Stryker K, Glenhill Quatessence, Aber Fashion MI, Osaka P Win 2026 Australian Young Horse Championships

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2026 Australian Young Horse Championships

The 4-year old Stryker K, the 5-year old Glenhill Quatessence, the 6-year old Aber Fashion MI, and the 7-year old Osaka P became the winners of the 2026 Australian Young Horse Championships, held annually during the PSI Dressage with the Stars competition at the CDI Werribee on 19 - 21 March 2026.

The Championships concluded on 21 March with naming the "Champion of Champions" and the 6-year old Exact got the title.

4-YO: Stryker K

In the 4-year old division a field of 37 horses in the warm-up round was reduced to 10 for the Final round in which the winner was determined. Jane Ventura, Maria Schwennesen, and Vittorio Barba judged the division.

Karen Blythe and the black Australian bred Stryker K (by Secret x Carbine) led from start to finish, winning the warm-up round with 82 points and the finals with 87.00 points. The gelding, who is bred by Nirrelle Somerville and owned by the rider, received 8.2 for walk, 9 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 8.8 for submission and 9 for perspective.

The ruynner up was Jamie Mita aboard the Australian bred BWS Nero (by Secret x Jazz), bred at Balmoral Warmblood Stud and owned by the rider. The pair scored 79.600 points with 7.4 for walk, 8.2 for trot, 8 for canter and submission and 8.2 for perspective.

Third place went to professional Robbie McKinnon aboard the Australian bred Verstappen DS (by Vitalis x Ampere), bred by Grand Prix rider David Shoobridge and is named after the Dutch F1 race car driver Max Verstappen. The duo scored 79.200 with 7.5 for walk 7.8 for trot 8.5 for canter, 7.5 for submission and 8.3 for perspective.

Of the 10 finalists in the 4-year old round, no less than three were sired by Vitalis and one had Vitalis as dam sire. The top two place-getters were both by Secret.

5-YO: Glenhill Quatessence

Twenty horses competed in the 5-year old preliminary round and 9 moved to the final, which was judged by Mary Seefried, Helen Hughes-Keen, and Maria Schwennesen.

Riley Alexander and Glenhill Quatessence ruled the roost, both in the warm-up (77.8400 pts) and in the Finals (81.400 points). Bred by Glenhill sport horses and owned by Karma Wilson, the Hanoverian gelding (by Quaterhit x Don Schufro) received 8 for walk and canter, 8.2 for trot and submission and 8.3 for perspective to claim the champion's sash.

Jayden Brown and Bianca Joyce's Hanoverian gelding Stirling Secret Admirer (by Secret x Desperados) stayed in pursuit and was twice second. In the finals he scored 79.200 points with 7.7 for walk, 7.9 for trot, 8 for canter, submission and perspective. The chestnut is bred at Stirling River Stud.

Natasha Mood y and her own Australian bred Springside Serrano (by Stedinger x Versace) finished third with 76.800 points. They scored 8 for walk and trot, 7.7 for canter, 6.8 for submission and 7.9 for perspective.

Secret rules the 5-year old final with three offspring out of nine competing. Last year's 4-year old champion, Remi Victorias Secret (by Remi Vigneron x Lauries As), finished fourth this year as a 5-year old.

6-YO: Aber Fashion MI

The 6-year old division was rather small with only 11 combinations in the preliminary round of which 8 moved forwards to the final round, judged by Patricia Wolters, Susan Hoevenaars, and Vittorio Barba.

New Zealand's 2022 WEG team rider John Thompson piloted the Australian bred Aber Fashion MI (by Aber Hallo x Florestan) to victory, both in the warm-up (78.20 pts) and in the Finals (77.400). Bred and owned by John's in-laws Greg and Julie Farrell of Mulawa stud, Aber Fashion received 7.5 for walk, 8.5 for trot, 7.3 for canter, 7.5 for submission and 7.9 for submission.

Australian Grand Prix rider Lizzie Wilson-Fellows landed second place with Hollands Bend Secrets Out (by Secret x Furst Heinrich) on a total score of 77.00 points. The Hanoverian got 7.2 for walk, 7.8 for trot, 8 for canter, 7.7 for submission and 7.8 for perspective. The chestnut is bred by Jane Batram and owned by the rider.

Lilah Nieuwland and the Australian bred CP Noah (by MSJ Nemo x Questing R) finished third with 74.600 points. Bred by Emma Bishop, the chestnut gelding got 7.2 for walk, 7.6 for trot, and 7.5 for canter, submission and perspective.

The 5-year old champion of 2025, Mayfield Vibrance, did not return to defend his title as a 6-year old.

7-YO: Osaka P

The smallest group was the 7-year old division with only six pairs showing up for the preliminary round and five in the finals, judged by Connie Murray, Mary Seefried, and Susan Hoevenaars.

Jessica Dertell and the imported KWPN stallion Osaka P (by Escolar x Florencio) led the field in the preliminary round with 75.804% and scored 76.157% to win the finals. Bred by Pegasus Stables in The Netherlands, the developing Prix St Georges Osaka got 7.4 for walk, 8.3 for trot, 8 for canter, 7.7 for submission and 8.4 for perspective. His technical score was 72.714%.

John Thompson and the Australian bred Franka MI (by Franklin x UNO Don Diego) moved from fourth place in the preliminary round to the silver medal position in the finals with 74.529%. Owned by the Farrell family, the bay mare scored 7 for walk, 8.5 for trot, 8.2 for canter, 8 for submission and 8.4 for perspective, with a technical score of 68.857%.

