Every two years, a world championship is held for young breeders from breeding associations all over the world. This year it is Danish Warmblood, or rather The Danish Warmblood Young Breeders, which will host the championship held at Stutteri Ask, Funen, from 4. to 6. July. Young Breeders of DWB has hosted the WC once before, it was at Vilhelmsborg in 2005, but this year the registrations have broken all records.

More than 150 young breeders at the WC

Danish Warmblood Young Breeders will of course be competing for the world championships, where a total of 20 studbooks will be competing. The studbooks compete for the coveted title: 2024 Young Breeder World Champions.

- It has only happened twice before that 22 studbooks registered ahead of the championships, that was in 2013 (Sweden) and 2015 (Great Britain) respectively, says Anja Hansen, from the organizing committee.

- We have actually broken a record in the expected number of participants in the championship, as we have a total of more than 150 young breeders from across the 20 studbooks. It's great that there is so much support, she says.

The following studbooks are involved:

Pferdezuchtverband Baden-Württemberg e.v.

Irish Sport Horse

SELLE FRANCAIS

ZAP, Austria

Landesverband Bayerischer Pferdezüchter e.V.

Brandenburg Anhalt

Belgian Warmblood

Hannoveraner Verband

LWB (Latvian Warmblood studbook)

Verband der Pferdezüchter Mecklenburg- Vorpommern e.V.

Rheinisches Pferdestammbuch e.V. (Rhineland)

PZV Sachsen-Thüringen e. V.

Swedish Warmblood

Trakehner Verband e.V.

Danish Warmblood

Verband der Züchter des Holsteiner Pferdes e.V.

CWHBA

Jungzüchter des Oldenburger Pferdes v.V.

AES

KWPN

This means that there will be participation from the following countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Latvia, Austria, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

A battle of knowledge and skills

All 20 studbooks are expected to participate with a senior team (each with 3 or 4 participants on the team). Furthermore, there are 17 studbooks which will also enter a junior team (each with 3 or 4 participants on the team) and a single studbook that enters a single junior to participate in the individual competitions.

Junior: 16-20 (year of birth: 2004-2008 for WC 2024)
Senior: 21-26 (year of birth: 1998-2003 for WC 2024)

All communication will be conducted in English, and the participants have to go through a written theory test (topics include reproduction, health and welfare, nutrition, stable management and sport), as well as some practical tests.

There are four competitions in the Championships namely:

1. Theory

2. Loose movement and loose jumping

3. Conformation

4. In-hand showing

There are other competitions underway, e.g. 'Turn-out', which is a team competition where the team has to groom a horse and make it show-ready.

Over the years, several Danish participants have won medals at the championship, and Danish Warmblood Young Breeders is working on several fronts right now, partly with the preparation of the championship, and all the practical tasks surrounding it, as well as preparation for their own participation.

- It is a big event, and we are so lucky that Stutteri Ask has made all facilities available for the championship. In addition, we have a number of benevolent sponsors, but we would very much like to have more, says Anja with a smile.

Accommodation for the participants will take place on the show grounds, giving the young breeders the possibility to mingle and enjoy the company of each other, “talk horse” and thereby build network across national borders.

About Stutteri Ask

Stutteri Ask is the largest stallion station for Danish Warmblood jumping horses. The stud accommodates showjumpers across all age groups, breeding mares, foals, and many young horses. In recent years, Stutteri Ask has been converted into a powerhouse with top-notch facilities in an international venue. In addition to the large riding arena with accompanying warm-up arena, there are ten event stables with over 250 boxes, and an additional outdoor arena for lunging and daily training.

The large outdoor arena with spectator facilities and associated warm-up arena has a beautiful view of the surrounding fields, forests and, not least, a breath-taking view of Dalby bay and the Kattegat.