Hamburg Dressage Derby Drops "Derby" Format with Horse Change Final

Dressage

Germany

The 2026 edition of the Hamburg Dressage Derby will no longer have the "derby" format with a finals with horse change. The current show organizers are breaking with the 70-year tradition of the competition.

History of the Horse Change Final

The Hamburg Dressage Derby first hosted a derby with horse change in 1955. It was won by Willi Schultheis, who ended up winning five editions in a row, after which Reiner Klimke became a regular winner. In 1955 Schultheis won aboard Heinrich Boldt senior's horse Brokat, who was the best scoring horse in the final.

In 1974 and 1975 the winners were Harry Bold and Reiner Klimke but it was the first time no horse change final was held. In 1976 the format returned.

Since 1955 only a handful editions were run without horse change finals (1993 - 1999 and 2001 - 2002).

The Audience or the Riders Decided?

Matthias Rath, current show director of the Hamburg Dressage Derby, has decided to break with tradition and remove the horse change final. The derby winner will be determined by the added scores of the Grand Prix and Kur to Music.

"There are three reasons why we decided to take this step," said Rath. "The feedback from the riders, the spectators, and our observations from previous years."

The official press stated that "while some riders particularly enjoy competitions with horse changes, they are now clearly in the minority."

Rath added that "the response from riders in our first year in Hamburg with the five-star offering was tremendous. Isabell Werth was here, Ingrid Klimke was here – to name just two outstanding competitors – and both have already announced their intention to include Hamburg in their plans again in 2026, presumably with their top horses Wendy and Vayron.”

The press release then went on to say, "the horse exchange is certainly very interesting for spectators, but the feedback from the 2025 audience was clear: Hamburg dressage fans' hearts beat even more for top-class five-star dressage than for the horse exchange."