The British Hanoverian mare Woodlander Farouche and the Dutch Warmblood stallion Astrix claimed the 5- and 6-year-old titles, respectively, at the Fédération Équestre Internationale World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, Aug. 3-7 in Verden, Germany.
Woodlander Farouche (Furst Heinrich—Woodlander Dornroschen, Dimaggio), ridden by Michael George Eilberg of Great Britain, won the 5-year-old division with a 9.72. The mare earned a 10 for her walk.
“It is a pure pleasure to ride such a horse,” said Eilberg, 25, who also competed Farouche’s dam, Dornroschen. “They are very similar characters. Both show up in the arena with the intention of doing their jobs.”
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The mare’s owner and breeder, Lynne Crowden, burst into tears of joy after the victory.
Emmelie Scholtens of the Netherlands rode M. Perlee’s Astrix (Obelisk—Upshot, Olivi) to a 9.2 for the trot and finished on a total score of 9.16 in the 6-year-old division.
Two U.S. horses competed in the finale tests in Verden, both owned and ridden by Jennifer Hoffman. Florentinus V finished ninth (8.32) out of 15 in the 5-year-old final test, and Ratzinger V placed 14th of 15 in the 6-year-old final (6.94).
