Bavarian Horse Breeders' Association: Nine Champions at the 2026 Hagau Equestrian Festival

More than 120 horses competed during the weekend of the Bavarian State Championships. In the show jumping competition at the Hagau Riding Festival, two riders scored an 8.8—thus determining the course champions.

Five-year-old: not a Saul in sight, but a Paul

International competition among five-year-old show jumpers: Detlef Kaiser Jr. rode Paulus, a son of Eldorado by d. Zeshoek and Diarado, to the top of the field. His score of 8.8 was the highest of the day. Paulus was bred by Daniel Abele. Second place, with a score of 8.6, went to Con Zidane W by Con Chello. The “W” in the stallion’s name refers to the breeder, Josef Weishaupt. Valerie Karaskova scored an 8.6 with the chestnut stallion.

A Weishaupt was also in the mix among the six-year-olds. The new champion—or rather, the new champion mare—is named Freaky Friday and is by For Treasure VDL-Con Spirit. She is owned by Sportpferde Weishaupt. Paula Fischer rode the gray mare through the course, earning a score of 8.8. The champion mare was bred by Andreas Schorer. Following the Bavarian State Championships, Freaky Friday was awarded the DSP title.

Race Against the Clock: Odine Wins the Seven- and Eight-Year-Old Division at the Bavarian State Championships

The seven- and eight-year-olds competed in a two-phase Class S jumping competition. Odine M by Vingino-Calido I (breeder: Hannes Meindl), ridden by Elisabeth Meyer, claimed victory and the sash with the fastest clear round.

8.86 for F-Grace St and Ralf Kornprobst

Defending the title went smoothly: For F-Grace St., last year’s title was not a burden, but merely a byproduct. The black-and-brown mare won the title again this year. Ralf Kornprobst, in the saddle, can look forward to competing in Warendorf at the National Championships. By the way, the pair’s name will now include the suffix “DSP.” That’s because the score of 8.86 earned by the pair also secured their qualification for the National Championships.

F-Grace St is by Glamourdale out of a Fürstenball-Diamond Hit mare. Alois Steidl is the breeder and the person responsible for the “St” suffix in her name. The mare received a 9.0 for her trot and a 9.5 for her canter. Four horses competed in this class.

Do it again, Bon Jovi

A dressage line crossed with show jumping blood. That was the breeding concept that produced the champion among five-year-old dressage horses: Bon Jovi by Bon Courage-Quality-Concetto I is the new state champion. He received a score of 8.26 and is a family project: Martin Stechele rode him, while Dr. Max Stechele is the breeder and owner. And Bon Jovi is a repeat champion as well. Last year, he was the champion of the four-year-olds in Bavaria.

While her father celebrated his first international Grand Prix Special victory, the Morricone daughter Mocca Royal won the Bavarian DSP Youngster Championship, a Class S dressage competition. The mare, out of a Destano-Sandro Hit dam, came from behind to overtake the field under Christoph Winkels. Doris Karl is the breeder of the Youngster Champion.

Riding horses: Zephyr, Best Secret, and Sciano

Zephyr, the son of the Marbach stallion Zenetti, was the best of the four horses competing in the three-year-old division. Fanny Markström rode the gelding, bred by Udo Kast out of a Ritz Carlton dam.

Bonnie by Secret placed second in this championship. The dark chestnut mare was able to congratulate her brother, Best Secret—who is one year older—on winning the championship title (8.24) for four-year-olds. As was the case at the 2026 National Championship, the final was decided in a Class A dressage test.

Both dark-coated foxes are descendants of Ballerina by Baryshnikov-Argentinus; they were born at Josef Ritzel’s farm and were presented by Ramona Ritzel—a true family achievement!

Sciano by Scalatore-Luis Figo, based at the Schwaiganger State Stud, was crowned Bavarian State Champion among four-year-old stallions. Johanna Müller rode him to a score of 8.06.

All Results from the 2026 Bavarian State Championships