Proud James Wins the 4-YO Challenge at the 2024 World Young Horse Championships

- Text © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion about the competition)  
-- Photos © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!

The KWPN licensed stallion Proud James became the winner of the fourth edition of the "4-year old Challenge" at the 2024 World Championships for young dressage horses in Ermelo, The Netherlands, on Saturday morning 7 September 2024. 

Not a part of the FEI affiliated WCYH, the 4-year old challenge is a class created by Hungarian entrepeneur Arie Yom Tov and sponsored by his company Sport Pro Horses to boost young horse sport and to support the event. 

Winners in the past were always (breeding) stallions such as So Unique, St. Athletique, and Opoque, and this year Helgstrand claimed a third victory in the challenge with his grey KWPN stallion Proud James (by Jameson x Johnson). The KWPN performance test winner, bred by Y. van Maasacker, was presented by German Maxi Kira von Platen and stood out with his rideability, very good walk and nicely engaged hind leg. The horse should be more open in the throatlatch for a more elastic use of his back and the canter on the left lead was more elastic than on the right. The stallion won the warm-up round and claimed victory in the final with 8.26 points. He got 8.3 for walk, 8.8 for trot, 8.7 for canter, 8.5 for submission and 8.8 for general impression from judges Ulrike Nivelle (GER) and Patrick van der Meer (NED).

Swedish Jessica Lynn Thomas and Pia Wahlers home bred Hanoverian So Special (by Secret x Bon Coeur) became the runner up with 8.48 points. The tall chestnut initially appeared a bit long and lanky in the back but as he started to move more supple and engaged throughout the test and impressed with the scope in his canter. He got 7.9 for walk, 8.5 for trot, 9 for canter, and 8.5 for submission and general impression. 

Dutch Anke van Moer and Leunus van Lieren's licensed stallion Hexagons Power Dutch (by Toto Jr x Double Dutch) showed off his strong mechanics and got the favour of the judges as he was rewarded with 8.44 points. The stallion is the second grey horse bringing fame to Stable Hexagon alongside  Thamar Zweistra's Ich Weiss (by Johnson x Rubiquil). Power Dutch got 9 for walk, 8.5 for trot, 8.2 for canter, 8 for submission and 8.5 for general impression. 

Emmelie Scholtens and the Turfhorst bred black KWPN stallion Port-Au-Prince (by Desperado x De Niro) showcased probably the best rideability of all in the finals. The gelding had such a lovely attitude and rideability, appeared relaxed and at ease in the work and had his hindlegs nicely moving under the body. He does paddled quite a lot in front. He scored 8.40 points for a fourth place with 8.5 for walk, 8.3 for trot and canter, 8.5 for submission and 8.4 for general impression. 

Another horse that stood out was Jose van Haaren's KWPN bred gelding Perfect Ritme (by Lord Europe x Negro), bred by A op 't Hoog and owned by Kees op 't Hoog. The black gelding had one of the best canters in the pack.  

- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion about the competition)  

Eurodressage is taking photos of (pretty much) all competitors in Ermelo. No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!

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