Mart Warreb and the Holsteiner registered Mindarah Park Rupert (by Mindarah Park Ramadan x Promise R) were third with 70.775%. The bay gelding got 7.3 for walk, 6.8 for trot, 7 for canter, 7.8 for submission and 7.5 for perspective.

The 6-year old champion of 2025, Exact, was not in Werribee as he's in Europe. His owner and rider Alexandra Vodermair has returned home to Germany to live and work there.

Champion of Champions: Stryker K

At the end of the Championship, the four division winners compete against each other for the title "Champion of Champions" and Exact was the winner.

With no guest rider this year, the final was judged by Ventura, Wolters, Hoevenaars, and Hobson in collaboration with German Insa Hansen, who represented long-time show sponsor PSI (Performance Sales International) on the scene.

Stryker K was crowned the 2026 P.S.I. Young Dressage Horse Champion of Champions.

"How did this even happen......I'm still pinching myself," Blythe took to Facebook. "thankyou so much everyone for your words of support, your cheering and your belief in Stryker K. It is not often that the 4 yr old wins Champion of Champions against the older horses and I couldn't have done it without my amazing coach and friend, Justine Greer. I am truly grateful and appreciative of the effort and constant support she gives me. And to my partner in crime, Kate Murry who, despite being very short, she is extremely mighty.....constantly going above and beyond and I cannot thank you enough for always being there for me, even when I am being difficult and presenting my horses so much better than I do."

Videos/Reels of the Championship at Unicorn Video Productions

Results - 2026 Australian Young Horse Championships

4-year olds
Judges: Jane Ventura, Maria Schwennesen, and Vittorio Barba

1) Karen Blythe, Vic – Stryker K (by Secret x Carbine) - 87.000
2) Jamie Mita, Vic – Bws Nero (by Secret x Jazz) - 79.600
3) Robbie Mckinnon, Nsw – Verstappen Ds (by Vitalis x Ampere) - 79.200
4) Victoria Luxford, Vic – Valdare (by Vitalis x Ampere) - 75.800
5) Riley Alexander, Nsw – Glenhill Ilyas (by Ibiza x Furst Heinrich) - 75.000
6) Jade Wilkinson, Vic – SF Everest (by Kilimanjaro x Jazz) - 74.400
7) Chloe Mcgoldrick, Nsw – Brierley Tokyo (by Totilas x Don Frederico) - 73.600
8) Madelon Mcdonald, Vic – Johnny B (by Vitalis x Charmeur) - 73.400
9) Janet Seccull, Vic – Total Iceman (by Ibiza x Vitalis) 73.000
10) Montanna Allwright, Nsw – Glenhill for Amour (by For Romance x Don Schufro) - 71.400

5-year olds
Judges: Mary Seefried, Maria Schwennesen, Helen Hughes-Keen,

1) Riley Alexander, Nsw – Glenhill Quatessence (by Quaterhit x Don Schufro) - 81.400
2) Jayden Brown, Nsw – Stirling Secret Admirer (by Secret x Desperados) - 79.200
3) Natasha Moody, Vic – Springside Serrano (by Stedinger x Versace) - 76.800
4) Daisy Fielding, Nsw – Remi Victorias Secret (by Remi Vigneron x Lauries As) - 76.000
5) Melissa Robertson-heislers, Vic – Springsteen Royalmagic (by LL Tyranny x Jive Magic) 74.400
6) Javais Ham, Vic – Shayden Park Secret Ritual (by Secret x Ritual) - 72.000
7) Christopher Wilkinson, Vic – Gallivant OLD (by Gaitano x Stedinger) - 71.600
8) Edwina Sutherland, Vic – SS Secrecy (by Secret x Furstenball) - 71.100
9) Megan Joyce, Vic – Glenyering Zenzonic HC (by Zenon x Rosario) 76.300

6-year olds
Judges: Patricia Wolters, Susan Hoevenaars, Vittorio Barba.

1) John Thompson, Nsw – Aber Fashion MI (by Aber Hallo x Florestan) - 77.400
2) Lizzie Wilson-fellows, Nsw – Hollands Bend Secrets Out (by Secret x Furst Heinrich) - 77.000
3) Lilah Nieuwland, Vic – Cp Noah (by MSJ Nemo x Questing R) - 74.600
4) Lexy Stansfield, Qld – Dolce Vita H (by Delatio x ??) - 74.400
5) Riley Alexander, Nsw – Glenhill Totil Star (by Totilas x Negro) - 74.200
6) Lindsey Ware, Vic – Brighton (by Birmingham x St. Moritz) - 73.200
7) Antony Bartlett, Vic – Fletcher VDS (by Fhilosopher x Don Frederico) - 70.000
8) Mary Warren, Nsw – Willinga Park Senzation (by Sezuan x Equitaris) - 68.600

7-year olds
Judges: Connie Murray, Mary Seefried, Susan Hoevenaars

1) Jessica Dertell, Vic – Osaka P (by Escolar x Florencio) - 76.157
2) John Thompson, Nsw – Franka MI (by Franklin x UNO Don Diego) - 74.529
3) Mary Warren, Nsw – Mindarah Park Rupert (by Mindarah Park Ramadan x Promise R) - 72.186
4) Rodney Martin, Nsw – Emillio (by Escamillo x De Niro) - 71.129
5) Sally Rizzuto, Nsw – Bc Memphis (by Morricone x Sandro Hit) - 70.957

Champion of Champions
Judges: Ventura, Wolters, Hoevenaars, Hobson, Hansen

WINNER: Karen Blythe, Vic – Stryker K
Riley Alexander, Nsw – Glenhill Quatessence
John Thompson, Nsw – Aber Fashion MI
Jessica Dertell, Vic – Osaka P

Complete scores Finals: 4-yo - 5-yo - 6-yo - 7-yo