The Annual Danish Warmblood Licensing is a huge and unique event that in addition to the festive stallion licensing also offers remarkable highlights such as international CDI5* and CDI3*, Young Horse Championship in both jumping and dressage, Show Classes for stallions, international jumping CSI1* and CSI3*, huge tack and business fair in multiple arenas as well as the great and popular Gala Shows

Stallion Licensing

The licensing runs over three days where the 3-year-old stallions are shown first on hard surface and then they show their potential in the longe line and loose in the arena and for the jumping stallions off course also in loose jumping. The 4-year-old and elder stallions are shown under rider.
This year 16 young jumping stallions and 34 young dressage stallions were put forward for licensing. 11 jumping stallions were approved for testing and 2 were awarded premium. 18 of the dressage stallions were approved for testing at 5 awarded premium. 

As the Danish Warmblood licensing takes place later than most of the other licensings in Europe a lot of the Premium and Champion stallions from the other studbooks are also presented in Herning along with the best Danish breed stallions, which give the spectators a unique window into the direction of international breeding. 
See the results of the stallion show here:

3-year-old dressage stallions

3-year-old juumping stallions

4-year-old dressage stallions with passed performance test

4-year-old jumping stallions with passed performance test

5-year-old and older dressage stallions

5-year-old and older jumping stallions

CDI5* Dufour breaks the 90 percent barrier

It is no secret that the Danish team has their eyes set on the world championship on home soil in Herning in August. In the DWB CDI5* the Danish contesters left nothing back. With three personal best scores and a pure Danish podium on both days, the path for medals has been laid down. The freestyle was a true highlight where the audience in an intense and excited atmosphere was treated to one spectacular ride after another and the excitement was through the roof when the riders entered their final centerlines to the amazing scores of 82,995 for Nanna Merrald and Blue Hors Zatchmo, 83,795 for Daniel Bachmann and Marchall-Bell, 86,995 for Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline’s Danciera and 90,005 for Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian!

The jumping competitions in Herning are always popular both with the riders and the spectators and with entries from all over the world the competition was tough and entertaining. 

Stallion of the year  

Bøgegårdens Gladiola e. Bøgegården's Graff's Stakkato/Bøgegårdens Apollo (breeder: Jørgen og Stina Schmidt, Bøgegården) was named Stallion of the year. This is a stallion that binds sport at breeding together as he was previously named both premium and champion stallion in Danish Warmblood and continued to win the young horse championship and already as an 8-year-old he won the Danish Championship in 2020. In 2021 he underlined his superior qualities by winning the Danish championship for the second year in a row.

HRH Princess Benedikte’s Perpetual Prize

11-year-old dressage mare Heiline´s Danciera was awarded HRH Princess Benedikte´s Perpetual Prize. This prize was established in 2005 and is an award given each year to a horse that is registered in Danish Warmblood, and which by its own performance or as a sire or dam of a competition horse has made itself especially noticeable in the previous year. Heiline´s Danciera and her rider Carina Cassøe Krüth are currently ranked as no 5 at FEI World Ranking. 

Young Horse Championship

During the fall 4-year-old Danish Warmblood horses has the opportunity to participate in a suitability test in either jumping or dressage. The highest scoring young horses qualify to enter the DWB Young Horse Championship in Herning. Here they are judged under their own rider twice and the best goes through to be tested under a test rider.
 This year in dressage Daniel Bachmann Andersen tested the young horses in two highly educational sessions under an open microphone where he shared his experiences and marked the horses' rideability as well as capacity for the future. Daniel was excited about the level and awarded more horses with really high scores and even the top mark of 10 was given more than once.
This year's winner was the mare Søbakkehus Maude (by Hesselhøj Donkey Boy/Wilkens, bred Agnete Holmsted owned by NorCordia Ap) beautifully presented by Allan Grøn.

See results here

In jumping the test rider was Andreas Schou. Also in this case the test rider was impressed with the horses and gave several 9’s and 9,5’s 
The winner was the mare Egelunds Babette by Balou/Cajus bred and owned by Line Thomey and ridden by Maria Bjørnkjær Asferg

See the results here

Galla shows  - The show must go on

The big gala shows Friday and Saturday brought everyone together.

As usual, the gala shows bring up some themes during the evening, and this year starting with a beautiful and very emotional song to support Ukraine. The entire arena became very quiet and it reminded us all about the picture of the World once again has changed. 

After the Corona lock down the title of the show was telling. “The Show must go On” - and it did!

“We missed this. We missed you, dear audience”, was the first words from Danish Warmblood general manager Casper Cassøe Krüth in a packed Jyske Bank Boxen for the Gala shows Friday and Saturday night. And with the applause and cheering from the audience, you were not in doubt about the excitement of being back.

A show that made us laugh and cheer and left us in awe of what our horses offer us - what a great night!

See all results here