German Foal Championships 2026 canceled

This is a punch in the gut for all those for whom the German Foal Championships in Lienen were an integral part of the annual calendar. The show jumping event for young horses in the small town of Lienen between Osnabrück and Münster has been canceled. Organizer Norbert Kammann announced in a brief statement that the great days of Lienen 2026 will not take place. The final was originally scheduled for the weekend of July 11/12.

But in 2026, no foals bred for dressage or show jumping will be doing their rounds. The nationwide pony offspring will also not be competing for the black, red and gold sash of the champion. Finally, there will also be no German Broodmare Championships. The background: there is a lack of support. Whether financial or idealistic, the explanation leaves open. It was part of the charm of the German Foal Championships that an air of nostalgia wafted over the event site in Lienen. Personal initiative was written in capital letters. Nevertheless, there were not enough promises that would guarantee “an orderly and safe event”. Hence the decision to pull the plug.

However, Kammann does not want to write off the highly esteemed championship completely. “This decision does not necessarily mean the final end of the German Foal Championships,” says organizer Kammann, leaving a loophole open for a possible German Foal Championships in 2027.