse (mass for the riders and blessing of the horses) in the church Heiligenleithen.

For many centuries, parish rites and blessings have been performed at or near Leonhardikirchen, as St. Leonard is the patron of livestock. Emperor Joseph II finally forbade these pilgrimages. The Leonhardiritt was reintroduced in 1931 and has since been held in its traditional form, that Sunday closest to the 6th of November, the saint's day of Saint Leonard.

Around the Leonhardifest are numerous foot pilgrims from the surrounding parishes to Heiligenleithen. The ride is a pilgrimage from the parish church Pettenbach to the pilgrimage church Heiligenleithen. Many riding clubs from the area take part in it with decorated Noriker horses, whose riders crest the ride in the traditional farmer's costume. Another tradition is the spiritual pioneer. For many years, Benedictine of the monastery Kremsmünster has been taken over this service, as the parish Pettenbach is a monastery of the monastery.

At the church in Heiligenleithen the horses and their riders are blessed by a church dignitary and receive a piece of sacred bread, the so-called "Maulgabe". Afterwards the ride will be celebrated in Heiligenleithen.
The Leonhardiritt is organized by the Leonhardirittkomitee and embellished by traditional clubs such as the gold hood women and the music club.