Horses.nl reported that the KWPN society and Dutch equestrian federation will have to make serious changes to its team for the 2025 World Young Horse Championships in Verden due to the application of FEI rule 429.3.1. and 429.7.1.
FEI rule 429.3.1 reads "Young Riders may not compete both in an FEI Championship for Young Riders and in any FEI Championship or Games for Seniors in the same calendar year" while FEI rule 429.7.1. reads "U25 Riders may not compete both in an FEI Championship for U25 Riders and in an FEI Championship or Games for Seniors in the same year."
For the majority of countries these FEI rules do not impact their WCYH team as adult professionals are competing the young horses, but in The Netherlands a remarkably large amount of youth riders are professionally training and competing young horses. Three youth riders see their participation at the WCYH go up in smoke.
In June the FEI notified the Dutch Equestrian Federation by letter that the WCYH is considered a "senior" championship, Horses.nl reported.
Rule Revision
Horses.nl ran an important article on the matter and confirmed that the FEI is abiding by its rule for 2025, but will be proposing a rule revision.
"To ensure greater clarity and consistency moving forward, the FEI will put forward a proposed rule revision that would allow athletes to compete in both Championships in the same year. This proposal will follow the standard rule revision process for the discipline of Dressage and will be submitted for consideration by the National Federations and MOU Stakeholders and ultimately voted on at the FEI General Assembly 2025, for implementation as of 1 January 2026."
Team Changes
2025 European Young Riders Championships
in Kronberg
It concerns Young Rider Tessa Kole on the 6-year old Odi Murona and 7-year old Nachtwacht, German young rider Rose Oatley on the 6-year old Opoque, and Under 25 rider Kim Noordijk on the 5-year old Perfect Ritme.
Kole, Oatley, and Noordijk have chosen to compete at the 2025 European Young Riders and Under 25 Championships in Kronberg (GER) this week and will therefore not be eligible to ride at the WCYH in Verden.
The reserves will be stepping in: Vai Bruntink (Pitch Perfect), Julia Groenhart (Ortisei), Kim Alting (Orange), and Leonie Richter (Most Wanted Nero von Bellin).
Previous Success Story
Although the FEI rule refers to "Young" Riders in 2022 a "Junior" rider delivered one of The Netherlands' greatest success stories at the World Young Horse Championships.
Dutch junior rider Jill Bogers competed the 6-year old Lennox U.S. that year, going full blast with her young stallion: they were third at the 2022 KWPN Stallion Competition Finals, won silver at the 2022 Dutch Junior Championships, made their international show debut at the CDI Exloo, won team silver and ranked 5th place at the 2022 European Junior Riders Championships in Hartpury, and scored bronze at the 2022 World Championships for young dressage horses in Ermelo.
The horse sold to Germany shortly afterwards.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Dutch Horses Selected for 2025 World Young Horse Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 World Young Horse Championships