The 5-year old Viva Weltina, the 6-year old Viva Las Vegas, and the 7-year old Felice became the winners of the Dressage Horse finals at the 2026 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf on 26 - 30 August 2026.
The Bundeschampionate are an annual highlight of sport and breeding in Germany as they are the official Young Horse Championships across studbooks. Almost 40,000 visitors attended the "BuCha" this year despite some rainy weather after a hot dry summer.
5-year olds: Viva Weltina
A massive field of competitors qualified for and competed in the 5-year old division. No less than 62 horses ended up going to Warendorf to compete in the preliminary test which counts as the qualifier for the finals. In the end 17 horses moved on to the finals on Saturday, three of those by finishing in the top three of the consolation final.
Carola Koppelmann made an impressive move to victory. The professional Grand Prix rider is a highly respected trainer who had her heydays in the 2010s but then disappeared from the scene for seven years until her return onn mare Gracelyn at the 2024 World Young Horse Championships. This year she brought along a new ace, the liver chestnut Hanoverian mare Viva Weltina (by Viva Gold x Dante Weltino), bred by Mariette Kappelhoff-Dorenhamp. The mare is owned by Koppelmann's long-time partner Ralf Hartmann, who founded the Medien Cup that later became Louisdor Cup.
After placing second in the preliminary round with 8,68, judges Ebert, Lorenz, and Storbeck awarded Koppelmann and Viva Weltina the winning score of 9,34 in the finals. The mare earned 8,6 for walk, 9.6 for trot, 9,3 for canter, 9,7 for submission and 9,5 for general impression. Judge Nicole Nockemann, who provided a brief commentary on each horse, summarized the ride: "That was a performance that will be frequently encountered in training sessions. That's exactly what we want to see: riding instruction, harmony, and trust. This is training culture of the highest level"
The silver medal went to Janina Tietze aboard the Hanoverian stallion Benjamin Franklin (by Bon Vivaldi x Royal Blend). Bred by Wilhelm Kamps and owned by the Celle state stud, the bay posted 9,28 in total for second place. He got 8,8 for walk, 9,7 for trot, 9,6 for canter, 8.8 for submission and 9,5 for general impression.
Luxembourg based French rider Justine Ludot and the black Westfalian stallion Le Noir (by Life Time x Desperados) redeemed themselves after placing 10th in the consolation finals at the 2026 World Young Horse Championships, where the stallion was rather impressed by the atmosphere. In Warendorf the stallion was able to score 8,86 in the final for bronze. He got 9 for trot, 8.5 for walk, 9 for canter, 8.8 for submission, and 9 for general impression. Le Noir is owned by Luxembourg lawyer Claude Niedner of Contern Dressage, who also owns sire Life Time.
6-year olds: Viva Las Vegas
Also in the 6-year old division it was an offspring by Isabell Werth's Grand Prix stallion Viva Gold that claimed the gold medal. In a class of 50 horses, Charlott Maria Schurmann and the dark bay Hanoverian stallion Viva Las Vegas (by Viva Gold x Foundation) reigned supreme. After topping the preliminary round with 9.22, they also won the finals with 9,06 points. Judges Danzberg, Michalke, Strohbucker scored the horse 9.3 for trot, 8 for walk, 9.5 for canter, 9 for submission and 9.5 for general impression. Viva Las Vegas is bred by Reinhard Baumgartner and owned by Anne Haggenmüller.
Many spectators saw the winner in the reserve champions, Kira Laura Soddemann and the Westfalian stallion Fiete (by Fashion in Black x Rock Forever). Bred by Robert Drenker and owned by Peter Brenske, the bay stallion scored 9.06 in the preliminary round and got 8,78 in the finals, standing out with his elasticism, even though he could have been slightly longer and lower in the neck. He got 8.7 for trot, 8.8 for walk, 8.6 for canter, 8.8 for submission, and 9 for general impression to finish second with a total of 8.78 points. Fiete won bronze at the 2025 Bundeschampionate and now added silver to his collection.
Zoe Marie Hachmeier and the Hanoverian gelding Sparky (by Secret x Dr. Watson) landed third place with 8,56 in total. The gelding bred by Sabine Redelmann and owned by Melanie Hachmeier, received 8.4 for trot and walk, 8.8 for canter, 8.5 for submission and 8.7 for general impression.
7-year olds: Felice
The 7-year old division at the Bundeschampionate is growing in popularity with bigger entry fields each year. This year no less than 46 pairs competed in the preliminary round. Greta Heemsoth gave Hanoverian mare Felice (by Furst Samarant x Riverside) a break after competing in the finals of the 2026 World Young Horse Championships and decided last minute to attend the Bundeschampionate; a decision that paid off.
Ellen Richter and the Oldenburg gelding Found Gody PS (by Foundation x Vivaldi) were the runners-up with a total score of 79,591%. Bred and owned by Paul Schockemöhle, the gelding was also second in the preliminary round with 80.923%. Richter competed the gelding at the 2024 and 2025 Bundeschampionate, placing 13th and 14th in those finals.
NIcole Wego-Engelmayer and the Oldenburg gelding Zuccador QD (by Zenon x Lauries Crusador xx) collected bronze with a total score of 79,518%. The dark bay gelding is bred at Hof Kasselmann and sold in 2023 at the PSI auction for 150,000 euro to Hong Kong entrepeneur and dressage lover Angie Qin and her partner. The horse was shown by Lydia Jordan and Sina Eilers first. Eilers rode him to a 7th place in the consolation at the 2024 Bundeschampionate, while Jordan finished 6th in the finals at the 2025 Bundeschampionate. Having reached S-level Wego took over the ride only recently and piloted the gelding to a 79,518% score for a third place overall in the 7-year old BuCha Finals.
Photos © Tanja Becker/Equitaris
Related Links
Scores: 2026 Bundeschampionate
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 Bundeschampionate