Germany has moved itself into pole position for the team gold medal after the first day of competition at the 2026 European Pony Championships in Le Mans, France, on Wednesday 29 August 2026.
Welcome Back to Le Mans
For the third time the European Pony Championships are hosted at the Pole Europeen du Cheval in Le Mans, where also the 2023 and 2025 edition took place. The competition kicked off with the mandatory horse inspection on Tuesday where the ponies were assessed for their fitness to compete.
Three rounds take place at the Europeans: a team championship competition on the first two days - Wednesday and Thursday; an individual round for medals on Friday and Saturday and a Freestyle final with its own set of medals on Sunday for the top 18 scoring pairs from the individual test, maximum three per nation.
Germany in Pole Position
Forty-nine pairs are lined up for competition at the 2026 Pony Europeans, while 11 nations were able to field a team of minimum three and maximum four riders. The team championship round began on Wednesday morning 29 July with the first group of 23 riders competing, while tomorrow the second group goes to determine the final team ranking.
The team championship test is judged by Mats Eriksson, Kirsten Søgård, Thomas Keßler, Sandrine Trimborn, and Janine van Twist and they awarded personal best scores to six of the top 10 ranked riders today. Currently in the lead is Germany's team new comer Lilli von Helldorff on the 8-year old Nabucco HW (by FS Numero Uno x Don Davidoff). She scored a PB of 74,314% with four judges round 74-75% and the Dutch judge a little lower at 72.286%. Lilli trains with her mom, professional dressage rider Inga von Helldorff. Team mate Victoria Winkmann and the 15-year old palomino Peach (by Pilatus x Parino B) is currently third with 73.543%. Her scores were in unison. Victoria trains with Annette Katharina Bossmann.
Pursuers
Sweden scored team bronze at the 2024 Euros in Opglabbeek, Belgium, and now in Le Mans are striving for another podium place. Ella Jerlin and the 14-year old gelding Piri Piri (by Charivari x Lordanos) earned a personal best of 71.514% and sit in fifth place, while her team mare Samantha Arnbäck and the 10-year old bucksin Mister Prime Time (by Movie Star x Hemingway B) are 10th with 66,971%.
Unfinished Battle
The battle for team glory is unfinished and the strongest riders of each country usually go on the second day.
Dutch Felyne Boschloo-Karsijns and the 15-year old New Forest pony mare Shakira (by Orlando x Klootwijkshoeve Walter) are standing seventh with 68,829%. Her marks ranged from 67.571% to 71.000%. Belgium's Paulien Heylen, daughter of Grand Prix rider Tom Heylen and FEI rider Viv van Bulck, and the 9-year old German bred gelding Gluckskind (by HET Golden Dream x Kiribati) are 8th with 68,286%, a personal best. Belgium's Ella-June Briers dealt with a significant score spread. She ended up with 66,829% but had 68.429% as high score and 63,857% (!!) as low score.
Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
Related Links
Scores: 2026 European Pony Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 European Pony Championships