and the 7-year old Rianta van de Kempenhoeve became the winners of the 2024 Belgian Young Horse Championships in Gesves A big group of 34 combinations opened the Championships with the preliminary round for 4-year olds Only the top 10 would be invited to the medal winning finals round which was won by Kevin Laevens aboard the BWP bred Urianto van den Dries (by Escamillo x Quaterback) The pair was third in the warm-up but moved up to the top spot in the finals with 83.200% The reserve champion was Justin Verboomen  on  Francis Carlens' Oldenburg bred Maiglockchen du Jade (by Escamillo x Franziskus) They won the preliminary round but dropped to second place in the finals with 81.800% Twenty-two 5-year olds came to Gesves and 10 were in the finals Belgian Olympian Larissa Pauluis and the SBS registered Neros d'Hathor (by Kheops d'Hathor x Rubinero) won the preliminary round and the finals with 81.400% Last year the pair was the reserve champion in the 4-year old category The St Vith based Jerome Schneiders and Joelle Haupert's Westfalian mare Belaggia (by Belissimo M x Christ) moved from a fifth place in the first round to the reserve champion's title in the finals round with 79.200% The mare is bred by Luxembourg professional dressage rider Mandy Zimmer Jerome Schneiders did claim the highest step on the podium in the 6-year old division aboard Berthold Hidien's Oldenburg bred Bacchabundus (by Baron x Dimaggio) After placing second in the preliminary round the pair surfaced to the top in the Finals with  85.200% Schneider kept Alexa Fairchild  from achieving a trifecta with her KWPN bred Nacho (by Secret x Tango) The chestnut gelding was the champion of the 4-year olds in 2022 with Alexa's trainer at the time while in 2023 the duo won the 5-year old title This year they topped the board in the preliminary round but ended second in the Finals for the reserve title with a score of 81.000% Twenty-three 6-year olds were entered for this year's championship The 7-year old division was the smallest division this year with 10 entries and 9 moving to the final Amber Heidbuchel  and her long-time partner Belgian warmblood mare Rianta Van De Kempenhoeve (by Indian Rock x Quarterback) topped the board twice Belgian 2016 Olympian Jorinde Verwimp saddled the show jumping bred Holsteiner Rubis Rose (by Calibat x Parco) The new combination posted 73.679% to become the reserve champion Photo © Helena Massa Stalls for Rent at Durondeau Dressage in Peer, Belgium Exceptionally Well Located Equestrian Facility in Wellington, Florida Well-built Equestrian Estate With Multiple Business Opportunities in Sweden Stable Units for Rent at Lotje Schoots' Equestrian Center in Houten (NED) For Rent: Several Apartments and Stable Wing at High-End Equestrian Facility Stable Wing Available at Reiterhof Wensing on Dutch/German border Real Estate: Well-Appointed Country House with Extensive Equestrian Facility in the U.K. Rémi Blot and the 7-year old Zonik Plus became the winners of the 2023 Belgian Young Horse Championships in Gesves on 17 - 20 August 2023  breeder and dressage rider Kara Bosman piloted her home-bred BWP gelding Tamagotschi de Tamise (by For Romance x Charmeur) to the title on a 90.20% score 8.7 for submission and 9.2 for perspective The runner-up was Belgian Grand Prix champion Larissa Pauluis aboard her own SBS bred Neros d'Hathor (by Kheops d'Hathor x Rubinero) The pair was second in the warm-up and kept that position in the Finals The bronze went to Xanthe de Backer on Lieve Snels' KWPN stallion Oristo (by High Five US x Vivaldi) 8.5 for submission and 8.6 for perspective The 5-year old division was judged by Van der Heijden and Rimanque and they renewed Nacho's Belgian Champion's title The chestnut KWPN gelding by Secret x Tango won the 2022 Nationals under Larissa Pauluis and this year owner Alexa Fairchild rode the horse herself and won with 91.20% 8.8 for canter and submission and 9.3 for perspective Alexa Fairchild and NachoThe silver medal was for Luxembourg based Jerome Schneiders on Berthold Hidien's Oldenburg gelding Bacchabundus (by Baron x Dimaggio) The  bay gelding posted 89.60% with 8.5 for walk 8.6 for submission and 9.2 for perspective Clara Mourlon Beernaert and her mother Françoise Pinte's KWPN gelding Next Level (by Escolar x Ferro) finished third with 87.20% 9 for submission and 8.8 for general impression Only five horses competed in the 5-year old division which was judged by the same panel as the 5-year olds Aure Spleeters and her own KWPN bred Matcho-H (by Glamourdale x Rousseau) bested the field with 84.60% and got gold and 8.5 for submission and general impression Cyriel de Coker and Patrick Hubrecht's Oldenburg mare Viva Jane (by Vitalis x San Amour) were the runners-up with 79.40% 7.4 for submission and 7.9 for general impression Pauluis' assistant trainer Margaux Nicolay rode her own KWPN bred Mister President (by Franklin x Painted Black) to bronze with 77.60% 7.3 for submission and 7.8 for perspective After missing out on German team selection for the World Young Horse Championships Justin Verboomen and the Hanoverian stallion Zonik Plus (by Zonik x Hohenstein) grabbed the title at the Belgian championships The pair scored a winning total of 82.607% and ranked far ahead of the competition With 9 for submission and 9.5 for perspective added