2026 World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, Day 2: while the afternoon is dedicated to the 6-year-old Small Final, the morning belonged to the 5-year-old generation—a category heavily dominated by Germany.

Well-educated without being overly exuberant—as can sometimes be the case—that is how one might describe Einfach Imposant B, today’s winner of the 5-year-old preliminary test with Kira Laura Soddemann. The 39-year-old rider is competing in her first championship in this category this week, having previously represented Germany in the 6- and 7-year-old divisions in 2021 and 2022. Bred by Daniela Burkhardt-Robert, this gelding by Escolar out of a Westernhagen mare was sold at the Hanoverian auction last autumn for €140,000; he earned scores of 8.8 for the trot, 9 for the walk, 8.7 for the canter, 9 for submission, and 9 for general impression, resulting in an average score of 89%.

Second place went to DSP Lord Löwenherz von Bellin, a horse already solidly built and possessing the conformation of a future Grand Prix mount. Ridden—like his sire, Lord Europe—by Leonie Richter, DSP Lord Löwenherz von Bellin was the bronze medalist at last year’s German Championship for four-year-olds. This impressive bay earned a 9.8 for his trot—the highest score of the class for that gait—along with a 7.7 for the walk, 8.7 for the canter and submission, and a 9 for future potential, resulting in an overall average of 87.800%.

Germany also secured third place thanks to the performance of Weihe's Happiness Old and Alina Schneider. Bred by Christine Arns-Krogmann, this granddaughter of Weihegold possesses a much lighter, more "blood-type" build. Although she occasionally trotted with her head up and rushed the rein-back, the small yet highly elastic dark bay mare earned a 9.3 for the trot, 8.8 for the walk and future potential, 8.5 for the canter, and 8.2 for submission, achieving an overall average of 87.200%.

Full results HERE

picture : Hanoveranner Verband