Children rider Lilly Kasselmann, pony rider Leni Gosmann, junior rider Clara Kohoutek, and young rider Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinen became the overall winners of their respective divisions at the 2026 Preis der Besten in Warendorf on 8 - 10 May 2026.
Preis der Besten
Founded in 1973, the Preis der Besten (Prize of the Best) was established for young riders. Until 1994 the event took place indoors in Dortmund. The "PDB" expanded to show jumping and broadened to include junior riders. It took place in Munster-Handorf for two years before finding its permanent home in Warendorf. In 2002 eventing became part of the PDB and in 2014 vaulting was added.
For dressage riders, the Preis der Besten is annually the first German team selection and observation trial for the 2026 European Youth Championships in the summer. The second team qualifier will take place at the CDIO-PJYR Hagen "Future Champions" at Hof Kasselmann in June.
Children: Lilly Kasselmann
Hagen based Lilly Kasselmann rode her 9-year old Oldenburg Vodka Soda (by Vitalis x Dimaggio) to the gold medal on the Children's podium after debuting in the division last year and gaining bronze in Warendorf. The 12-year old Kasselmann spent her winter in Wellington, Florida, competing her pony while Vodka Soda stayed home at Hof Kasselmann in training with Insa Hansen. Lilly's return to Europe and getting back on Vodka Soda went smoothly. She won both rounds at the Preis der Besten with 81.850% in the first test and 79.652% in the second round.
Anna Schmieder was following Kasselmann in her wake by finishing second twice and earning silver. Aboard junior rider Eva Catherine Bartels' 15-year old Oldenburg Freispiel (by Feuerspiel x Dream of Glory) she scored 77.550% and 77.574%. Schmieder took over the ride on Freispiel a year ago from Bartels, who showed the the horse up to S-level.
The bronze was for Linda Schuchmann and the 8-year old Oldenburg bred Figo de Halliers (by Furstenball x Totilas). She was fourth in the first round with 77.325% and third in the second round with 77.254%. This is the third year Schuchmann has been riding Figo. They made their national show debut in March 2024 and have been to CDI shows since November 2024.
Pony Riders: Leni-Sophie Gosmann
Lilly Kasselmann, who spent the winter in Wellington, Florida, could not ride the official Preis der Besten qualifier and had to qualify her pony, the 15-year old Nasdaq (by Nemax x FS Don't Worry) based on her international results and a separate training session/selection trial in Warendorf to prove her ability. At the Preis der Besten the pair was second in the team test (74.667%) and won the individual test (76.171%), good for silver. Kasselmann trains with Lars Ligus.
Lilli von Helldorff had two irons in the fire at the Preis der Besten with ponies Nabucco HW (by FS Numero Uno x Don Davidoff) and Dijon (by (Dating x Cocky Man). She ended on the pony with her 8-year old Nabucco HW, scoring 73.718% and 73.073% for two third places. Lilly is trained by her mom, Ingo von Helldorff.
Junior Riders: Clara Kohoutek
Clara and her second horse, the 11-year old Oldenburg bred Dark Dancer (by Danone x Furst Romancier). Clara has been competing Dark Dancer since 2023. They were second in the team test (73.568%) and won the individual test (74.289%).
Ava Osing and her brand new horse Destacado FRH, Matthias Rath's former international Grand Prix stallion by Desperados x Londonderry, needed very little time to gel and put the high scores on the board. With Osing's German team horse Vitalos not having been shown sine the Europeans in July 2025, Osing is focusing fully on her new 13-year old stallion. The pair was third in the team test (72.811%) as well as in the individual test (72.842%) which got them silver on the podium, just like in 2025.
Eve Catherine Bartels and her 14-year old Rhinelander stallion Villeneuve (by Vitalis x Dancier) slotted into third place overall and got bronze. The duo, who has been a partnership since 2024, were third in the team test (72.811%) and fourth in the individual test (72.500%)
Young Riders: Julie Schmitz-Heinen
Not the traditional team riders - long-time German team members, such as Baumgurtel, Oatley, Sohler) - but two new faces climbed on the podium at the Preis der Besten. Nele Klaus, an outsider who won the 2025 German Young Riders Championships, is now making her way to the top and catching the focus of the team selectors. Aboard her 12-year old Oldenburg bred Bonfire (by Belissimo x Diamond Hit) she was second in the team test ( 72.395%) as well as in the individual test (73.632%).
Julia Eva Henrich is the other new comer to the stage, steering her 14-year old Hanoverian For Sunshine (by Floriscount x Rascalino) to the bronze medal. She was third twice with 71.658% and 71.684%. Henrich trains with Lune Karolin Muller and also has Alina Shaikh's Qattani FRH (by Quaterhall x Lanthan) to ride.
Photos © Mirka Nilkens
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Previous Winners
Osterhoff, Gosmann, Pohl, Baumgürtel Win 2025 Preis der Besten