Dressage-News

By ILSE SCHWARZ

VERDEN, Germany, Aug. 8, 2025–The seven-year-old class is a now well established component of the World Championships for Young Horses, but it is easily forgotten that this is not an FEI small tour class, these are still competing as young horses.

The test for the first qualification flows nicely and most horses find the basic movements relatively easy. Trot and canter half passes, shoulder-in, medium and extended gaits. The pirouettes are allowed to be described on a 2-3-meter volte. There is also a trot to canter transition, three changes across the diagonal and 8-meter trot circles. Because this is a young horse class, the scores for the quality of the gaits, submission and perspective remain but are equally as important as the technical score, so that in developing the exercises and collection we don’t lose sight of the requirements to maintain quality and not just to get the movements done at any cost. This is, I believe, the fundamental strength of the class.

The winner, the glorious Danish mare Quinn G. (Quarterhit x Fassbinder), was the epitome of this philosophy, ridden by her owner Fiona Bigwood to a score of 80.177%. I think the photo above captures exactly how Fiona felt after her test.
Quinn is no stranger to the winner’s podium at the Young Horse World championships. She stole my heart in Ermelo, Netherlands when she won the five year old World Championship with 94.80%, then ridden by Danish rider Bettina Jaguar. A little known fact is that she had already been purchased by current owner, Fiona, before the 5-year-old championships. The first time she sat on her “it was wow!”

At the age of six she was supposed to be shown by Charlotte Dujardin and when that was no longer a possibility Carl Hester was supposed to show her, then he had another commitment so Fiona decided that she may as well do it herself. She became World Champion of six-year-old horses in Ermelo in 2024 with 95%. For that championship she put no pressure on herself, she just wanted to finish in the top 10 and enjoy herself.

This year is a little different. “I have been dealing with the pressure for two months,” quipped Fiona. It’s no small thing to bring to bring a double world champion to another world championship. The system Fiona has been using to bring the mare to peak performance has clearly paid off. Quinn was able to show her phenomenal talent with a sensitive and soft performance. The trot was always balanced and uphill with a huge extension that showed incredible reach and freedom through the shoulders and unimaginable power and engagement from the hind legs. The contact was quiet and steady, will I be crucified if I suggest that she could reach to the bit just a fraction more over her top line? The walk had swing through her body, deliberate intent in every step and a lovely stretch to the contact in the extended walk. The canter started with a soft flowing transition and then straight into a balanced, uphill medium canter. The pirouettes showed young horse pirouette collection, but she maintained the canter and stayed soft over the top line. Her changes are a delight, expressive, plenty of jump and energy. The collective marks showed just what a complete horse she is with 8.4 for trot and canter, 8.7 for walk, 8.6 for submission and 8.8 for perspective. The technical score was by far the highest of the day with 75.893% at H and 73.214% at B.

After her ride, Fiona confessed that she “rode her a bit on the safe side.” Which means we will likely see some very exciting work in the final Sunday.

In second place was the KWPN stallion Ilegro (Inclusive x Negro) ridden by Charlotte Fry. “Lottie” is a beautiful rider, this stallion really suits her and she knows how to ride a test in complete balance, so it was a joy to watch her pilot this inexperienced stallion through this championship ride. The trot they entered the arena in was huge, soft over the ground with beautiful suspension and tremendous knee. Ilegro is a very well developed masculine stallion that really fills the arena. The adjustability in the trot between the extension and the collection is something special, and the transitions appeared seamless. He made a mistake in one of the trot circles and broke into canter, Charlotte said afterwards, “It was such a beautiful transition, I couldn’t be upset.” He showed true bend with steady angle in both of the shoulder-ins. Good reach and bend in the half passes without any loss of balance. The collected walk was his weakest point–it was very careful and he could definitely have shown more reach in the extended walk. The canter was huge, simply enormous uphill jump, almost “Glamourdale-esque,” his changes matched the size of the canter but he was able to show two very well executed pirouettes. Charlotte wasn’t sure how Ilegro would like the arena, if he would be worried at all. He certainly looked very comfortable so I think we can expect Charlotte to ask for a little extra also in the final. Trot score 9.7, walk 7.0, canter 8.8, submission 8.2 and perspective 8.8. The final score was 77.634%

It’s really fun to discover that Lottie rode Ilegro’s sire Inclusive at Grand Prix and the dam of Ilegro, Jalegrofleur is the full sister to Valegro. Ilegro took a little longer to develop than some of the other horses we have seen Charlotte on over the years, and she only took over the ride in January. She was watching one of the other trainers at the van Olst facility riding him and decided it was time for her to try him. She kept the ride after that and believes he may be her next super special horse.

