What's Happening: June 2026 - Part II

Retired international dressage rider and judge Angelika Fromming celebrated her 85th birthday with a special evening of dinner and dance. This "Ladies’ Night" gathered over 50 women mainly from the horse world at Hotel Engel in Warendorf on 22 June 2026.

Spaniard dressage rider Santiago Damil was hospitalized for over 20 days with a very serious infection. Mid June his partner Franziska Erley confirmed that "he’s back home since last week and already back in the saddle."

At the Oldenburg Foal auction held at the national show in Steinhagen on 20 June 2026 the Celle State Stud secured a promising stallion prospect, he’s back home since last week and already back in the saddle (by Lord Charmeur x Destano). “We look forward to seeing this stallion prospect again in two years at the licensing inspection in Vechta,” explained Roland Metz, managing director of the Oldenburg breeding society. The Steinhagen auction had two dressage bred foals.

Former Danish Under 25 team rider Josefine Hoffmann got engaged to her long-time partner, Kasper Knudsen, on 26 June 2026. Knudsen went down on one knee and Josefine said yes. The 30-year old Hoffmann had her break through years while working as an assistant for Anna Kasprzak. She got the ride on Honnerups Driver and represented Denmark at the 2017 European Young Riders Championships (7th in the kur). They won team and Kur bronze at the 2019 European U25 Championships. At the 2020 Euroepans they won team bronze and were fourth in the Kur and at the 2021 Europeans they landed 6th place in the Kur. They got gold at the 2022 Danish Under 25 Championships, and team silver at the 2022 European Under 25 Championships. Hoffmann left Kasprzak in 2022 and did not compete internationally since then. She has worked briefly for Soren Wind and is now employed by Sophia Obel at Randbøl Dressage, where she also has her own business.

Auckland based  Billie Hughes has been named 2026 ESNZ Dressage Young Person of the Year:  Hughes is highly successful as a competitor and a contributor to Dressage in New Zealand.  The current North Island Elementary Musical Freestyle Series Championship on her self-trained pony, competing with distinction at the EWT Under 25 Championships and National Championships, and winning the Auckland Manukau Dressage Group Autumn Series.  As vice chair on the Dressage NZ Youth Council, Billie arranged for some of the world’s leading dressage riders – including Becky Moody from Great Britain - to send a video link with their top competition tips and a good luck message to all young dressage riders. 

Former Swedish international youth rider Mathilde Hannell got married on Saturday 27 June 2026. Her fiancé Kevin Huberty (LUX) proposed in August 2025 on the beach and the couple celebrated their union last weekend. A big party was held in the indoor arena of Hannell Dressage. Huberty works as an engagement manager at HR company McKinsey in Switzerland.

Dutch horse dealer Peter Wetzelaer and his partner Eva de Boer are expecting. The couple announced that they are awaiting a baby girl in November 2026.