Weronika Kwiatek (POL) and Rocco at the FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses - Kisbér-Aszar (HUN) © FEI / Krisztina Horvath

20.09.2026

Young horse specialist Weronika Kwiatek (POL) swept to victory in both the five- and six-year-old classes at the 11th FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses.

At the event in Ászár-Kisbér (HUN), Kathrin Karosser (GER) also won seven-year-old gold with DSP Daria OT.

Five-year-olds

Kwiatek’s winning horse was the KWPN stallion Rocco, owned by Dariusz Tokarski and sired by the renowned driving horse Cizandro. Kwiatek posted the top score in Friday’s opening dressage and cones test, then won Saturday’s combined marathon. She stayed ahead in Sunday’s dressage and cones test to finish on 25.74, comprising 8.60 from Saturday and 17.14 from Sunday.

Henrik Hoeper (DEN) took silver with Fafner 11, owned by Christina Fahrenbach. Their score of 24.69 was 1.05 behind the winner. Marisa Rössler (AUT) claimed bronze with Komet 17, owned by Julia Kamerer, on 20.54.

Six-year-olds

Having taken five-year-old bronze last year with the KWPN mare Proud Walda, Kwiatek guided her to gold this year. Owned by Marta Paczala, Proud Walda scored 9.30 in Saturday’s combined marathon and 18.11 in Sunday’s dressage and cones test. Their total of 27.41 gave them victory by 3.53 in the largest class of the competition, which featured 13 combinations.

Maria Henriksson (NOR) and the KWPN gelding Picasso took silver on 23.88. Sylvia Peters (AUT) and her own Capucchina claimed bronze on 22.68.

Seven-year-olds

Karosser, who also competed in the 3* pony singles class, won her first Young Horse gold medal with DSP Daria OT, owned by Maike and Tobias Obermaier. Their total of 25.94, comprising 8.50 and 17.44, put them 1.15 ahead of Mirko Cassotti (ITA) and his own KWPN horse Oxbow, who took silver on 24.79.

Bartlomiej Kwiatek (POL) – Weronika’s brother – took bronze on 24.54 with DSP Eldin, his six-year-old winner last year. He was also fourth with the Silesian stallion Hunter on 22.68.

A new format

Held under a new format, the event took place over three days, with dressage and cones tests on Friday and Sunday and a combined marathon on Saturday.

Friday’s opening test did not count towards the final score, although it offered an indication of form. Unlike in previous editions, when combinations had to qualify for the combined marathon, everyone who started on Friday was eligible to continue.

Education and development

The FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses aims to assess horses’ development and education in relation to their age. The tests and combined marathons increase in difficulty and length across the three age categories.

The Championship began in 2015, when the Kwiatek siblings also competed and Bartlomiej won the six-year-old title with the Silesian horse Bazyli. It has been held in Hungary nine times.

As last year, the event was hosted by Vilmos Jambor and his family, long-standing organisers of Driving events in Hungary. Bert Jambon (BEL) reprised his Aachen role as President of the Ground Jury and was joined by an experienced international team of judges and officials, including Hungarian course builder Gábor Fintha.

FULL RESULTS