Dansk Varmblod and Stutteri Ask hosted the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) International Young Breeders (IYB) World Championships from July 4th - July 6th 2024.

142 competitors aged 16-26 years of age, representing twenty studbooks from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany (ten studbooks), Great Britain, Ireland, Latvia, Sweden and the Netherlands, alongside hosts Denmark gathered at Martofte in Denmark for the Championships. Stutteri Ask, the largest stallion station for Danish Warmblood jumping horses, provided a fabulous location for the event, within sight of the Dalby Bay and the Kattegat Ocean, a truly remarkable view.

Competitors began arriving in Martofte on Wednesday July 3rd, with registration completed for all on Thursday July 4th. Three days of Championship competition concluded on Saturday July 6th when Pferdezuchtverband Sachsen-Thüringen e.V. emerged victorious as studbook champions, with Danish Warmblood reserve studbook champions and Swedish Warmblod Association in bronze position.

The Championships require concentration, stamina, consistency, and of course exemplary knowledge and skill in the areas of theory assessment, conformation and athleticism trait appraisal, and not least of all the ability to handle a strange horse and show it effectively to the judges on a triangle format akin to a dressage test in hand. The showmanship skills, control, and ability to encourage the best performance from the horses in the situation are under scrutiny during the in hand phase. The aim of competitors during the trait assessment phases is to match the judge's scores for the animals as closely as possible. Teams within the age groups of junior (16-20 years of age) and senior (21-26 years of age) must also turnout and present a horse for inspection by the judges, not an official part of the overall championship scores, but in which great pride is taken nevertheless.

The international judges panel comprised Hannah Edler (Pferdezuchtverband Brandenburg-Anhalt e.V), Tiernan Gill (Irish Sport Horse Studbook); Christina Olsson (Swedish Warmblood Association), and Matthias Werner (Trakehner Verband e.V.), supported by national Danish Warmblood Studbook judges Jane Bech Jensen, Vicky Nortvig, Johnny Hansen and Christian Springborg all of whom gave a marathon performance adjudicating the various disciplines while imparting their encouragement and wisdom to those participating.

Danish Warmblood judge Christian Springborg has himself won gold in in-hand presentation at IYB. At this World Championship, he was functioning as judge together with Christina Olsson (SWE) and Mathias A. Werner (TRAK). - It is a challenge to be a judge when you are used to standing with the reins yourself. I almost wanted to go in and help the juniors. They haven't tried that much, yet.
He found several juniors showed potential and added: - We rewarded those who managed to cope with the difficult situations correctly in relation to the horse.

Under the watchful eyes of chief steward Gitte Malene Hansen (FEI Steward) assisted by Pernille Wintzensen the event was delivered smoothly and safely. It takes a 'village' to run an event of this magnitude. The tireless efforts of the working committee Inge Madsen, Anja Thorup Hansen, and Sarah Doile Jensen supported by their wider team of helpers, scorers, stewards and more pulled off a memorable, and wholly enjoyable event for all involved. While caterers Det fynske Madhus kept everyone fuelled and energised to give their best to the event.
The overall studbook champion rankings are very highly sought after (a combination of the result for all junior and senior competitors representing the studbook). However, the rankings for junior and senior teams, and the individual rankings overall and within individual disciplines make this event exceptionally inclusive and the podium a very busy zone over the course of the prize giving ceremony.

Team and Individual rankings within both agegroups of Junior and Senior are as follows:

Senior team:
1st
RHEIN: Chiara Celine Koert, Fabienne Dürselen, Leon Pferdemenges and Nele Kopka
2nd
SA-THU: Marlene-Amelie Recknagel, Lilli Rank, Klara Herschmann and Ronja Korn
3rd
BR-ANH: Antonia Ritter, Jule van Os, Deniza Saddey and Lukas Paulix

Junior Team
1st
DWB: Astrid Østergaard Sørensen, Anne-Sofie Wowk Jepsen, Anine Parslov Vogelsang and Karoline Øskov Olsen
2nd
SA-THU: Lena Teresa, Annika Hörnlein, Julienne Freund and Manja Schumann
3rd
SWB: Hilma Aldén, Maya Hammarström, Elsa Svanberg and Felicia Scharffenberg

Senior Individual
1st
MECK: Dominic Wohlers
2nd
RHEIN: Chiara Celine Koert
3rd
RHEIN: Fabienne Dürselen

Junior Individual
1st
SWB: Hilma Aldén
2nd
DWB: Astrid Østergaard Sørensen
3rd
DWB: Anne-Sofie Wowk Jepsen

Additionally prizes were provided to those who placed within individual disciplines:

Conformation Senior
1st
Dominic Wohlers (MECK)
2nd
Merlin Campe (HANN)
2nd
Daan Dirk Christiaan Braat (KWPN)
2nd
Jette Odile Fischer (HANN)

Conformation Junior
1st
Robin Alexiane (SF)
1st
Lea Kurz (TRAK)
1st
Birte Reimers (HOLST)

Athleticism Senior
1st
Vera Bos (CWHBA)
1st
Lucie Le Roux (SF)
3rd
Diana Hartmann (BA-WUE)

Athleticism Junior
1st
Eliesbeth Erica Corine Adriënne (KWPN)
1st
Julie van de Voorde (BWP)
3rd
Astrid Østergaard Sørensen (DWB)

In Hand Senior
1st
Chiara Celine Koert (RHEIN)
2nd
Klara Herschmann (SA-THU)
3rd
Maria Cairns (ISH)

In Hand Junior
1st
Maya Hammarström (SWB)
2nd
Nina Grom (BAVAR)
2nd
Juliette Lindhard (SF)
2nd
Lena Teresa (SA-THU)

68 competitors (26 juniors and 42 seniors) completed 100% correct theory papers, an excellent achievement by all.

For Dansk Varmblod it was an honour to welcome young breeders from near and far. Leader of the organising committee and IYB President Inge Madsen summarised her experiences of the event: - We have had such a fantastic time, in a wonderful setting. We have experienced fair competitions and you have all made a very good job, and found new friends. It would not have been possible without our wonderful volunteers and not at least Stutteri Ask.

Although not everyone returns home a 'competitive prize winner', new friendships were made, lots was learned about Danish horses, everyone was welcomed within the spirit of inclusiveness and participating together. One of the most important aims of the International Young Breeder community is to generate networking among young breeders across studbooks and support their enthusiasm to learn more about the horse, hopefully also firing their passion for breeding for many years to come.

Competitors, team managers, and supporters left Martofte with memories to cherish, new friends to connect with in future, and a deeper appreciation for the Danish Warmblood.

Further results are available at Equipe.com

All photos copyright free

Further information is available at IYB World Championship 2024