The German Equestrian Federation has voiced its disappointment that there will be a date clash in 2024 for the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo (NED) and German Young Horse Championships, aka Bundeschampionate, in Warendorf (GER).
Both events will be taking place on 4 - 8 September 2024.
Ermelo Moving Dates Twice
The World Championships for young dressage horses traditionally takes place the first weekend of August, but due to the 2024 Olympic Games, the organizers in Ermelo decided to move their event to 18 - 21 July 2024 and published this date on their website last year.
Four weeks after the 2023 World Championships, a new date suddenly appeared at the beginning of September 2024, parallel to the Bundeschampionate,
“As soon as it became known, we did everything we could to prevent this overlap, unfortunately without success,” says Dr. Klaus Miesner, Managing Director of the Breeding Department of the German Equestrian Federation (FN).
A Firm No
“Together with the World Breeders’ Association (WBFSH), the FN immediately started negotiations with representatives of the Dutch KWPN society, the show director of Ermelo and the FEI and asked for rescheduling,” said Klaus Miesner, breeding director of the German Equestrian Federation. “However it looks like Ermelo is unfortunately says a firm "no" to rescheduling.”
Butting Heads
But the FN is also not seeking to reschedule its dates for the Bundeschampionate, even though in the 2020 corona year the event was held in August instead of September.
"Moving the Bundeschampionate is not an option for the FN, as they are integrated into a fixed qualification and nomination grid into the national show calendar," said the FN. "Since 1994, the Bundeschampionate have always taken place on the first weekend in September in Warendorf and, since the mid-1990s, they served as a selection trial for the World Championships for young show jumping horses in Lanaken, which take place two weeks later."
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