to a technical score of 77.571% they got gold and their third title in a row Belgian based Frenchman Antoine Nowakowski captured both silver and bronze with his two Hanoverian bred horses of which the Belgian equestrian federation has no pedigree listed (!!!) The chestnut mare London Girl finished second with 77.564% while the bay Furst Rico (by Furst Belissaro x Don Frederico) was third with 75.443% The recommended stallion **** Campeador (Spartacus x Teara by Imperio), bred and owned by Coudelaria de Santa Margarida passed away last Saturday at the age of 18 Campeador earned the admiration of thousands of people at prestigious international events — from Aachen to Belgium passing through the Netherlands — for the elegance of his movements Among the many titles he accumulated throughout his career the highlight was being crowned Champion of Champions at the International Festival of the Purebred Lusitano at the École d’Équitation de Gesves in Belgium Campeador leaves an important legacy in the breeding of the Lusitano horse with 150 registered offspring in the breed’s Studbook and the 7-year old Boateng became the winners of the 2021 Belgian Young Horse Championships which took place in Gesves After the 2020 edition of the Belgian Young Horse Championships were cancelled due to covid the Belgian equestrian federation decided to combine the jumping and dressage division for youngsters at one event for 2021 The fact that the Nationals took place just three days before the World Young Horse Championship  in Verden (GER) was not officially contested at the beginning of the year However early August a small group of five out of six riders suddenly and belatedly realised the clash of dates with Verden and caused ripples They submitted a formal objection to the KBRSF about the timing of the event and received exemption Their Verden selected horses were automatically invited to the final round of the Belgian Young Horse championship this to the frustration of some other combinations that competed on the national YH circuit this season in order to qualify They would have to compete on unequal terms - in their opinion - with two rounds to go in Gesves In the end three of six Verden selected horses (Jack Daniels N Oblix van de Kempenhoeve) participated in Gesves Their riders will drive their young horses straight from Gesves to Verden where the competition starts on Wednesday 25 August Vigo Gold) also took their chance for glory in Gesves and competed in both rounds The Belgian Young Horse Championships consists of two rounds The 10 highest scoring horses were invited to ride in the Finals test which counted for the medals In the 4-year old division former Belgian pony team rider Amber Heidbuchel steered the Belgian warmblood bred Rianta van de Kempenhoeve (by Indian Rock x Quaterback) to the title with a 83.20% score. The BWP mare is bred by Marc Dries and she sold for 8,500 euro at the 2017 Flanders Dressage Event foal auction The runner up was Nils Debo aboard the Belgian bred Ruillee ter Dieschoot (by Sandro Hit x Florestan) The pair was on Heidbuchel's heels but placed second with 82.20% The third place went to Cyriel de Cocker aboard Isabel Cool's Westfalian Ferrari (by For Romance x Jazz) but skipped Warendorf to compete at the Belgian Young Horse Championships Tepper acquired the premium licensed stallion at the 2018 Westfalian stallion licensing for 170,000 euro The bronze medal went to Katrien Verreet and the KWPN mare Liviah Diar (by Johnson x Florestan) with 79.80% The mare is bred by Dionne Willers and owned by Mr The runners-up were Nick van Laer aboard the SBS registered Jack Daniels N (by Apache x Welt Hit II) who followed in Waelkens' wake with 82.80% The bay stallion is bred and owned by Jean van Laer of Stoeterij de Nayakker in Zemst and was the 4-year old Belgian champion in 2019 Nils Debo collected his second medal of the weekend aboard the Oldenburg bred Escojuino Ballante (by Escolar x Diamond Hit) on a score of 78.80% the bay was previously ridden by Finnish Grand Prix rider Niina Nilosaari in the U.K Jerome Schneiders on BoatengIn the 7-year old division Jerome Schneiders aced the finals with the Oldenburg Boateng (by Bon Bravour x Diamond Hit) on a final score of 75,171% Boateng is owned by the Luxembourg Christophe Molitor Flore de Winne finished second aboard the Hanoverian bred Flynn (by Fahrenheit x Sir Oldenburg) The combination posted 74.436% and edged out Katrien Verreet and the Belgian warmblood Oblix van de Kempenhoeve (by Quaterback x Sungold) completed the top three with 74.357% Oblix was the winner of the Championships in 2019 as a 5-year old Photos © Houou Tomita and the 7-year old El Corona Texel became the winners of the 2016 Belgian Young Horse Championships held in Gesves Ten combinations per age division qualified to compete at the Nationals this year German young horse professional Andrea Muller-Kersten steered the Hanoverian bred Belaggio (by Belissimo M x Ehrentanz) to victory in the 4-year old division after winning the first two rounds with 84.200% and 85.200% and landing third place in the Finals with 82.400% They scored an overall total of 251.80 for the title Belaggio is owned by the Belgian based American Elisabeth Tepper Larissa Pauluis and her own Westfalian bred Valentin (by Vitalis x Fidermark) were the