In the first qualifying class for five-year-old horses at the World Championship for Young Showjumpers in Lanaken, participants showed that the future of the sport is in safe hands. Out of 215 combinations at the start, no fewer than 113 delivered clear rounds. As a result, they all shared first place—representing 53% of the entire field.
The class was held under FEI rules Art. 238.1.1 (Table A, not against the clock). In this format, all combinations with a faultless round are awarded the same placing. The large number of joint winners is therefore no surprise, but it clearly underlines the high level of quality among the young horses in this year’s edition.
The clear rounds came from a wide range of countries, including Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and even the United Arab Emirates. This demonstrates that the breeding and training of five-year-old showjumpers is of a truly international standard.
That more than half of the field went clear right away gives confidence for the upcoming qualifiers. The horses not only showed scope, but also the necessary attitude and rideability. For breeders and riders, this is an important signal: investments in quality and training are starting to pay off.
With more qualifiers ahead, and of course the final still to come, this year’s generation of five-year-olds promises to be one of the most exciting in years. It will be fascinating to see which combinations can maintain their faultless form and ultimately stand out in the decisive round.
