BY EWA POGODZIŃSKA / PZHK
PHOTOGRAPHY: PZHK
The dressage, showjumping and eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Lanaken and Le Lion d’Angers, respectively, saw Polish athletes demonstrate their talents with quality horses, marking a successful second half to 2025.
As usual, the second half of the year saw the three FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses. The earliest, August 5-10, in Verden, Germany welcomed Polish dressage athletes, followed by September 24-28 in Lanaken, Belgium, when showjumpers took centre stage. Finally, a Polish pair travelled to Le Lion d’Angers in France for the final competition in eventing at the Mondial du Lion from October 16-19.
Dressage, Verden (GER)
This year, two Polish pairs were supported for the dressage WBCYH which took place in Verden, Germany in August. The five-year-old age-group saw Magdalena Jura riding the German-bred Oldenburg gelding Veritas (Vitalis [KWPN] - Sandros Soraya [Rhein] x Sandro Hit OLD), bred by Fritz-Willi Meuwissen, and now owned by Edyta Ordon. During the qualifying competition, the pair scored 67.6% (40th place), and in the consolation competition, in which participation provides the opportunity to qualify for Sunday’s final, the pair placed a high eighth (78.6%).
This year’s WBCYH start for the German-bred stallion Ebano (Escamilo [Rhein] - Farida [Hann] x Fiorano [Hann]) came under the saddle of his Polish owner, Mateusz Cichon, was the best so far in the pair’s partnership career. During the qualifying round for six-year-old horses, they placed a high 14th (81.8%). There was hope that the duo might qualify for the final, but seventh place (80.0%) in the consolation round was insufficient as only (or as many as) the top three places in this competition guaranteed a place in the finale.
To date, Mateusz Cichon has competed in the World Junior Championships several times, including riding the award-winning mare Casablanca, but it was Ebano who truly shone. In commentating on the stallion’s strengths, the rider admitted that this was the horse of his life.
For the first time in many years, a Pole, Agnieszka Majewska, who has been gaining the necessary judges’ experience in the USA and other countries, was on the judging committee for this dressage World Breeding Champioonship for Young Horses.
Showjumping, Lanaken (BEL)
For the 2025 showjumping WBCYH at its regular location in Lanaken, Belgium, Poland fielded a strong team of 12 pairs, with five appearing in the five-year-old category, which is fairly typical for this youngest age-group...
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