“Looking back, we know that we staged a successful and financially sound World Championship in 2025,” explains Wilken Treu, Managing Director of the Hanoverian Society. “This year we’ll be going the extra mile; we’re making further improvements to the spectator area in particular.”
Preparations are in full swing for the 19th edition of the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Verden. From 5 to 9 August, the Horse24 Arena will once again welcome the world’s best young dressage horses. The equestrian town has long since rolled up its sleeves to once again offer horses and riders a magnificent World Championship stage. “Going the extra mile” – this is how the seating capacity in the Food Mile will be literally “boosted”. “We’re going to build a two-storey covered event terrace,” says Treu enthusiastically. “From the upper level, you’ll have a complete panoramic view of our World Championships grounds.” As was the case last year, the sporting focus at the Horse24 Arena will clearly be on the World Championships competitions. All World Championship qualifiers for five-, six- and seven-year-old dressage horses will be held in the main stadium, the Horse24 Arena, as will the small finals and, of course, the World Championship finals.
The Co-Lo Trans Arena, not far from the main stadium, is reserved for three- and four-year-old riding horses and Hanoverians. “This went down very well with spectators and participants last year,” emphasises Treu. “People were shuttling back and forth between the main stadium and the riding horse arena and really enjoyed this combination.” A change awaits the four-year-old riding horses. “We are three weeks ahead of the Bundeschampionat in terms of timing,” says Treu. “That is why we have adapted our format for the four-year-olds to match the new one for the Bundeschampionat. This means: the four-year-olds will first compete in a riding horse class as usual, but from this year onwards, the finalists will then compete in a Class A dressage horse class; this will be exactly the same for our Bundeschampionat qualifier. This way, the candidates can view their start in Verden as a dress rehearsal for the Bundeschampionat.”
Whilst the German World Championship candidates are meeting for their first selection round from 8 to 10 June, the selection process in the Netherlands has already begun. From 21 to 23 April, the Dutch young dressage horses were already assessed by the experts. “Following the first selection in Ermelo, 52 young dressage horses were invited to the next round,” says Johan Hamminga, who sits on the selection committee alongside Grand Prix rider and former national coach Alex van Silfhout and FEI judge Janine van Twist. “At the second selection in Delft, a number of pairs who were unable to attend the first selection for valid reasons will still be competing; they can still register at this stage.” The second selection is scheduled for 26 and 27 May, with the third and final decisive round taking place on 22 June.
“On 22 June, we will see the twelve best horses in each age group again in Ermelo for the final selection. Expectations are high: in recent years, the KWPN has brought home several medals, and this year too we have seen exceptionally talented horses,” explains Hamminga. “We know that the bar is set high at the World Championships in Verden: not only in terms of the quality of the horses, but also with regard to training and harmony. The riders are very aware of what is required, and we have already seen a high standard of riding in the first selection round.”
Last year, KWPN horses took home four out of a possible nine medals from Verden. KWPN breeding director Ralph van Venrooij explains with delight: “The KWPN looks back on a proud history at the World Championships in Verden. We have seen many Dutch horses emerge as winners, quite a few of whom later competed at Grand Prix level. Over the years, it has become clear that the World Championships truly prove their worth.” 2025 has been a very successful year for the KWPN, not least with the two World Championship titles for Proud James and Red Viper. “Of course, these medals are wonderful for the KWPN, but what fills me personally with the most pride is that the KWPN is consistently well represented year after year. ” And van Venrooij adds emphatically: “It goes without saying that we Dutch are delighted to host the World Championships in our own country, but the atmosphere in Verden is unique every year, and we also greatly appreciate the quality of the horses competing there.”