Text © Eurodressage - Photos © Lily Forado
The riders of Team Germany took a strong start at the 2026 European Young Riders and Under 25 Championships in Pilisjaszfalu, Hungary, on the first day of competition on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
The team championships are contested first in both age category with the first group of riders going today and the second group on Thursday 9 July after which the scores will be totalled to determine the team podiums.
Young Riders: Germany Leads, but Denmark Strong
The young riders kicked off the show early in the morning with the team championship test (the Prix St Georges) and while by noon Germany is provisionally leading the team ranking it was Denmark's Anna Have Larsen-Ledet on the 12-year old Danish bred Finnigan-Vitz (by Franklin x Ferro) who produced the high score of the day. Larsen-Ledet rode her striking black athlete in a snaffle and judges Sandy Phillips, Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington, Sven Rothenberger, Nicole Nockemann, and Carlos Lopes rewarded her ride with 71.088%
The provisional top three was then covered by reigning European Young rider champion Lana Pinou Baumgurtel on a new ride, the 11-year old Oldenburg mare Escalla (by Escolar x Dimaggio), with 70.941%, landing her second provisionally, while German team new comer Nele Klaus was third with a personal best of 70.735%. Klaus and her 12-year old Oldenburg Bonfire (by Belissimo x Diamond Hit) have only very limited international experience. They never competed at any other CDI than on home turf in Hagen the past three years. Klaus is the reigning German young rider champion and this is her second year at YR level.
The Dutch team is following in third place, so far, with a total of 139,353 points. Esmee Boers and her 9-year old KWPN gelding Montreux (by Ferdeaux x San Remo) posted 69.941% for fourth place so far, while team routinier Dominique van Dalsen and her 12-year old KWPN gelding Just Johnson (by Johnson x Florencio) are fifth with 69.412%.
The Austrian team is on Holland's heel with a combined total of 134,206 points so far. Leading lady of the day was Emilia Brandstätter who piloted the 10-year old DSP bred Weena (by Topas x D'Amour) to 67.353%.
Under 25: Germany Moves to the Front
Germany took a more outspoken lead in the team ranking in the Under 25 division after the first group of riders competed in the Intermediaire II.
German team riders Katharina Schuster and Pia-Carlotta Gagel are currently in first and second place. Schuster and the 12-year old Hanoverian Qence L (by Quantensprung x Laudabilis) posted 71.206% while Gagel and the 16-year old Oldenburg bred Riccio (by Rock Forever x Argentinus) received 70.941% from judges Hans-Christian Matthiesen, Patricia Wolters, Katrina Wüst, Elisabeth Max-Theurer, Raphaël Saleh.
Danish team trainer Ulrik Falbe-Hansen was thrilled with Denmark's performances today. He told Ridehesten, "it has been a really strong first day, and I am incredibly proud of our riders. We have seen some really great riding, and the unity on both teams has been absolutely fantastic. Now it is time to stay focused tomorrow, when the last riders will take to the field, so that we can hopefully put a strong end to the team competition."
The Dutch team is in third place with last year's young rider team member Tessa Kole now proving her worth in the U25 division on a new ride, Hexagon's King Robert (by Capri Sonne Jr x Rubiquil). The duo also rode a PB with 70.265% which could have been higher if there wasn't a mistake in the one tempi changes. The 21-year old Micky Schelstraete made her debut on the U25 team on a new horse, her ride of just 8 months, Karim, an 11-year old Dutch warmblood by Charmeur x Sir Sinclair. They got 68.441% to place 6th.
The highest ranked individual rider was home-side hero Jazmin Yom Tov. The Hungarian rode her 12-year old KWPN gelding Jack Black WW (by Hofrat x Vivaldi) to 69.000%.
Related Links
Scores: 2026 European Young Riders / Under 25 Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the European Young Rider & Under 25 Championships