runners up after placing second in the first two rounds (80.40% 83.40%) and placing fourth in the finals (81.60%) They totalled 245.40 points for the reserve champion's title Nick van Laer and Nicole Vercalsteren's Belgian warmblood Juwel Krack van het Klaverhof (by Jazz x Royal Diamond) earned the bronze with 80.00% 80.40% and 84.60% on a total of 245.00 points In the 5-year old division Dominique Mohimont topped the board with the Dutch warmblood bred Genie (by Zhivago x Sandro Hit)) was third in the second round with 78.200% and led the finals with 83.00% for a winning total of 243.00 points Junior rider Suraya Hendrikx and the Westfalian gelding Danoon (by Danone I x Dollmann) earned silver with 79.80% 80.60% and 78.00% to finish second on 238.40 points Isabel Cool and her own Dutch warmblood Glorious (by Krack C x Kigali) got the bronze after placing seventh with 75.80% second with 79.20% and sixth with 73.60% (228.60 points) After winning the French Young Horse Champion's title last month Larissa Paulauis and the Dutch owned stallion Barroso (by Bordeaux x Saros xx) now added the 2016 Belgian young Horse Champion's title to their last of achievements They won the 6-year old division in Gesves after three winning rounds in which they scored 76.80% Julie Dossin and the Dutch warmblood mare First Lady (by Sir Donnerhall x Johnson) followed far in the distance in second place with 70.80% Kevin Laevens and the Belgian warmblood licensed stallion Kozinsky van den Dries (by Quaterback x Clavecimbel) earned bronze with 70.60% For the first time the Belgian Young Horse Championships also included a round for 7-year old developing Prix St Georges horses Dominique Mohimont claimed her second title of the weekend by winning the 7-year old division aboard her Dutch warmblood El Corona Texel (by Wynton x Goodtimes) They started off with a second place in the first round (75.400%) and then she won the second round (84.20%) and finals (84.20%) The pair totaled 243.80 points for the gold Nick van Laer and Nicole Vercalsteren's Oldenburg registered Just a Little Bit Krack van het Klaverhof (by Tango x Krack C) was second in the second round (78.00%) and third in the finals (77.80%) Anke Moordtgat and the Dutch warmblood Estée Lauder (by Santano x Rossini) gradually improved throughout the weekend and went from 72.60% to 75.20% to finished third after a 82.60% final round Photo © Nathalie Geerlandt Results - 2016 Belgian Young Horse Championships - Gesves After declining to be considered for the team as Italian short listed rider for the 2014 World Equestrian Games German based Silvia Rizzo set a personal goal for 2014 and achieved it when the silver medal was hung round her neck at the 2014 European Championships for Lusitano Horses in Gesves "The World Equestrian Games were too early for us I've been riding Sal not even a year and I carefully want to build a partnership," Silvia explained "He's experienced but I need to find the buttons on him Riding a Lusitano is very different from a big warmblood stallion Sal is so naturally gifted in piaffe and passage and it comes almost effortlessly The rhythm in canter feels very differently but I'm absolutely loving my Portuguese super star Sal really gives his heart to me and tries to understand and work with me." By setting a more realistic goal for herself -- a medal at the 2014 European Lusitano Championship at Grand Prix level -- Rizzo has kept perspective on her current competition level and rewarded herself with great success on the Lusitano scene "I was totally amazed by the large crowds and tons of horses at the European Lusitano Championships," she said "Hundreds of horses competed there in breed classes The owners and breeders are so incredibly dedicated to the Lusitano horse and they were very interested to find out more about Sal." Assessed by international FEI judges such as Mariette Withages and Jean Pierre Tuloup in the Grand Prix and Kur to Music Rizzo and Sal (by Mississipe x Golega) concluded their 2014 summer show season with individual silver "The silver was a real boost for my confidence and I felt encouraged in my efforts," said Rizzo "Sal will now get a well deserved rest and then I'll slowly pick up training in preparation of the 2015 Dressage in Florida show season in Wellington I want to use these autumn months to build on our partnership." Silvia will be returning to Florida for her third She praises the Sunshine State for its ideal climate fantastic show conditions and friendly atmosphere which provides good support also for non-professional dressage riders with high ambitions We are both 'special' in our own way and I feel that we really glue and get on the same wavelength in Florida," said Silvia "Sal is a horse with a huge heart and a big personality I want to be the right partner for him so we can truly be a special couple." While Sal has certainly stirred a love for the Iberian horse in Silvia the 38-year old Italian also has two young warmblood irons in the fire coming along: the 3-year old Oldenburg gelding Donnerbaldo (by Donnerbube x Fremir AA) and the 3-year old Westfalian mare Blickfang (by Belissimo M x Furst Piccolo) Both youngsters were saddle broken in The Netherlands two months ago and are carefully and slowly being trained in preparation of their first show experiences in 2015