Third place went to the Trakehner stallion TSF Gaspard ND (His Moment x Imperio), ridden by Cecelie Hedegaard. They entered the arena straight into a very impressive uphill frame with lots of suspension and hind leg engagement. He has typical beautifully refined Trakehner head and is a stunning animal. Cecelia is only 24 years old and has only been riding him since January. She disclosed that, “in January, he couldn’t even do flying changes. He has developed so quickly and now here we are, it is unbelievable.” It is Cecelie’s first world championships, and given the inexperience of Gaspard, she said she rode very carefully resulting in a few silly mistakes, “for example I rode really big circles.” She was laughing she said it but you can guarantee they will be 8-meter circles Sunday. He could show more suppleness on the turns onto the centerline, but he has good bend with decent reach in both trot and canter half passes. The changes are clean and uphill but not convincingly straight and again the canter lost a little balance through the line of changes on the diagonal. The pirouettes were a highlight with both showing good sit and activity and maintaining a clear soft bend. Trot 8.7, walk 7.7, canter 8.8, submission 8.5, perspective 9.0. The technical scores were 67.321% and 70.179% for a final score of 77.075%.

In fourth place was the Danish gelding Fa Viviana (Valverde x Tailormade Temptation), ridden by Lone Bang Zindorff. This big bright bay, super correct gelding was one of my absolute favorites. He was presented in the snaffle and maintained a lovely contact throughout the ride. The trot was balanced, uphill and correct. He has a powerful extension and decent crossing in the half passes. The balance was maintained on the circles and he showed a good transition to canter. He showed absolutely super pirouettes and clearly demonstrated his ability to develop the pirouette canter and sit and maintain jump and bend. He also managed good changes before the corner after each high quality pirouette. Trot 8.6, walk 7.8, canter 8.6, submission 8.5 and perspective 8.4. Technical marks of 70.179% and 71.071% for a final score of 76.713%, a personal best.

The elegant black Westfalen stallion Zulu GV (Zarathustra MT x Sorento) ridden by Laura Strobel placed fifth. This combination showed a consistent complete performance, with no real highlights but correct, balanced work throughout. The collected walk started with questionable rhythm but quickly developed and then improved in the extended walk. Trot 8.5, walk 7.2, canter 8.6, submission 8.5, perspective 8.4. technical scores 71.786% and 67.679% for a final score of 76.067%.

The Swedish mare with the interesting name, Buskhaga Sitara (Springbank 11 x Sandro Hit) ridden by Linnea Holmgren was sixth. She gave a really nice impression when entering the arena. Lovely correct trot with shoulder freedom and a good extension. Steady frame, nice connection. A truly clear collected walk with perhaps the best demonstration of the “V” that we want to see. She looked around a little bit in the extended walk but kept returning to the contact. She has a big jump and length of stride in the canter and managed to use the whole diagonal for her three flying changes but was also able to demonstrate excellent sit and collection for very good pirouettes. Trot 8.5, walk 8.2, canter 7.9, submission 8.2, perspective 8.2 technical scores 70.357% and 69.643%, final score 76.000%.

It was fun to see Dorothee Schneider on the large Hanoverian stallion Segantini FRH (Secret x Fidermark). Dorothee is the consummate trainer and lovely to watch in action. Segantini wasn’t completely focused on his riders at all times, but Dorothee trained him through his slight mistakes and inattentiveness. “It’s just great fun to accompany the horses on their training journey.” A final score of 74.711% to place seventh.

A final note: There were six horses by Secret in this seven-year-old class, making him the most prevalent sire with two horses finishing in the top 12. Segantini and So Secret (Secret x Desperados) ridden by Aleksandra Maksakova.

