FEI World Driving Championships for Young Horses

After four days of sport, Samba Lott, Valenzio FST and Nesqu GB claimed the three titles on offer at the second edition of the FEI World Driving Championships for young horses in Mezőhegyes, Hungary.

The competition took place under very sunny skies at the Mezőhegyes State Stud, renowned for breeding the Nónius horse and the Mezőhegyes sporthorse. Dr Klaus Christ (GER) chaired the international ground jury, with members Jan-Erik Pålsson (SWE), Joaquin Medina Garcia (ESP) and Anne Marie Turbé (FRA). Fifteen minutes was allocated for each dressage test, which allowed the jury to discuss each one. Points and comments were announced via microphone to the drivers and spectators, which gave everybody a good overview of the judging. This was also done during the combined marathon on the final day, much to the appreciation of the competitors, trainers and fans.

The 10 horses in the five-year-old category battled it out over three days in combined dressage and cones competitions. They were judged on basic paces in dressage, the level of training appropriate to their age, and overall impression, which included character and education. Most influential were the horse’s character and drivability.

The Saxon-Thuringer heavy warmblood Samba Lott and German driver Steffen Horn put down their first steps on a victory path by producing the best test on day one, with the mare showing very good impulsion and regularity. The final on Saturday included a combined dressage and cones test, in which Samba Lott was again unbeatable and won gold.

“This is a dream come true,” says Steffen. “Last year I drove a different horse and I didn’t even make it to the final. But Samba Lott [v. Celtis] is in a completely different league. I have owned her for several years already and trained her carefully because I saw what kind of power and eagerness she had.

“After several small combined driving competitions I knew she was ready for this World Championship. She completely met my expectations, both in the qualification and in the final. It is a fantastic feeling to drive this horse; she has so much power.”

The silver medal went to the Silesian mare Rebelia, driven by Bartlomiej Kwiatek of Poland. Rebelia (v. Hutor) won the CAI-YH1 I Boguslawice at the start of July and made it to the final through the ‘last chance’ qualification round, which she won with distance. In the final, in which all started from scratch, Rebelia scored 7,07 points and stayed clear in the cones, which earned her silver. The Westphalian mare Fiderella 2, driven by Germany’s Ulrich Hengemühl, took home the bronze – an extraordinary performance, since Mezőhegyes was the first international experience for both driver and horse.

The eight starters in the six-year-old class had four days of competition, with two days of combined dressage and cones, and the top five going through to the dressage final. The last day consisted of a combined marathon and cones competition, which included two marathon obstacles, a water passage and several cones.

Germany’s Dirk Hofmann, a driving instructor at the Saxon State School for Riding and Driving, impressed with the Saxon Thüringer heavy warmblood stallion Valenzio FST in the qualification round, which they won. Valenzio showed a beautiful walk and the general impression was awarded with a 9.0 from the jury. Last year’s world champion in the five-year-old category, Enfado P with Jovanca Marie Kessler, finished second, ahead of the nicely moving Lipizzaner, Conversano Csalo, driven by Austrian talent Vinzenz Dobretsberger, who schooled and trained the gelding himself.

The top three placings remained unchanged after the dressage and combined marathon on the final day, so Valenzio FST won the gold medal unchallenged, while Enfado P took silver and Conversano Csalo went home with bronze.

“To me it was already a fantastic success to compete at these championships with the breeding stallions of the Moritzburg state stud where I work,” says Dirk. “I trained them both myself but last year I was not allowed to travel with them because of equine infectious anaemia. This year I received the green light. I won the German ‘Bundeschampionat’ last year with Valenzio and he was just amazing.  He gave everything for me. We received a 10 for the perspective of this horse in the sport and I felt we really deserved this. I am very happy!”

The seven-year-old division was the biggest class of the championships, with 13 starters tackling the same competition format as the six-year-olds.

The qualification was won by Bartlomiej Kwiatek of Poland with Bazyli. Switzerland’s Giacomin Barbüda drove his home-bred Freiberger gelding Nesqu GB to first place in the dressage final, then secured gold by winning the combined marathon.

“My horse is unique,” says Giacomin, who is a pensioned carpenter and horse breeder. “ The Freiberger is really a coldblood breed, but Nesqu is very special. I have been competing with him at very small national events since he was three. His movements are amazing – can you imagine he received an 8 for extended trot in the dressage final, which is just fantastic! During the combined marathon he was absolutely marvellous. He went so fluently and attacked, I hardly had to do anything. This is only our second competition at international level; I am 67 years old but today I feel as if I’m 20 again!”

After finishing second  in the dressage final and third in the combined marathon, Weronika Kwiatek from Poland claimed the silver medal with the Silesian stallion Epilog. Her brother Bartlomiej drove the half-brother of Epilog, 2015 gold medallist Bazyli, to bronze.