Danish Dominance in Youth Divisions at 2026 CDI Leeuwarden, Walvraven Breaks Stronghold

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2026 CDI Leeuwarden

The CDI Leeuwarden in The Netherlands on 9 - 11 October 2026 was one of the first indoor international dressage competitions in Western Europe of the 2026 show season. With a full programme from pony level to Grand Prix, the "Indoor Friesland" competition saw Danish and German riders dominate the youth divisions.

Danish pony riders Steffanie Horsted Dyrlund and Agnes Ørnskov Beier ruled the pony classes, while at junior level Danish Alberte Josefine Harsbo won the freestyle. At Young Riders level Luna Kølbæk Rosenberg clocked her first international win, but it was a home-side victory for the Dutch in the Young Rider freestyle.

Routinier Danish Pony Riders Rule

In the pony division it were the Danish routinier pony riders Steffanie Horsted Dyrlund and Agnes Ørnskov Beier that topped the board in the team test and Kur to Music.

The double European Championship rider and recent European kur bronze medal winner Steffanie Horsted and her 11-year old German stallion Cosmo Callidus (by Cosmopolitan x Cyriac) aced the team test with 75.000%, staying almost a full four percent ahead of Dutch Fabienne Raijmakers.

In the Kur to music, however, Horsted dropped to second place with 77.442% and saw country mate Agnes Ørnskov Beier overtake her with a winning 77.442% freestyle score. Beier rides the 9-year old German bred Der Kleine Champion (by Diamond Touch x Londontime), which she took over from German team rider Hannah Isbruch in the winter of 2025-2026.

"I’m very proud and certainly didn’t expect this," said Beier who competed in Leeuwarden for the first time after a 9-hour journey from Denmark. "This was a highly competitive class and we were quite nervous on Friday. My pony was clearly impressed by the big arena, which was beautifully laid out, by the way. This is my first time at Indoor Friesland and our national coach recommended this show to me. She thought it would be a good show for me and my pony to gain experience at major events."

Beier still has one year to go on ponies and after being named reserve for the Europeans this year, she hopes for a spot next year with her chestnut. "I’ve had Champion for ten months now. He’s really sweet, funny and loves a cuddle. You can do anything with him – he’s happy with everything. He’s a big pony with a big heart, but he’s still a baby at heart."

Young Rider Rosenberg Clocks First CDI Win

The 21-year old Danish Luna Kølbæk Rosenberg clocked her first international win since her CDI debut in June 2025. Aboard the 10-year old Danish warmblood Kamar's Extreme Noir Hit (by Escolar x De Noir) she won the team test with 69.755%.

"My horse Extreme was doing very well in training at home; lately we have worked a lot on the contact," said Luna. "To my delight, that really showed in the test. The arena here is impressive and not the easiest, but that is never a problem with him."

Rosenberg first represented Denmark at the 2025 Nordic Baltic Championships in Ypaja and then went to Leeuwarden for her first indoor international. In 2026 She competed in Lier, the Nordic Baltics in Stromsholm and returned to Leeuwarden for a second time.

“This is my second time at Indoor Friesland," said Luna. "Last year, I rode my first international competition here with this horse. We heard a lot of positive things about this competition, including from a fellow countrywoman. That is why we were willing to make the long journey. We live in the north of Denmark, and it is an eleven-hour drive by truck.”

Luna is in her last year as a young rider and aiming for Under 25 level next with Kamar's Extreme Noir Hit.

"He belongs to my parents, who bought him five years ago," said Luna. "He was five years old when he came to us, and we had to learn everything together. That makes him very special to us. I am 21 myself, so this is my last year in the Young Riders. We are already training towards the U25 class. I can't guarantee anything yet, but we are doing our utmost to make our international debut here in this class next year.”

Homeside Win for Walraven

The only home-side, Dutch victory in the youth classes came from Morgan Walraven in the Young Riders Kur to Music. Aboard the 10-year old Westfalian mare Benecia (by Benicio x Londonderry) she moved into the winner's circle with a 74,515% freestyle score.

"Yesterday went well too, but I made a mistake on the final line," said Morgan who was second in the team test with 69,706%. "I was really bummed about that, because it was so close to the number one. Today my horse was already performing great during the warm-up, and when we entered the arena, he stepped it up a notch and I was able to ride our freestyle exactly according to plan. The tempis were an extra treat. We had been working on that in training and they went flawlessly today. I was really proud of the feeling Benicia gave me. She gives everything for me anyway, but this was special."

Morgan has owned Benecia for three years and discovered the mare on Instagram. "Luckily, she turned out to be for sale," said Morgan. "We tried her out and even though she was still very green, she gave me a really great feeling and we bought her. We haven't regretted it for a single minute.

The 20-year old Walraven trains with former Dutch team rider and Olympic medallist Adelinde Cornelissen.

"Adelinde is my role model. I find it very impressive how she gets every horse up to level," said Morgan. "I also take lessons from her, and she does everything for me. Yesterday, for example, I had to start very early, and she got in the car at 5:00 to be here. She also always shows interest; in doing so, she is not only my instructor but also gives me a lot of support."

For Morgan riding is her hobby, but she is also fully committed to her time in the saddle with Benecia.

"I work 32 hours a week in the office, four days a week. Horses are my hobby and I want to keep it that way. Unlike many others, I don't see myself with horses 24/7," she explained. "However, I do want to try to reach the very highest level. Just like Adelinde did with Parzival in the past, actually. I have another year in Young Riders after this. However, we are already training for the U25."