Lisa Wernitznig and Superb impress at World Championship trials in Austria

Lisa Wernitzig presented the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare Superb for the first time at the end of last season. The Surprice daughter was trained by Wernitzig’s boss Isabell Werth, who also competed with her internationally. However, the two no longer wanted to harmonize one hundred percent. Their last show together was Basel 2025, where they won the Grand Prix with 72.761 percent and came second in the freestyle (74.680).

Lisa Wernitznig made her Intermédiaire II debut with the mare in Wickrath in December, finishing in third place with 69.21 percent. They won the short Grand Prix at the same venue in February (72.130), and a Grand Prix de Dressage was then on the program for the first time in Hamminkeln. Result: victory with 73.970 percent.

Sighting in Austria

With these results behind them, the pair traveled to Austria at the beginning of this week to assert their claims for consideration for the World Championship selection of Wernitznig’s home country at the “commission review” of the Austrian Equestrian Federation. They succeeded.

Three judges were present, including Elke Ebert. They gave Wernitznig, who actually comes from Carinthia, exactly 71 percent, the best result of the three participants.

That is very promising in the internal race for the World Championship starting places. However, in order to be considered for a nomination, the pair must have qualified on the international stage and they have never competed at a CDI before. By July 6, the day of the nominations, they must have received scores of 66 percent or better at at least two international Grand Prix tournaments (CDI3* and higher). According to the Austrian portal eqwo.net, it remains to be seen when the pair will make their first international appearance.

Changes in the association

A lot is happening in Austria at the moment. A few days ago, an era at the top of the Austrian Equestrian Federation came to an end. Olympic dressage champion Elisabeth Max-Theurer had been President for 24 years. Now she was not re-elected. She received 60 votes of the 126 delegates from all federal states. Her rival, politician Herbert Gugganig from Styria, received 66 votes.

Herbert Gugganig is thus the new OEPS President together with Johannes Mayrhofer (Director of the Stadl Paura Equestrian Centre), Dr. Leopold Erasimus, Dr. Andrea Blaszczyk and Dr. Inge Margreiter.