Day one of the Equestrian World Tours Dressage Youth Championships 2026 wound up with music, mocktails and dancing after a full day of competition at the Fiber Fresh NEC, Taupo. The Youth Council had also organised video clips of their international dressage idols who sent messages of good luck and their top tips for success.
What a difference a day can make – Wednesday weather had been very threatening with suggestions of cancellation, a dreary Thursday but fine and warm during the day on Friday
Ben Weir (Matangi) triumphed in the feature class of the day, the FEI U25 Grand Prix Freestyle on Melissa & Trevor Steed’s NPE Del Rico. Del Rico set out to redeem himself after giving his connections a travel dilemma on his journey from Waitemata – his usual transport seemingly not favoured. But a 67.525% in the test today puts the pair in the lead for the championship.
Today also featured the first competition in the inaugural Equilume NZL vs AUS Youth Challenge run concurrently with the EMB Australian Youth Championships. The NZL team comprises
FEI Childrens – Maddy Bostock & Dynamik Great Expectations (NHB)
FEI Pony – Alice Murfitt & Kingslea Busy Bee (CTBY)
FEI Junior -Grace Purdie & Skyhi Leandro K (WAIK)
FEI Young Rider – Samantha Belsham & Dolcetto II (WAIK)
FEI U25 GP – Ben Weir & NPE Del Rico (WAIK)
and the AUS team;
FEI Childrens – Lily Diss & Butterfly DS (VIC)
FEI Pony – Morgan Cockerell & Monteith Brunton (VIC)
FEI Junior – Millicent Fletcher & Amsterdam (NSW)
FEI Young Rider – Rosemary Heagney & MSJ Nemo (VIC)
FEI U25 GP – Jessica Dertell – Kilimanjaro (VIC)
Maddy Bostock currently lies 5th in the Children’s Individual ranking, with AUS team member Lily Diss on 73.625% in first place. Diss was second today on 66.857% and Bostock rides Test B tomorrow.
Also for NZL today Alice Murfitt & Kingslea Busy Bee scored 63.10, Grace Purdie 66.764 and Samantha Belsham 69.636. The Australian leg runs for two more days.
The North Island vs South Island Classic Equestrian Teams Event is provisionally led by the North with four scores on the board compared with three for the South following an unfortunate retirement by Holly Hanson, but each team gets to drop one score so its not over yet.
Interisland Team Scores Team Provisional
Photos Copyright Libby Law Photography
2026 Equestrian World Tours NZ Youth Dressage Festival & DNZ Youth National Championships. The Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Center – Taupo. Thursday 22 January 2026. Copyright: Libby Law Photography
2026 Equestrian World Tours NZ Youth Dressage Festival & DNZ Youth National Championships. The Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Center – Taupo. Thursday 22 January 2026. Copyright: Libby Law Photography
2026 Equestrian World Tours NZ Youth Dressage Festival & DNZ Youth National Championships. The Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Center – Taupo. Thursday 22 January 2026. Copyright: Libby Law Photography