“Overall, all age groups were very strong. “ Dressage judge Reinhard Richenhagen has been a member of Germany’s selection committee for the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. The FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses will return to Verden this year (6-10 August). The first selection for the dressage youngsters between five and seven years of age took place in Warendorf in the last week of June.
17 six-year-olds and 16 five- and seven-year-olds have received an invitation to the second selection on 15 July. After that, a decision will be made as to which young hopefuls will represent Germany at the show grounds on Lindhooper Straße in Verden and compete for World Championship medals. “The overall quality this year is very good, there are some great horses, “ emphasises Richenhagen, “but so is the quantity. For example, we have never had as many six-year-old applicants as we do now. “
The selection criteria have been the same for years, explains the dressage expert: “We always judge strictly according to the criteria of our training scale. “ By ‘we,’ he means the selection committee, which includes himself, national coach Monica Theodorescu and, for the first time this year, international dressage judge Ulrike Nivelle. “We place particular emphasis on relaxed, natural movements. We don’t want ‘made’ or exaggerated movements that have been shaped by the hand or the riding.“ The criteria have remained the same, but riding has changed in recent years, explains Richenhagen. “The riders have understood exactly what not only we judges want to see, but what equestrian sport wants to see today. “
Among the horses invited to the second selection is Segantini FRH, son of Secret, the former Bundeschampion who was the best German horse in the field of six-year-olds in 2024, finishing fifth. Also included are Glamdale WP NRW, the son of double world champion Glamourdale, who was Vice World Champion of the five-year-olds last year, and the bronze medallist of the 2024 Bundeschampionat for four-year-old riding horses, Because of You OLD by Benicio.
World Championship candidates already named
In Spain, the USA and the Netherlands, the the candidates for the World Championships in early August are already selected. The selection committee for the KWPN candidates (Koninklijk Warmbloed Paard Nederland, Dutch Warmblood) consisted of Johan Hamminga, Alex van Silfhout and Janine van Twist. “We are travelling to Verden with confidence,“ emphasised Hamminga. “We were able to make a very strong selection, with the five- and six-year-olds really standing out.“ Relaxation, suppleness and a harmonious overall impression were the primary selection criteria. Among those selected is last year’s World Champion for five-year-olds, Red Viper.
And these are the candidates from the Netherlands:
Five-year-olds: Perfect Ritme (by Lord Europe), Pina Colada (by Governor), Port-au-Prince (by Desperado), Proud James (by Jameson RS2), Pythagoras WK (by All At Once), Roman Empire (by Romanov)
Six-year-olds: O’Toto van de Wimphof (by Glock’s Toto Jr), Obsession Taonga (by Vitalis), Odi Murona (by Blue Hors Farrell), Ohio (by Kaiman), Opoque (by All At Once), Red Viper (by Romanov)
Seven-year-olds: Everest (by Especial), Hexagon’s Nachtwacht (by Everdale), Ilegro (by Inclusive), Naomyi de la Fazenda (by Secret), Newton M (by Just Wimphof), Nordic Blue Hors (by Totilas)
The US Association has named three horses as World Championship candidates: the five-year-old Hanoverian Stay Cool (by Secret) and the two six-year-olds O Romeo S (by Charmeur) and Onassis (by Secret).
In Spain, Jose Daniel Martin Dockx made the final PRE selection. Of the 15 starting places available for Spain, the PRE (Pura Raza Española) has taken ten, leaving five more starting places that could be filled by the ANCADES (Asociación Nacionale de Criadores del Caballo de Deporte Espanol) with Spanish sport horses or awarded to horses bred abroad. The PRE horses selected for the WCYH 2025 are:
Five-year-olds: Lisonjero de Vida (by Atlantico de Vida), Rey de Peron (by Cacuqye IX), Utopía KP (by Israel), Jativo Torrelun (by Belmonte Torreluna)
Six-year-olds: Urano CA (by Vagabundo XII), Gesoro Torreluna (by Tesoro de Torreluna), Auténtico de Narváez (by Sir Chatarrero)
Seven-year-olds: Yulio SI (by Yulio YEM), Verso de Susaeta (by Cacique IX), Holandés XVII (by Escultor C)
The first candidates have now been selected, and the final entries must be submitted by 25 July – it remains exciting.
Tickets for the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses from 6 to 10 August at the show grounds on Lindhooper Straße in Verden are available from Ticketmaster at:
https://www.ticketmaster.de/artist/verden-international-tickets/981934?camefrom=de_va_pverd.
Further information can be found at: www.verdenyh.com
Text: Kim Kreling
