Members of the Young Riders Academy 2026
In the footsteps of Hinners, Charles, Vogel & Co. – the Young Riders Academy 2026
from Dominique Wehrmann 
The candidates for the Young Riders Academy 2026, eleven of whom were ultimately selected, with the team. Photo: YRA When you read who has already been able to soak up knowledge from all areas of show jumping for a season as part of the Young Riders Academy, you have to assume that this concept is a success story. The list ranges from Bertram Allen (IRL), one of the first graduates in 2014, to team Olympic champion Harry Charles (2018) and European champion and recent ‘s-Hertogenbosch winner Richard Vogel (2020). However, Laura Klaphake (2016), who later came third at the World Championships, Sophie Hinners (2019), who came third at the European Championships with Michael Pender (IRL), Philipp Schulze Topphoff and Joseph Stockdale (2022) as well as the Belgian European team champion Thibeau Spits (2023) and Hannes Ahlmann, one of the great German hopes for the sport.
Selection process
26 applicants met in Peelbergen (NED) on March 16th and 17th to face the selection panel. For the sporting aspects, this included the show jumping trainers Jens Fredricson (SWE) and Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED). The Swede Sven Holmberg has been the sporting director of the academy for years. The director is Eleonora Ottaviani (ITA) from the International Jumping Riders Club.
They explained that the decision on the composition of the group is not just about riding talent. “At this stage, it’s not just what we see on the course that is decisive. It’s more about the riders’ perspective. The aim is to find young riders who have the talent, the attitude and the will to develop through every single aspect of the program.”
Jens Fredricson: “We are looking for real passion for the sport and long-term goals. We need to feel that they are really willing and ready to go all the way to the top of the sport.” It’s not just about developing the participants’ riding skills. At the Young Riders Academy, the talented young riders will get a taste of all areas of the sport – from professional stable management to show planning, keeping, feeding and health management of their horses to conducting interviews. “We want to train them to become professionals,” summarized Eleonora Ottaviani.
This year, the quality of the applicants was exceptionally high. The following eleven talents have now made it into the YRA 2026.
The Young Riders Academy 2026
There are also several “children of” among the eleven selected for the new class – Thibeau Philippaerts as the youngest offspring of the four Belgian brothers, Mathieu Guery as the son of the Belgian Olympic bronze medallist of 2021, Jérôme Guery and Lou Puch, the daughter of the Austrian Paralympics winner and former world-class event rider Pepo Puch. But as the names above show, it may help, but you don’t have to come from a great equestrian dynasty to make it in the sport. The Young Riders Academy wants to help make it possible without the family background. Here are the 2026 participants.
- Elisa Chimirri (ITA), born June 9, 2003, competed three times at the European Young Rider Championships, 46th place FEI U25 Ranking
- Rose de Balanda (FRA), June 21, 2004, four times junior European Championships, including 2017 U14 silver in the individual classification, rank 718 FEI U25 Ranking
- Mathieu Guery (BEL), July 24, 2005, three times junior European Championships, one team bronze and one team gold as well as individual bronze, 30th place FEI U25 Ranking
- Nick Nanning (NED), August 26, 2006, four times Junior European Championships, twice team silver and once individual bronze, 89th place FEI U25 Ranking
- Anthony Philippaerts (BEL), May 28, 2003, three times European Junior Championships, one team silver and one team gold, 141st place FEI U25 Ranking
- Lou Puch (SUI), March 5, 2007, four times European Junior Championships, place 159 FEI U25 Ranking
- Bryan Smits (SUI), December 12, 2005, twice European Junior Championships, place 153 FEI U25 Ranking
- Emma Sophia Spanko (CZE), September 9, 2005, one-time junior European Championship, place 242 FEI U25 Ranking
- Leah Stack (IRL), March 21, 2003, has competed nine times at World Championships for young show jumpers, 289th place FEI U25 Ranking
- Sören Suppert (GER), January 19, 2003, finalist of Germany’s U25 Jumping Cup after winning the first leg in Hagen, rank 299 FEI U25 Ranking
- Thijmen Vos (NED), February 1, 2006, six times European Junior Championships, twice team silver, once team gold, once individual silver, 78th place FEI U25 Ranking
