Hanoverian Riding Horse Championships in Verden 2026: Daan G, Be Gold, Iva Bella R, and Vivaro Take the Titles

Another title for Helene Geervliet. The results of the Danish breeder’s work at Stutteri G were not only successful on the international stage but also stood out at the regional level. Following the triumph of Faustino and Betina Jaeger Jensen in the six-year-old dressage horse class and Quinn G’s victory last year, the Danish breeder was able to take home yet another trophy.

Favorite Wins Among Four-Year-Old Colts

As the top-priced horse at the stallion auction, Daan G. by Donkey Boss had already been heavily favored leading up to the event. The long-legged chestnut stallion, who sold for a seven-figure sum during the auction round at the Niedersachsenhalle, lived up to the high expectations. His powerful canter received a 9.5. His trot, developed from an active hind leg push-off, was rated 9.0. His walk earned an 8.8. His overall impression was a solid “very good.” With that, victory was assured for the Denmark-born Hanoverian. Vanessa Crnadak had presented the dark chestnut in a Class A dressage horse class and scored an 8.92. In Verden, the competition was held according to the new format also used at the National Championships: first a riding horse class, followed by the Class A dressage horse class in the final.

Bon Coeur’s half-brother came in second

The silver medal went to Thomas Schulze, who presented Salsero CF by Secret-Vivaldi (breeder: Dr. Christine Feichtinger, Vaduz, Liechtenstein)—the maternal half-brother of the stallion Bon Coeur—in Verden. Canter and suppleness (both 9.0) were the highlights of the pair’s performance (8.6). These were the only horses to receive a score of 8.0 or higher. The bronze medal went to CM Flaconi by Fürstenball, ridden by Ann Kathrin Müller (breeder: Carsten Müller, Neustadt), with a score of 7.48.

Mares and Geldings: Ladies First

The twelve best four-year-old mares and geldings from the qualifying round competed in the final. With two scores of 9.0 for walk and responsiveness, Iva Bella R by Asgard’s Ibiza-Bonifatius set the standard here. Although the mare is not originally from Denmark, anyone traveling to Denmark via Fehmarn will pass her birthplace on the A1: Susanne and Volker Redderberg from Ahrensbök in Schleswig-Holstein are the breeders of Iva Bella R. Her overall score: 8.72, with a 9.0 for walk and responsiveness. Kira Goerens-Ripphoff was in the saddle.

She also introduced the runner-up, another mare. Floria HE by Fürst Belissaro-Silberschmied (breeder: Ilsemarie Wrede, Freiburg) scored an 8.44. The bronze medal went to Señor Meyer by Secret-Weltmeyer (breeder: Dr. Ansgar Reyering, Mettingen) with Thomas Schulze (8.26).

The name says it all: Be Gold

Be Gold, a chestnut gelding by Bon Vivaldi NRW-Best of Gold—and thus in the bloodline of the stallion Bolero—won the title of Hanoverian Champion among three-year-old fillies and geldings with Eike in the saddle—scoring 9.5 for trot, 9.0 for rideability and conformation, for a total score of 8.80. He thus led a field of 26 competitors. Breeder Günther Wellmann from Brockum had another horse competing in Verden: Eike Bewerungen rode Be Gold’s full brother, Be my Gold, to third place in the four-year-old qualifying round.

Three-year-old mares and geldings: Bolero sends his regards

The “Big B” also took second place among the three-year-olds. Beautiful Vibe, a daughter of Bonds, was rated “very good” for her canter and conformation and scored an 8.6 under Dries van Dyck. The black mare (breeder: Sebastian Kopp, Rohr) had been named the dressage champion mare at the Herwart von der Decken Show on Monday.

Rounding out the podium was Sixpack by Secret-Sir Donnerhall, ridden by Sina Aringer. The athletic chestnut (breeder: Mathias Schulze, Hankensbüttel) descends from the renowned Eckernförde II dam line. This is the family that produced the stallion Argentan, who was popular in the 1990s, as well as the Olympic stallion Destano (Simone Pearce), the sire of Katharina Hemmer’s Denoix.

Three-Year-Old Stallions: A Perfect Score for Varido

Among the three-year-old stallions, one received a perfect score: Varido, a son of Von Und Zu, earned a 10.0 for his walk. He received a 9.5 for his canter. For all other criteria, he received a 9.0. All in all, this resulted in the day’s highest score for Janina Tietze: 9.30—Champion! The breeder is Friederike Pelzer from Lüsche. The owners, IB Berger GmbH, had thus scored another home run. Beautiful Vibe, the winner of the Herwart von der Decken Show and Reserve Champion of the three-year-old mares and geldings, is also owned by them.

Éclair by Energy-Sandro Hit (breeder: Katharina Lindena-Janssen), ridden by Jessica Lynn Thomas, took second place—scoring a 9.5 for rideability and a final score of 9.0. The bronze medal went to Flacon by For Fantano-Floris Prince. Jacob Schenk presented the gelding, bred by his father Michael. The pair received a 9.0 (8.7) for canter, walk, and conformation.