Faustino G Wins 6-YO Final at 2026 World Young Horse Championships

-- WCYH press release, edited by Eurodressage
(a detailed Eurodressage report on the Finals is coming at a later point, but we have to head straight to Aachen for the World Championships which start on Monday morning with the horse inspection. Please bare with us...)

Betina Jaeger and the Danish warmblood gelding Faustino G became the winners of the 6-year old and claimed the title at the 2026 World Championships for young dressage horses in Verden, Germany, on Saturday 8 August 2026. For Danish breeder Helene Geervliet this was her fourth (!!) WCYH title with two horses, but Faustino G (by Blue Hors Farrell x Sezuan)  made her more proud than Quinn G did.

The silver medal went to the Danish mare Dizzy, and bronze was awarded to the Hanoverian stallion Sir Gribaldi.

Full of Confidence

They were the last pair to enter the arena; the pressure of expectation was palpable, but Betina Jaeger was full of confidence in her Faustino G.

“He loves to work, sometimes a little too much, but we’ve got that under control now, and he’s so incredibly supple and – really – he just gets better and better every day.”

Last year, Faustino G already placed fourth in the World Championship final for five-year-olds; this year, he claimed victory, and breeder and owner Helene Geervliet of Stutteri G. knows why: “You have to breed with all your heart and listen to good advisors,” she emphasizes. “And for the best horses, you also need the best riders.” Faustino G is a horse from her own breeding program in the fourth generation, which makes the breeder particularly proud. Even a little prouder than winning the title last year with Quinn G, who became a three-time world champion. Quinn G, however, she obtained when she bought the dam Fyrstin Laura (by Fassbinder) in foal to Quinn. Geervliet's second generation breeding product, licensed stallion Daan G (by Hesselhoj Donkey Boxss x Don Olymbrio) won the 4-year old Hanoverian young horse stallion class earlier in the day. 

With a final score of 9.1, the impressive dark bay Faustino G took the lead in the World Championship field. His individual scores: 9.7 for the trot, 8.7 for the walk, 8.8 for the canter and submission, and 9.5 for potential.

Commenting judge Knut Danzberg raved: “The horse is so well-balanced in his trot work; we saw a great deal of elasticity and engagement.” Danzberg highlighted the flow of movement, the propulsive power, and the willingness to carry weight in the trot. He praised the walk and the canter and was thrilled by the horse’s submission; grinning, the judge added: “There was only one brief moment when we had to deduct a little for submission – that was the slight kick during that one flying change.” With a score of 9.5, the entire judging panel affirmed that the new world champion has first-class prospects for the future.

Reserve Champion Dizzy

Reserve World Championship Dizzy is a daughter of Hesselhøj Donkey Boy, out of a Blue Hors Zack dam bred by Hesselhøj's Hans Jorgen Hoeck and owned by Helgstrand Dressage.

Merita Hagren has been riding at the Helgstrand stable for a good six years and knows Dizzy very well. “She’s so honest and gives her best every day – not just at home, but also in the competition. She shines every day; she’s my absolute best friend. It’s as if she just takes me by the hand and says, ‘Mommy, let’s do this!’ She’s a YES-girl.”

The rider was brimming with enthusiasm as she spoke about the inner qualities of her chestnut mare, noting that her “enormous Donkey Boy walk” was fantastic, as was her completely natural trot. For her walk, the World Championship silver medalist received an excellent 9.5; 9.0 for prospect; 8.8 for submission; 8.5 for her trot; and 8.3 for her canter, giving Dizzy a final score of 8.82.

Bronze for Sir Gribaldi

The final score of 8.64 earned the Hanoverian stallion Sir Gribaldi the bronze medal. Beatrice Arturi has been riding the Secret son since he was three years old. “He may be a stud, but he’s so sweet. He has a heart of gold.” Bred from an All Inclusive dam by the Aronis and Janßen breeding partnership and owned by Gestüt Sprehe.

“The FEI WBFHS Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses have been held here in Verden for many years,” emphasizes Jan Pedersen, president of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH). “This event has developed and grown right here in Verden. That’s why I have a special soft spot for Verden. It’s really nice to be here. The organization has always been good, but I feel like it gets just a little bit better every year.”

“Like kids in a candy store”

Judge Knut Danzberg’s conclusion after the World Championship final for six-year-olds: “Even last year, one of my colleagues said that judging the finals at World Championships is a bit like children walking into a candy store. You just love every horse. And then it’s really fun to evaluate this high level of quality."

Danzberg continued, "in the six-year-old age group, we see significant differences in the tests. In the qualifier, there are only two flying changes. So if one doesn’t go well, you think, ‘Okay, that’s just how it went today.’ But if two changes in one direction don’t work out in the final, there might be a problem. Additionally, in the final test, we have walk pirouettes, and we required a collection before the walk pirouettes. This is also a change from the previous test, in which only medium and strong walk were required. I’m therefore quite surprised that the same horses as in the first test are on the podium today. Especially with the six-year-olds, things can change slightly from the first to the second test. And every test is different every day for every horse, but especially for the young horses.”

-- Photos © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses
Scores: 2026 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses