-- WCYH press release
The victory in the consolation final for five-year-old dressage horses at the 2026 FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses was a family affair through and through. Linnéa Holmgren rode Buskhagas Sanjay to victory.
The top three place-getters in the consolation finals earn a ticket to Sunday's 5-YO finals with the other 12 top ranked horses of the preliminary test.
Family Affair
Sanjay is home-bred by Linnea's mother, Malin Holmgren, who is also in Verden serving as “trainer, groom, hair dresser, mental coach, and basically everything.” Last year, Linnéa competed in the seven-year-old final in Verden, riding Buskhaga Sitara, a half-sister to Sanjay. Both share the same dam, Sigma, a daughter of Sandro Hit. On her sire’s side, Sigma traces back to Springbank II, while Sanjay’s sire is Suarez.
As the last pair to compete, the professional trainer from Swedne, who just a few weeks ago competed at the U25 European Championships in Hungary, secured the victory with a score of 82.20%. Her Swedish stallion Sanjay received three 8.0s in the individual scores for trot, walk, and suppleness while the winner was rated 8.6 for canter and 8.5 for prospect.
“I knew from day one that Sanjay was something special. He moved forward right away in such a springy way. You see that very rarely,” beamed Linnea, wiping the last tears of joy from her face. “He gave me an incredible feeling in the test today,” the 24-year-old summarised. She is celebrating her 25th birthday on Sunday, the very day of the final.
“He was completely calm and focused with me. That wasn’t the case on the first day. Today I was able to present him in a very good light; his movements are so harmonious, he’s a joy to ride, and he has an incredible amount of energy.”
Danish and Dutch Join In
With a score of 81.40 percent, Rahmoz Langholt, ridden by Michael Grønne Christensen, secured second place. The Danish son of Straight Horse Ramses out of a Blue Hors Don Schufro dam and owned by Bente Graasbøll and Ole Magnus Jensen scored particularly well for perspective (8.4) and trot (8.2).
The KWPN mare Rituals de la Fazenda was third in the consolation final with a solid 80 percent. The daughter of Magnum de la Fazenda, with Negro as her maternal sire. Ridden by Thalia Rockx and bred and owned by her father Johan Rockx and mum Penny Zavitz-Rockx) he mare showed a trot which received the highest score of all five component marks, an 8.5.
Tied for fourth place with 79.20 percent were Van Love WS (by Valverde), ridden by Eric Guardia Martinez, and Esquire OLD (by Escolar), presented by Eva Möller.
The 5-year old final will feature the world’s best dressage horses born in 2021 and begins on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Related Links
Scores: 2026 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses
Eurodressage Coverage of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses