The 3-year olds Das Blumenmädchen and Nice to Meet You R, and the 4-year olds Samba Royal K and Danny Devito became the winners of the titles in the Riding Pony divisions at the 2026 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.
The Bundeschampionate are the annual German Young Horse Championships for young dressage, jumping, eventing and driving horses and ponies. They are held at the DOKR headquarters in Warendorf.
3-year olds Mares and Geldings: Das Blumenmädchen
In the 3-year old mare and geldings class twenty-six ponies presented themselves for the conformation score, and 24 chose to go into the finals round. Linda Weiß rode Rebecca Klimke's Westfalian bred mare Das Blumenmädchen (by Dallmayr K x Dream of Lord) to victory with a total score of 8,41 points. Judges Wolfgang Egbers, Reinhard Richenhagen, and Katrin Burger rewarded the grey mare with 8.6 for trot, 8.3 for canter, 8.2 for walk, 8.7 for rideability, 8 for conformation and 8.5 for general impression under the saddle. Das Blumenmädchen ("The Flower Girl") is bred by Jantine Knol.
“My sincere thanks go to the Klimke family for the trust they have placed in your exceptional pony,” said Linda Weiß. Judge Wolfgang Egbers added, "this mare has a very natural trot with an energetic hind leg. We were particularly impressed by her beautifully demonstrated rideability."
The silver was for Jana Bertels aboard the Westfalian bred Golden Grace (by Gründleinshofs Gipfelstürmer x Movie Star ) with a total of 8,35 points. The pair received 8.7 for trot, 7.8 for canter, 8.2 for walk and rideability, 9.5 for conformation and 8.2 for general impression. Golden Grace is bred and owned by Martin Vieth.
Wenke Kraus, who. has ridden no less than 17 horses and ponies in the Bundeschampionate in the last five years, got bronze aboard Anne Mahler's home bred Hanoverian bred pony Ninjago (by FS Numero Uno x Dallmayr K) with a total of 8,20 points. The chestnut gelding got 8 for trot, 8.2 for canter, 8.5 for walk, 8.2 for rideability, 8 for conformation, and 8.2 for general impression.
3-year olds Stallions: Nice to Meet You R
“I had to fight for gorgeous Nici, because the phone wouldn’t stop ringing after breeder Joana Römer posted a video online," said co-owner Daniela Jakobi-Momburg. "I was lucky enough to be the first. Nici, the little heartbreaker, has always been not only the most beautiful, but simply the coolest."
The runner-up was Elisa Becker on Heike Hildebrand's Hanoverian bred Never Alone Se. M (by New Berlin E x Dimension). Bred by Wolfgang Seggebruch, the liver chestnut stallion totalled 8,48 points with 8.5 for trot, 8.8 for canter, 8.5 for walk and rideability, 7.7 for conformation and 8.5 for general impression.
Danica Duen, who just like Kraus ridden the third highest amount of dressage ponies/horses at the Bundeschampionate in the last five years (17 in total), got bronze aboard her home-bred Westfalian stallion Greatest Showman D (by Gründleinshofs Gipfelstürmer x Casino Royale K). This stallion totalled 8,45 points with 8.3 for trot, 8.6 for canter, 8.5 for walk, 8.3 for rideability, 8.6 for conformation, and 8.5 for general impression.
4-year olds Mares and Geldings: Samba Royal K
In the 4-year old mares and geldings riding pony division no less than 41 pairs started out with the conformation class and 40 moved to the qualifier round. The top 8 pushed through to the final round for the medals, judged by Cathrin Wingender, Peter Olsson, and Katja Westendarp.
The finals were won by Wenke Kraus on Ralf Knauf's Weser Ems bred mare Samba Royal K (by Cosmo Royale x Wengelo's Ricardo). They scored 9,02 points with 9.4 for trot, 8.3 for walk, 8.8 for canter, 9.6 for submission, and 9 for general impression. Samba Royal is bred by Reinhard Kramer.
“That was a very convincing trot tour, in which the mare clearly swung over her back with very good shoulder freedom. It all looked very natural and effortless,” said the judging trio. “Samba Royal has a very good uphill tendency, showed secure transitions, was very focused on her rider, and truly worked exceptionally well.”
Mailin Quast and Maik Cordes' Hanoverian are Disney's Mobility (by The Braes My Mobility x Don Nobless) were good for silver with 8,66 points in total. Bred by ZG Frieling, this mare got 8 for trot and canter, 9 for walk, 9.5 for submission and 8.8 for general impression.
Patricia Gehre and Christoph Gehre's Westfalian gelding Ghostkeeper (by Goldecht P x Trentino) slotted in third for bronze with 8,28 points. This palomino got 8.7 for trot, 8 for walk, 8.5 for canter, 7.9 for submission and 8.3 for general impression. Ghostkeeper is bred by Hermann Arts.
4-year olds Stallions: Danny Devito
Sixteen 4-year old pony stallions lined up for the conformation class and first qualifier and six moved on to the finals, judged by Peter Olsson, Reinhard Richenhagen and Catrin Wingender.
“Danny deVito is a complete stallion who performs very well and focuses on his rider,” was the judges' verdict. They praised his “diligent and rhythmic trot with plenty of impulsion” and “securely balanced canter with great impulsion."
Rebekka Rösler and Sebastian Golubski's Hanoverian stallion Deejay (by Dating AT x Dance for Me) got the silver with a total of 8,02 points. The palomino posted 8.1 for trot, 7.9 for walk, 8.3 for canter, 7.7 for submission, and 8.1 for general impression. Deejay is bred by Henrik Auhagen. Last year the pair finished fourth in the 3-year old stallion class.
Jacqueline Baartz moved herself on the podium for the bronze medal abaord Carolyne Liebrecht's Rhinelander bred Golden Hunter LR (by Golden West x FS Don't Worry) with 7,52 points. This palomino received 8 for trot, 7.7 for walk, 7.8 for canter, 6.7 for submission, and 7.4 for general impression from the judges.
“Believe us, we would have liked to award more appropriate scores. We are very sorry, but we couldn't change the weather conditions. Due to the wind and the surrounding disturbances, the conditions were very difficult today, and we had to give good stallions low scores,” lamented judge Peter Olsson.
Photos © Equitaris
Related Links
Scores: 2026 Bundeschampionate
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 Bundeschampionate