BY JEAN LLEWELLYN [PRESS RELEASE]
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAFRENTZ; HANOVERIAN SOCIETY
The FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in dressage was hosted in Verden from August 6-9, 2026, gathering the best dancing partners in three age groups for five-, six-, and seven-year-old horses.
Dr. Klaus Miesner, Managing Director of Breeding at Pferdesport Deutschland (German Equestrian Federation): “The Verden concept introduced last year, splitting the venues into a dedicated World Championship Arena and the young horse event on the other arena, has been extremely well received. It is truly outstanding. The feedback from so many different groups is exceptionally positive. Everyone is completely satisfied with the event, the arenas, the hospitality, the stabling area, etc., it is really wonderful all around. Personally, I would also like to pay great respect to the Technical Delegate and the veterinarians; they handle the processes on-site in a highly professional manner that fully supports the sport. For next year, I hope for good weather again, the same wonderful, highly dedicated team, and even more spectators. You feel genuinely welcome here. Thus, the message we can share with all horse enthusiasts is: come here, it is absolutely worth it.”
La Jolir DE OLD wins Small final for 7yo
In the Small Final for seven-year-olds, La Jolie SW OLD took the victory, with second place going to Sullivan ABN ahead of Felice FRH.
“It seems we need a bit of pressure,” smiles Carina Scholz as she dismounted the elegant Escamillo daughter, La Jolie. Just like last year, day one did not go optimally for the pair, but the Small Final went all the better, yielding a score of 76.411%. The Oldenburg mare received 83.00% in the quality score, with her walk being the absolute highlight (8.5), while receiving 68.036% and 71.607% for the technical execution.
“She was completely different today right from the start compared to yesterday,” Carina Scholz explains. “Relaxed, easygoing, simply wonderful. I arrived a day earlier this year because she was also a bit tense in the first round last year. But still, she tends to tense up inwardly, even though she is actually a horse that loves to showcase herself.” Overall, the mare is a very special horse, Scholz adds. “She is on the smaller side, but she has such a presence in the arena. In the trot tour, I really only have to steer and enjoy, which is a fantastic feeling. The canter is still a bit more difficult for her because she has a big, quite power consuming stride, but it keeps getting better. She just needs another six months.”...
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