Einfach Imposant Wins the Qualifying Round for Five-Year-Olds at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Ahead of Four Other German Horses

At 7:30 a.m., the first horse kicked off the five-year-old qualifying round at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. Forty-eight horses were on the starting list, and 47 competed. The best of them all was a Hanoverian in the Hanoverian town of Verden: Einfach Imposant B.

Two people who didn’t seek each other out, but found each other

In 2025, the Hanoverian gelding Einfach Imposant B by Escolar-Westernhagen (breeder: Daniela Burkhardt-Robert, owner: Peter Brenske) competed in the National Championship, but finished among the “rest of the field.” At that time, Kira Laura Soddemann was not yet in the saddle. As she explained today, it wasn’t really planned that the two of them would find each other. Dr. Peter Brenske, who owns Einfach Imposant B, wanted to buy a horse, and Soddemann was supposed to scout the market at the Verden Elite Auction.

“My husband and I were supposed to try out a completely different horse for one of our clients. We did that, and then we looked at a few other horses as well. ‘Impi’ came along pretty late in the process, but I liked him right away.”

“The impression got even better once she was in the saddle,” says Kira Laura Soddemann. She took him for a test ride and had a really great feeling. “Then, luckily, it turned out that our client didn’t end up getting the horse he’d originally had his eye on, and then—almost by accident, because he was determined to buy a horse—he bought Impi.”

Today’s was the pair’s fifth tournament—and their fifth victory. Soddemann: “He has a walk, a trot, and a canter, and on top of that, he has really, really, really great inner qualities. That’s his superpower. He’s relaxed, yet still dedicated and ambitious.”

An Impressive Performance in Verden

Soddemann was already able to showcase Einfach Imposant brilliantly during the World Championship tryouts in Warendorf. And today, the two confirmed just how wonderfully the gelding has developed. This elegant son of Escolar trots with plenty of momentum and energy (8.8). Soddemann masterfully knew how to bring him back to a relaxed state in moments when he threatened to become almost a bit too “floaty.” Einfach Imposant B was already able to carry all his momentum and large movements into the turns in a very well-balanced manner, with wonderfully supple posture and bend. When extra power was needed, the gelding grew in size without becoming hasty, though he could still engage his hindquarters a bit better.

During the backward movement following a good hold, he stepped back willingly and diagonally. At a walk, he moved diligently, with a steady rhythm and a supple back, while covering a lot of ground (9.0).

His canter is also expansive, with strong engagement from the hindquarters (8.7). At first, he had a bit of trouble taking the weight in collection here, but in the left-hand outside canter, he found his collection and performed a wonderful, simple change—which, however, was also initiated with great sensitivity by Kira Laura Soddemann. To conclude, the pair demonstrated a very good “relaxed rein” exercise.

All in all, it was a great round by a horse that seemed very content, maintained a consistent contact, and was not forced or pushed into a certain shape by the rider, but rather guided with sensitivity. With scores of 9.0 each for suppleness and perspective, the pair totaled exactly 89 percent, securing their qualification.

Second Place for the Bronze Medalist at the National Championships

Second place went to DSP Lord Löwenherz von Bellin —another son of Lord Europe, who had already demonstrated his sire qualities yesterday among the six-year-olds with several of his offspring. The DSP gelding won bronze at the 2025 National Championships, already then with Ellen Richter in the saddle, who trains him for the breeders and owners at MJS Gestüt von Bellin.

When Lord Löwenherz enters the arena, all eyes are on him. He is tall and appears even taller when he begins to move. His trot—extremely supple, energetic, and lively—always lifts off the ground and has a natural tendency to rise. He generated his extension from the thrust of his hindquarters forward and upward. He was able to maintain the beautiful cadence in collection even during the well-executed and bent turns. He was finely supple in his contact, even if his nose could remain a bit more consistently in front of the vertical. However, the rider never had to apply a backward aid at any time, but was always able to ride in response to the rein. Trot score: 9.8.

His walk was steady and rhythmic, but there is room for improvement in terms of reach; 7.7. At a canter, Lord Löwenherz was already able to balance beautifully on his hind legs (8.7). To conclude, the pair also executed a very good “relaxed rein” exercise.

It received an 8.7 for transparency and a 9.0 for perspective. Final score: 87.8 percent.

Third Place for the National Champion

When Lord Löwenherz von Bellin won the bronze medal at the Warendorf Riding Horse Quadrangle last year, the title went to a jet-black prima ballerina: Weihe’s Happiness OLD, an Oldenburg mare by Dynamic Dream–Sir Donnerhall I, a granddaughter of Weihegold, bred and owned by Christine Arns-Krogmann, ridden by Alina Schneider.

She was in the saddle of the light-footed dancer again today. At a trot, the mare moved with verve, always closing the gap from behind, pushing off actively and diligently, and maintaining a natural balance. She was very light—almost a little too light—in her contact. But it was lovely to see how sensitively Alina Schneider repeatedly encouraged her to follow the rein. The score for the trot was 9.3.

The walk was good in terms of rhythm and reach, but the movement could have flowed through her body a bit more—8.8. This was also evident in the canter. At working and medium tempos, the mare once again impressed with her hard-working hind leg and push off the ground. In collection, however, tension arose and the mare became stiff. In the outside canter on the right lead, Alina Schneider then allowed her to canter a bit more freely, which was an improvement. The score for the canter was 8.5.

During the “chewing with the reins out of the hand” exercise, the mare tended to curl up rather than reach forward into the hand. She received an 8.2 for suppleness and an 8.8 for perspective. This resulted in an overall score of 87.2 percent, earning her third place.

