Trakehner spring licensing 2026: Nicole Uphoff with training tips, Stephan Dubsky with jumping fun at its best
Trakehner spring licensing 2026: a high-flyer, Nicole Uphoff and a “licensed” one
from Jan Tönjes 
Stephan Dubsky (IRL) and the over 1.60 m successful Cestuy la de L'Esques AA impressed with ease over respectable dimensions. Photo: Jutta Bauernschmitt At the Trakehner spring licensing, interested breeders were able to see more than stallions that were “only” on the track at a brisk trot and canter. The event in Münster-Handorf, the stallion show aka “spring meeting”, was supplemented by the opportunity to inspect the stallions of the evening show on “hard ground” beforehand. This is important information, as it allows anyone interested in breeding to get an idea of the position and feet of the potential sire of the foal hoped for in 2027. And how he “loafs” once he is off the perfectly springy sand parquet.
Innovation is maintained
The organizers concluded that the idea should be continued. Before there were a good 30 stallions on show in the evening, commented on by breeding manager Neel-Heinrich Schoof, auctioneer Hendrik Schulze Rückkamp and presenter Erhard Schulte, the stallions were licensed. Of the eight young stallions presented, one received the hoped-for “thumbs up”: the four-year-old Nachttempel by Tempelhof-Interconti, breeder Dr. Elke Söchtig, Wolfhagen. The wiry bay had already passed a short test in Verden with a score of 7.42 and has already had his first competition starts.
Show and show at the Trakehner Spring Licensing 2026
The stallion show was multifaceted – the audience had to look closely when Olympic champion Nicole Uphoff commented on a training session of the premium stallion Donauschwarm by Millennium under his owner Christoph Möller. The pair ride regularly with Uphoff. The five-year-old, premium stallion 2023 and reserve winner of the stallion performance test Stadl Paura 2025, was presented without spurs. “He is sensitive. He doesn’t need them,” explained the dressage rider.
The show effect was not neglected either: poles and cross-country obstacles highlighted the qualities of the eventing horse of Trakehner descent: The five-year-old three-quarter blood and reigning Trakehner cross-country horse champion, Ataman, a son of the thoroughbred Arabian Pagur ox, was presented by Andreas Ostholt. Felix Etzel presented the thoroughbred stallion Waugh xx and CCI4* winner TSF Polartanz. The quintessence of show and top-class sport was provided by Cestuy la de L’Esques AA with Stephan Dubsky, who was successful in courses up to 1.60 m.
