Following two intensive selection days at Vilhelmsborg, the Danish Warmblood team for the FEI WBFSH World Championship for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, taking place from 5–9 August, has been finalized. Judges Gunilla Nyman and Jens Holm Kristensen selected four combinations and two reserves in each age category after strong competition among Denmark's best 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old dressage horses.

The selection marked the conclusion of this year's Danish qualification process, during which a strong group of shortlisted horses gathered at Vilhelmsborg to perform the FEI qualification and final test programmes. The standard was exceptionally high across all age groups, and the judges had already emphasized that competition for the coveted championship places would be extremely closby

Two Gold Medal Mares Selected Among the 5-Year-Olds

In the 5-year-old division, the judges selected, among others, two Danish Warmblood Gold Medal mares. Danish Warmblood Mare of the Year, Søbakkehus Miss Malfoy, ridden by Joachim Chr. Thomsen, secured a place on the team alongside Chantal, ridden by Merita Hagren.

The team is completed by Hamiltons Jazzmaster with Katrine Kraglund, winners of last year's 4-year-old Championship at the Falsterbo Horse Show, and Rahmoz Langholdt, ridden by Michael Grønne Christensen.

Strong Line-Up of Experienced 6-Year-Olds

Among the 6-year-olds, Danish Warmblood has placed its confidence in experiencby Three of the selected combinations also competed in last year's World Championship final, where Danish Warmblood qualified all four team horses for the final and claimed a bronze medal with Straight Horse Leonardo, ridden by Mette Sejbjerg Martinez, while Betina Jæger finished fourth aboard Faustino G.

Last year's finalist Selina Solberg Vittinghus and the licensed stallion Atterupgaards Bernachi have been selected once again. Last year, Selina reached the final with the Gold Medal mare Atterupgaards Daimi. Although the pair qualified for this year's selection event at Vilhelmsborg, Selina suffered a serious riding accident in the forest at the beginning of June, breaking several ribs, her shoulder and collarbone, as well as sustaining a concussion. Consequently, she only rode Bernachi during the selection. Selina expects to be back to almost full strength by the World Championships in Verden.

The final team place went to the experienced World Championship rider Merita Hagren and the silver medal mare Dizzy.

Young Riders Impress in the 7-Year-Old Division

Among the 7-year-olds, it was the young riders who particularly caught the judges' attention. Nineteen-year-old Theresa Rosenkilde has been selected with last year's World Championship silver medalist Brandtbjergs Divya, while 20-year-old youth team rider Sophia Boje Obel will compete with Atterupgaards Fibonacci.

The team also includes U25 rider Alexander Yde Helgstrand with Nordstrands Quinoa and the experienced Susanne Barnow with Fleurissima's Fleur Royale II.

Ready for Verden

The FEI WBFSH World Championship for Young Dressage Horses will take place in Verden, Germany, from 5–9 August. Last year, Danish Warmblood returned home with three medals, and with another exceptionally strong team selected this year, expectations are once again high.

The Danish combinations will now fine-tune their preparations ahead of the championship, where they will compete against the world's best young dressage horses for the prestigious medals.

Danish Warmblood 5-years-old

Michael Grønne Christensen og RAHMOZ LANGHOLT

by STRAIGHT HORSE RAMSES/BLUE HORS DON SCHUFRO

Breeder: Bente Graasbøll og Ole Magnus Jensen

Owner: Stutteri Teglovnen ApS

Joachim Chr. Thomsen og SØBAKKEHUS MISS MALFOY

by HESSELHOEJ DOWN TOWN/SIR DONNERHALL I

Breeder and owner: Agnete Holmsted

Katrine Kraglund og HAMILTONS JAZZMASTER

by JAMESON RS2/DANTE WELTINO

Breeder and owner: Hamilton Horse AB

Merita Hagren og CHANTAL

by REVOLUTION/BLUE HORS HERTUG

Breeder and owner: Jane og Erik Bech Jensen

1. reserve

Camilla Lærke Stubberup og GOOMONG RECIOTO

by REVOLUTION/BLUE HORS ZACK

Breeder: Kathrine Holm Juliussen

Owner: Helgstrand Dressage

2. reserve

Maja Raabjerg Sørensen og SVALEGÅRD'S BE-LIVE

by BON COEUR/TAILORMADE TEMPTATION

Breeder and owner: Stutteri Svalegaard v/Else Marie og Jens Chr. Krabbe

Danish Warmblood 6-year-olds:

Betina Jæger og FAUSTINO G.

by BLUE HORS FARRELL/SEZUAN

Breeder and owner: Stutteri G. v/ Helene Geervliet

Selina Solberg Vittinghus og ATTERUPGAARDS BERNACHI

by BON COURAGE/CAPRIMOND BYH.

Breeder and owner: Stutteri Atterupgaard

Mette Sejbjerg Martinez og STRAIGHT HORSE LEONARDO

by LORD EUROPE/DE NIRO

Breeder and owner: Straight Horse ApS

Merita Hagren og DIZZY

by HESSELHØJ DONKEY BOY/BLUE HORS ZACK

Breeder: Hesselhoej.dk ApS

Owner: Helgstrand Dressage ApS

1. reserve

Carina Nevermann Torup og LIPAS ALVA

by BON COEUR/ALJANO

Breeder: Lipas Horses v/ Paul Jacobsen

Owner: Rikke Marie Schobye Johansen

2. reserve

Rune Willum Hansen og ATTERUPGAARDS KERNIKOV

by KREMLIN MD/FÜRST WILHELM

Breeder: Atterupgaard

Owner: Alexandra Hartmann Dahlerup

Danish Warmblood 7-year-olds:

 Alexander Yde Helgstrand og NORDSTRANDS QUINOA

by QUATERHIT/BLUE HORS HERTUG

Breeder: Gitte Nordstrand Larsen

Owner: Sarah Pidgley

Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen og ATTERUPGAARDS FIBONACCI

by FRANKLIN/FRANZISKUS

Breeder: Atterupgaard

Owner: Obel Dressage Academy

Thresa Rosenkilde og BRANDTBJERGS DIVYA

by HESSELHØJ DONKEY BOY/BLUE HORS DON OLYMBRIO

Breeder: Brandtbjerggaard v/ fam. Buhl

Owner: Maibritt Rosenkilde

Susanne Barnow og FLEURISSIMA'S FLEUR ROYALE II

by FEINRICH/DIAMOND HIT

Breeder: Johanna Charlotte Botved

Owner: Susanne Oldenborg

1. reserve

Alvaro Conesa og FIONTINO

by FASSBINDER/BLUE HORS ROMANOV

Breeder: HH Horses Henrik Hansen

Owner: Helgstrand Dressage ApS

2. reserve

Eric Guardia Martinez og VANCOUVER S DWB

by VITALIS/BLUE HORS ROMANOV

Breeder: Sally-Ann og Flemming Schultz

Owner: Helgstrand Dressage