With this, Weihe’s Happiness continues her grandmother’s breeding success story at the Arns-Krogmann stable. Christine Arns-Krogmann says: “Happiness is my favorite because she reminds me so much of Weihegold. I think this horse is simply fantastic because she’s like an updated version of Weihegold and has even more front, more front leg. What Weihe was missing a bit, this horse has. More front leg, yet the same massive hind leg and the same attitude—that sheer willingness to please the rider.”

Well then—as we all know, Weihegold has won three World Cup finals, Olympic gold and silver, and numerous European Championship gold medals.

Two More Finalists Competing for Germany

The sire of the fourth-place finisher, Global Amour OLD—who is also registered with the Oldenburg Association—was, after all, a World Champion for young dressage horses and a European Junior Champion: Global Player OLD. On his dam’s side, the stallion—bred by Britta Budeus-Wiegert—is by Fürstenball. He is owned by Stalls Helgstrand, and Alexander Yde Helgstrand presented him.

In his side view and trot, Global Amour takes after his sire in many ways. He moves with ease and evenness throughout his body, though his gait is somewhat loose. A rhythm error crept in during the second trot extension. He received a score of 8.4 here.

He was exceptionally responsive and willing in halt and backing up. At a walk, the stallion showed excellent rhythm and good, even extension under the hand, moving beautifully through his body and with a generous stride, 9.0.

The stallion’s canter is practical—not the kind of “climbing uphill” motion one has seen in Helgstrand horses. On the contrary, the stallion moved with ease, already showing excellent balance and confidence in carrying his weight. The transitions were well-defined, and the outside canter was confident. He received a score of 8.2.

The confident contact and the overall impression of suppleness and contentment, combined with a well-executed “chewing with the reins out of hand,” resulted in a 9.0 for suppleness and an 8.8 for perspective. The overall score was 86.8 percent.

I’m simply speechless

The horse that placed fifth was also part of last year’s Bundeschampionat field for four-year-olds: the Hanoverian mare Senza Parole F (Senza Parole = without words) by Secret-For Romance. The “F” stands for breeder and owner Dr. Christine Feichtinger, who bred this lovely dark bay mare from Harli Seifert’s famous Rudilore line (Rubin Royal, Romanov, etc.).

Thomas Schulze is in the saddle—though he hasn’t been for very long. Verden is the second competition the pair has competed in together. As recently as this spring, Kathrin Dittmer was riding the mare, whom she had also presented at last year’s National Championships in Warendorf. Back then, they placed ninth with a score of 7.8 in the qualifying test. Thomas Schulze rode his first competition with her in early June and immediately won two Class L dressage horse classes. Then came the trials for the World Championships, and today their performance.

The trot was seamless, with plenty of momentum and rhythm, good contact, and exemplary lateral movement. The mare practically glided through these first few minutes of the test (8.6). Over the long run, one would have liked to see a bit more upward drive in her movement.

The walk as well: diligence, relaxation, maximum reach, confident extension to the hand, 8.8.

The steeper incline was particularly noticeable during the canter. The mare takes weight under her hindquarters, but her conformation makes it difficult for her to lower her hindquarters. Nevertheless, she demonstrated her willingness to collect in all phases today, and the transition to walk in the simple change was textbook-perfect—though the initiation of the canter wasn’t quite in response to the aid. Even when letting her chew with the reins out of hand, I would have liked to see more forward movement and not just downward. But all in all, the mare seemed very content and like a “happy athlete.”

It received an 8.5 for transparency, an 8.6 for perspective, 84.8 percent overall, and ranked fifth.

And what else?

With that, Senza Parole had relegated the favorite from Denmark to sixth place, Søbakkehus Miss Malfoy v. Hesselhøj Down Town-Sir Donnerhall I (breeder and owner: Dr. Christine Feichtinger) under Joachim Thomsen. Until recently, the mare was ridden by Anders Sjøbeck Hoeck, with whom she won the “Danish National Championships” for four-year-olds with a score of over 90 percent. She has also been victorious twice in Denmark under Joachim Thomsen. The mare displayed three very good basic gaits, was quite consistent in her contact, and appeared content and willing throughout all phases of the test, finely guided by Thomsen. In the extended trots, one might have wished for a bit more drive and a narrower track; in the collected canter, a clearer transition in the three-beat rhythm. She received a score of 83.4 percent (trot 8.6, walk 8.2, canter 8.0, suppleness 8.5, perspective 8.4).

There was also great anticipation for the performance of last year’s Bundeschampion among four-year-old stallions, Esquire OLD by Escolar-Fürst Heinrich, ridden by Eva Möller (breeder: Maria-Antonia Burczyk, owner: Iwiccy Dressage). The pair got off to a good start with a confident hold and a fairly lively first trot sequence. However, during the first extended trot, the stallion shifted significantly onto his forehand, lost his balance, and made rhythm errors. His trot became increasingly hurried. The second extended trot started better, but here, too, he began to rush and lost his balance somewhat. The rhythm errors weren’t as pronounced as in the first extension, but the movement wasn’t even either. At a walk, Esquire showed a steady rhythm and good extension, but lacked the full stride. The best basic gait today was the canter, where Esquire was already able to carry his weight well. All in all, he scored 76.8 percent.

It was striking that the five-year-old horses seemed more at ease than the six-year-olds; they carried themselves more naturally and were less agitated. It was good to see that.

The third-place match for the five-year-olds begins tomorrow at 2:30 p.m., giving those who didn’t make the top 12 today one more chance to advance to the final as one of the top three pairs.

You can find all the starter lists and results from Verden here.