Danish Warmblood entered the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo with a total of 12 horses, Danish Warmblood has a quota of four horses in each age group and the Danish team was accompanied by the US-rider David Blake on Helen Stacy’s Danish Warmblood gelding G.Q.

Seven out of the 13 Danish Warmblood horses entered the finals with 15 finalists in each year.

In the final for the six-year-olds Danish Warmblood got all four horses into the final and claimed a gold, a silver and a fourth place.

Merita Hagren and the Danish Warmblood Alkaline (Secret x Zalmiak Firfod) clocking up a huge 92% with 9s and 9.5s across the board to finish with a second place. The chestnut stallion was described as "lovely, springy, and elastic” by judge Peter Storr. Talking about the canter, he said “it has a lot of airtime, and it’s truly elastic and energetic. We did have an argument about where to go with the marks and decided on a 9.5.”

“He is so sweet, he is unbelievable. We performed a good test today and I felt very comfortable. He is a quick learner, and he is always there with me. I was not nervous and did not feel any pressure, since I felt like the underdog” Merita Hagren explained after clinching the silver.

The pressure was on for the remaining few combinations, as Alkaline was followed immediately into the ring by winners of the preliminary test, scoring an outstanding 90.800%, Valerie B and Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen. Unable to replicate their preliminary performance, the pair finished fourth in the final with 87.2%. Despite scoring a perfect 10 for her trot, mistakes in the flying changes and canter cost her valuable points.

The penultimate combination of the day was Quinn G, winner of last year’s 5-year-old final. Having claimed a tied 4th pace in the preliminary final, Fiona Bigwood rode a foot perfect test aboard the DWB mare by Quaterhit/Fassbinder. When Quinn and Fiona stepped foot on their last centerline, the audience erupted in applause, making the chestnut mare trot even more enthusiastically. “It looks like you were enjoying her just as much as we did”, said commentating judge Peter Storr. “What a wonderful attitude this mare has, it looked like she had so much fun, so happy and relaxed.” The jury gave a glowing review of the 2023 world champion of five-year-old horses bred by Stutteri G – Helene Geervliet and co-owned by Mette and Fiona Bigwood. “We have no remarks on her trot, so she receives a 10.” Quinn’s walk was also unparalleled in the eyes of the jury, making another 10 pop up on the screen. “This is clearly a happy athlete, well done to the both of you.”

I feel lucky to have Quinn

Rider and owner Fiona Bigwood is over the moon with her double world champion. “I feel so lucky to have Quinn, she is so good my only task is to pilot her around the test. Her focus on me is incredible. I have never done anything like this and I have learned a lot the last few days, because this is quite different from Grand Prix.” Fiona purchased the mare in the autumn of 2023 and in the spring she was campaigned at the shows by Carl Hester. “Her character is her best quality. She adores people and is so eager to please. Chestnut mare may have a reputation, but she is simply amazing and has the best personality.”

“It is a completely different way of riding compared to a ‘regular’ dressage test, but we gave it our all and it all worked out.”

The gold medal for Quinn G. was the 12. of its kind for Danish Warmblood at the championships making the total medal tally 22 for the federation.

Danish Warmblood horses at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo:

Five-year-olds

FINALIST: Mette Sejbjerg Jensen/Straight Horse Sun King by Sir Donnerhall I/Blue Hors Zack breeder Straight Horse ApS

Victoria Vallentin/Lygum’s Zelina by Blue Hors St. Schufro/Blue Hors Zack breeder Tine & Henning Lygum Jensen

Jan Christensen/Quarter Son by Quaterhit/Totilas breeder Dorthe Gravgaard

Susanne Barnow/Kjeldgårdens Django by Hesselhøj Donkey Boy/De Noir breeder Jørgen Nielsen

Six-year-olds

FINALIST: Fiona Bigwood/Quinn G by Quaterhit/Fassbinder breeder Helene Geervliet

FINALIST: Anne Mette Strandby/Valerie B by Revolution/Blue Hors Zack breeder Karin & Peer Guldbrandsen

FINALIST: Mette Sejbjerg Jensen/Straight Horse Floriana by Franklin/Blue Hors Zack breeder Straight Horse ApS

FINALIST: Merita Hagren/Alkaline by Secret/Zalmiak Firfod breeder Anette Blangsted

Seven-year-olds

FINALIST: Victoria E. Vallentin/Lyngbjergs St. Paris by Blue Hors St. Schufro/Blue Hors Rockefeller breeder Bente Børjesson

FINALIST: Nanna Skodborg Merrald/Blue Hors Santiano by Sezuan/Blue Hors Romanov breeder Straight Horse ApS

Anne Mette Strandby/Faretti DWB by Franklin/Don Frederico breeder HH Hoses, Henrik Hansen

Carl-Christian Savola/Hedelunds Fellini by Franklin/Blue hors Hotline breeder Rikke Kvist

G.Q. (Gandhi SS) by Grand Galaxy Win/Florencio I breeder Lone Sørensen & Stevn Equestrian