German professional young horse rider Kira Wegmann got engaged in September 2024 to her partner Hannes Cramer. He proposed on a short holiday in Norderney. The couple has more reason to celebrate as Wegmann is also pregnant with her first child. She announced in November that she's expecting. Kira rides for Pascal Kandziora but is currently on pregnancy leave.
Korean Olympian Young-Shik Hwang will become a dad for the second time. His wife Sun Shineo is pregnant with baby nr 2. The couple has a son together.
Susanna Nygren, a Swedish reporter who writes for the major publication Aftonbladet, has been named "Swedish Sports Journalist of the Year" by the Swedish Sports Journalists' Association. This is an extraordinary feat considering usually journalists of only mainstream sports, like soccer, win this award. Nygren was decorated with this prestigious title for her series of investigative journalism into breaches of animal welfare in equestrian sport, and particularly in dressage. She told the association, "there is a conservative culture in equestrian sports and it really hasn't been easy, but I have always felt safe in our publications and knew that we have something important to tell. Several of the sources that I've had have been very afraid that their identity will come out, so I've worked hard to meet and talk to the sources before interviewing them, to really reassure them that I will protect them in every way."
Dutch pony team rider and national champion Isabella Karajkovic is in her last year on ponies, but will already preparing for the the transition to junior level with her new horse: Iron Man. The Karajkovic family acquired the 12-year old Dutch warmblood by Everdale out of Zimona (by Special D x Houston). He was previously shown by Lisanne der Nederlanden. Karajkovic trains with Coby van Baalen.
The Westfalian breeding society reported that Theo Lohmann, productive breeder and licensing committee member of 13-years, passed away at on 6 January 2025 at age 80. The Sendenhorst native was an active member of the Westphalian Studbook since the mid 1960s and bred 476 foals; 265 of them competed in show jumping and dressage competitions up to class S. Six licensed stallions came from his breeding, including Ribbeck (by Ribot), Faisal (by Frühlingstraum), Del Mar L (by Dinard L), and Gonfaron (by Goldlack). Lohmann was a delegate for his district for 30 years and chairman of the Warendorf district for 24 years. In 2022, he received the Golden Badge of Honour from chairman Ralf Johansson.
Iron Spring Farm lost its Friesian stallion Meinse 439 (by Heinse 354 x Dirk 298) last year. Meinse 439 was an approved KFPS Friesian stallion and was a two-time USDF Regional Champion, USDF All Breeds Champion, Reserve Champion USDF Horse of the Year and frequent high point champion against all breeds. He sired one approved son, Erryt 488, in The Netherlands.
Macciato, a double European Championship team pony for Hungary, has been pulled out of retirement to function as a schoolmaster. The 17-year old German Riding Pony by The Braes My Mobility out of Bajna Luka (by Bogenschutze x Lungau) has been allocated to Luxembourg's Marie-Lou Haupert.