The Czech equestrian federation has made their selection of riders to represent the Czech Republic at the 2026 European Youth Riders Championships in July.
The European Children and Junior Riders Championships take place in Olomouc (CZE) on 15 - 19 July. The Young Riders and Under 25 Championships compete in Pilisjaszfalu (HUN) on 7 - 12 July.
The pony team is yet to be announced.
The selected riders are
Children
- Mia Bobekova - Beliza
- Jasmina Vasaryova - Friday I'm in Love
- Adriana Smatlakova - Furst Weilberg FB
- Adela Selyben - Baileys
No reserve rider was officially named but Kristyna Majerova (Aquinta) and Tereza Zeusova (Locke) have been nominatively entered.
Junior Riders
- Aliska Vandasova - Roncevall OLD
- Alice Habuckova - Die d'Amour or Rock on Top or Versailles
- Anna Marie Krizova - Best for Me OLD or No Limit T
- Tereza Mala - Secret Dancer
The reserve rider is Vendula Fajlikova (Fortnite)
Young Riders
- Klara Denny - Scarlett
- Barbora Krejcirova - Serano
- Anna Prochazkova - Praestemarkens Quatero
Although Johana Vášáryová (on Bona Dea) was suggested as fourth Young Riders, she is not listed on the definite entry sheets.
There will be no Under 25 Czech rider in Pilisjaszfalu. Eliska Steflova and Dance for Me achieved the MER but did not confirm her start at the Europeans so is not going.
Selection Upheaval
On 24 June 2026, the Czech NF Vice President for Sport Jan Studnička called for a roll-call vote on the composition of the young rider team for the European Championships in Pilisjászfalu. A proposal was submitted for voting that had not been discussed in advance with the Dressage Commission and did not correspond to the proposal approved by the Commission on 22 June 2026. The Executive Committee therefore did not decide on the proposal of the Dressage Committee in the form in which it was accepted by the Commission.
The Dressage Committee is convinced that this procedure is not in accordance with the process set out in the Status of the Dressage Commission or the Sport-Technical Conditions of Dressage. As a result of this procedure, a rider who met the FEI qualification limit could not participate in the European Championships. The Dressage Committee considers this procedure to be a fundamental interference in its statutory competences and a procedure that weakens the role of the expert committees in the selection of representative teams.
The DC set the conditions for selection for the European Championships in November 2025, but the ongoing season has shown that some points of these conditions cannot be met by those interested in starting at the European Championships. A meeting of the national team was held in Olomouc on 22 May 2026, which adjusted the conditions for selection. The new conditions were communicated by the national coach with potential team candidates, who were not in Olomouc, and a general agreement was reached on further action.
More details about the discussions here.
Resignation
Hana Ošťádalová Civišová, the Chair of the Dressage Commission, together with all DC members will resign from their position on 30 June 2026.
Hana Vášáryová, mother of the non-selected rider Johana Vasaryova, resigns from her position of head coach of the national team and head coach of the Youth Sports Center as of 10 August 2026, so that she can complete he work begun in connection with the European Championship and the World Young Horse Dressage Championship.
The Czech federation posted that "the members of the Dressage Commission refuse to bear professional and moral responsibility for decisions whose preparation and approval were unilaterally interfered with in violation of applicable regulations and without respecting the competences of the expert commission. Under these circumstances, it is not possible to continue in office."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 European Young Rider & Under 25 Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 European Children and Junior Riders Championships