Lanaken this week: five-year-olds at 1.20 m
The FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses is at Domein Zangersheide, Lanaken, from Wednesday 16 September through Sunday 20 September. Zangersheide calls it the 31st edition. Five-, six- and seven-year-olds from WBFSH member studbooks jump the same week under one set of heights.
The WBFSH jumping page lists 17 to 20 September. The FEI event page and Horse Sport Ireland both print 16 to 20. First qualifications sit on Wednesday. Use the 2026 heights, not the 2025 ones.
The heights that dropped
Nadine Brandtner's 29 May note is the source, and the WBFSH championship page repeats it.
Five-year-old first and second qualifiers: 1.20 m, previously 1.25 m, not against the clock. Final first round: 1.25 m, previously 1.30 m, all clears go through. Final second round: 1.25 m against an optimum time.
Six-year-old first qualifier: 1.30 m, previously 1.35 m, two phases against the clock. Second qualifier: 1.35 m, one round against the clock. Final: 1.35 m, previously 1.40 m, one round and a jump-off, both against the clock.
Seven-year-olds did not move. First qualifier 1.40 m, two phases against the clock. Second qualifier 1.40 m, one round against the clock. Final 1.45 m, one round and a jump-off, both against the clock.
Do not add five centimetres because the ring looks big on a phone. The FEI and WBFSH cut those centimetres on purpose.
Who is allowed in
Entries go through National Federations only. Horses must have been registered at birth in a WBFSH member studbook. The MER sheet, updated and approved by the Jumping Committee on 27 May 2026, wants three clear rounds in the calendar year of the championship, no later than definite entries:
- five-year-olds: competitions of at least 115 cm
- six-year-olds: at least 125 cm
- seven-year-olds: at least 135 cm
Those clears can come from a national selection or from CSIYH and CSI classes. The NF still sends a Record of Results with the definite entries.
A 1.20 m five-year-old championship is not a place to blood a horse that has never jumped 1.15 m in public. See course design and horse welfare if you need the club version of that argument.
What to steal for a UK young-horse morning
You will not rebuild Lanaken in a 20 x 40. You can steal the numbers.
For five-year-olds, drop the clock. Set 1.20 m and ask for a rhythm. Related distances that ride on a 3.5 m stride, not a 3.7 m. No skinny last. If you need a time element, use an optimum time, as the Lanaken final now does. In a small school, related distances in a 20 x 40 still apply.
For six-year-olds, 1.30 m then 1.35 m is enough. Two phases on the first class, one round on the second. Keep the jump-off for the last class, and keep it short.
For seven-year-olds, 1.40 m then 1.45 m is already a proper job. Do not add a water jump because you saw one at a 5*.
Draw it in the designer before you put a pole on the floor. Mark the height on every fence. If you print a pack for a young-horse day, the steward should be able to rebuild without ringing you.
Watch Wednesday's first qualifications from Lanaken, then check your own 1.20 m grid against what actually left the cups up.