Results:

World Young Horse Championships – First Qualifier for 7-Year-Olds

Rank	Competitor	Score	E	H	C	C	B
1.	Fiona Bigwood (DEN) Quinn G.	80.177%		75.893	85.800	85.800	73.214
2.	Charlotte Fry (NED) Ilegro	77.634%		72.500	85.000	85.000	68.036
3.	Cecilie Hedegaard (GER) TSF Gaspard ND	77.075%		67.321	85.400	85.400	70.179
4.	Lone Bang Zindorff (DEN) Fa Viviani	76.713%		70.179	82.800	82.800	71.071
5.	Laura Strobel (GER) Zulu GV	76.067%		71.786	82.400	82.400	67.679
6.	Linnéa Holmgren (SWE) Buskhaga Sitara	76.000%		70.357	82.000	82.000	69.643
7.	Dorothee Schneider (GER) Segantini FRH	74.711%		71.250	79.600	79.600	68.393
8.	Marcus Hermes (AUT) Indigo ANW	74.586%		70.179	80.600	80.600	66.964
9.	Sabine Meier (SUI) Darf ich bitten	74.529%		67.321	81.200	81.200	68.393
10.	Stefan Wolff (GER) Elliot the Dancer NRW	74.331%		68.393	80.000	80.000	68.929
11.	Aleksandra Maksakova (PLE) So Secret	74.197%		68.929	80.000	80.000	67.857
12.	Eric Guardia Martinez (SWE) Francesca VH	74.186%		68.393	79.800	79.800	68.750
13.	Danielle Heijkoop (NED) Nordic	74.141%		67.500	79.800	79.800	69.464
14.	Susanne Barnow (DEN) Eq Secret Suprise	73.597%		67.679	78.800	78.800	69.107
15.	Leonie Richter (NED) Most wanted Nero von Bellin	73.567%		70.536	77.400	77.400	68.929
16.	Franz Trischberger (GER) Zewano OLD	73.506%		67.500	79.600	79.600	67.321
17.	Dannie Morgan (GBR) Fever Tree	72.983%		72.679	74.000	74.000	71.250
18.	Aniek De Laat (NED) Newton M	72.193%		67.679	77.600	77.600	65.893
19.	Femke de Laat (NED) Nashville SW	72.075%		68.036	75.400	75.400	69.464
20.	Laurin Hofmann (GER) Rocketeer NRW	72.015%		65.714	77.600	77.600	67.143
21.	Patricia Seddig (GER) Fuechtels High Light OLD	71.788%		71.429	74.200	74.200	67.321
22.	Thalia Rockx (NED) Naomyi De La Fazenda	71.238%		65.714	75.600	75.600	68.036
23.	Maxime Collard (FRA) Fiadora	71.181%		65.536	76.200	76.200	66.786
24.	Astrid Gemal (DEN) Valegro Majlund	70.995%		67.321	74.400	74.400	67.857
25.	Stella Hagelstam (FIN) Hagels Rosophia	70.961%		67.321	74.600	74.600	67.321
26.	Maren Müller-Bentes (GER) Rumours	70.891%		65.357	75.800	75.800	66.607
27.	Alejandro Oliva Lázaro (ESP) Dintel	70.204%		66.250	73.800	73.800	66.964
28.	Lovisa Wessblad (SWE) Simmebros De Luze	69.770%		66.607	73.200	73.200	66.071
29.	Pauline Leclercq (BEL) Magellan	69.754%		69.821	70.400	70.400	68.393
30.	Guillermo García Ayala (ESP) Verso de Susaeta	69.670%		65.357	73.000	73.000	67.321
31.	Yara Reichert (SWE) Skyline to B	69.572%		67.143	72.000	72.000	67.143
32.	João Victor Marcari Oliva (POR) Mantovani’s Orion de la Gesse	69.495%		68.571	71.400	71.400	66.607
33.	Marcos Márquez Reyes (ESP) Yulio Ar	68.725%		66.607	71.200	71.200	65.893
34.	Viktória Nébel (HUN) Secret Quest	67.977%		62.857	71.400	71.400	66.250
35.	Claudio Castilla Ruiz (POR) Odin Comando SN	67.679%		66.429	70.000	70.000	64.286
36.	Ivan Castillejo Calé (ESP) Holandes XVII	66.945%		64.821	68.800	68.800	65.357
37.	Ida Hofman-Bang (NOR) B’Fair	66.084%		61.786	69.400	69.400	63.750
38.	Domien Michiels (BEL) Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve	65.879%		66.786	66.400	66.400	63.929
39.	Antonio Verdejo Pérez (ESP) Xantia del Moral	65.809%		63.929	67.600	67.600	64.107
40.	Francesca Rapazzoli (ITA) Samarant van de Kempenhoeve	64.186%		64.286	64.800	64.800	62.857
EL	Fie Christine Skarsoe (LUX) Forte Village	eliminated
Find details on Equestrian Hub