The German pony girls did it once again, capturing team gold, at the European Pony Championships. For the seventh consecutive year Germany took the highest step on the team podium at the 2026 Pony Euros in Le Mans (FRA) on Thursday 30 July.
With a team total of 224.771 points, Germany outclassed Denmark with 220.342, while the bronze went to Sweden with 214.971 points, which elbowed The Netherlands off the podium (213.057 points)
Germany's Golden Streak
With a historically embedded pony breeding programme and a structure of local, regional and national scouting, team training and competition systems set up by the German equestrian federation, Germany has the edge to be the best in pony sport and only on rare occasions is the country beating at the Euros. In recent history Germany's year-long tight-hold on gold was broken by Denmark in 2019, by Great Britain in 2015, and by The Netherlands in 2010. All other years Germany was golden.
The team championship test was judged by Mats Eriksson, Kirsten Søgård, Thomas Keßler, Sandrine Trimborn, and Janine van Twist and they awarded a plethora of personal best scores to the highest ranked riders in the team test. With 49 pairs competing in total, the class was split over two days. Seven of the top 10 ranked riders had a peak performance in Le Mans with a personal best.
The team championship test was won by German Leni-Sophie Gosmann aboard the 10-year old buckskin Diamantini (by Diamond Touch x FS Pavarotti) with a personal best score of 75.600%. The judges had a score spread between 74.143% and 77.571%. .
Germany's drop score was still a massive 73,543% achieved by Victoria Winkmann and the 15-year old palomino Peach (by Pilatus x Parino B), which still ranked her sixth!
German team trainer Caroline Roost stated "the ponies and riders were exceptionally well prepared, both physically and mentally – they rode superbly, all delivered new personal bests, and didn't drop a single point. The competition is tough, we knew that beforehand – that’s why we improved even more technical details, placed great emphasis on the classical training of both horse and rider, and focused on precision and harmony in the performance. Winning team gold here is not something we take for granted. We managed to ensure that the riders and their ponies were a unified team and surpassed themselves."
Silver for Denmark
Their lead rider was Filippa Jaeger Jensen, daughter of Danish Grand Prix professional Betina Jaeger. Riding on the Danish pony team for the third year in a row, Filippa piloted the 10-year old Dutch bred Sir Sansibar (by Jonker's Socrates x High Flown's Oxford) to a 73,914 score and fourth place.
Steffanie Horsted Dyrlund was the highest scoring Dane on Wednesday and ended up in fifth place with Cosmo Callidus (by Cosmopolitan x Cyriac). Dyrlund and the 11-year old stallion scored 73.857% while Malina Skovsager and the 12-year old Lyngdal's Mira Puella (by Daugaardens Boombay x CJ Chargon Bredager) posted 72.571% for 8th place.
Team rookie Anna Dora Munch and the 12-year old Del Classico (by D-Day x Classic Dancer), who led Victoria Bang Zindorff to team silver last year, were the drop score with an impressive 72.400% and still ranked ninth.
Sweden Gets Bronze
"Wow. It has been absolutely fantastic, from start to finish," said team trainer and captain Anette Svanberg and Cecilia Kristoffersen. "We have had a fantastic atmosphere and the girls have felt safe. They can tell if they are nervous, they encourage each other and the parents, the whole atmosphere is great. And then everyone performs on the court. Three of them are doing personal bests at a European Championship. We are very proud of the whole team and everyone who is part of the whole team."
"I am very pleased with the long-term work we have done to improve riding," Anette added. "You feel that pony Sweden woke up after we won bronze last time and that it is possible. But it is not luck and no quick fix, it is long-term work. Everyone has done their planning and their competitions, and there is a lot that has to be right throughout the season. But everyone who is here has had a great season. When it became a fact that we won bronze, it was euphoria. It was wonderful."
Off the Podium
The Netherlands was on Sweden's heels but national champion Fabienne Raijmakers could not crack a personal best performance with the 8-year old Belgian riding pony Wrong is Right (by FS Mr Right x Sir Lui). Problems in the rein back and final halt kept their score at 72.171% for 10th place, missing the point advantage to beat Sweden. They ranked 10th in the team test
The highest ranked rider of a nation not in team medal contention was Austrian Emma Smidek aboard the 9-year ld Glückskind WE (by Golden West x Hilkens Black Delight). She landed 13th place with 71,257. Britain's Queenie Moule and the 10-year old Amden Supreme Golden Dancer (by Dating x Scampi) were 15th with 69.685%, just ahead of Amelia Goodear and the 11-year old Dutch Welsh stallion Furioso van het Enkershof (by Coelenhage's Purioso x De Goede Ree Now Or Never) with 69,429%.
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Related Links
Scores: 2026 European Pony Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 European Pony Championships