World Championships
World Championships 2025
3 – 10 August 2025, Birmenstorf, Switzerland
The World Championships 2025 will take place in Switzerland for the third time, this time in Birmenstorf in the canton of Aargau. The venue, Hardwinkelhof is located only 20 mins from Zurich airport but is centrally located yet close-to-nature. Icelandic horse fans and horse enthusiasts can look forward to seeing the world’s best horses and riders in Icelandic horse sport and breeding. In addition, an attractive side programme with concerts, food stalls, various shopping opportunities, will provide an experience for young and old. Therefore, unforgettable moments are already guaranteed.
The WC is organized by VIS WM 2025 (Islandpferde – WM 2025 in der Schweiz) and FEIF.
Sport
A national sport team at World Championships for Icelandic Horses can comprise of up to 7 rider/horse combinations and a reserve horse, a reserve rider or a reserve rider/horse combination. In addition, up to five extra eligible rider/horse combinations and a reserve horse, a reserve rider or a reserve rider/horse combination can be added to the team, provided that the extra riders are at least 16 years old and not more than 21 years old in the calendar year. Young riders may choose to compete in a separate age division or with the adults.
Only one horse per rider is allowed in the World Championships sport competitions. The rider/horse combination cannot be changed after the final entry. Excepted from this is when the reserve is entered in accordance with the rules.
The reigning World Champions are allowed to participate as World Champion at the succeeding World Championships with the same or another eligible horse.
Photo: Peter Niess
Video: https://lalendi.nl/events.html
Breeding
During the World Championships, a Breeding show is organised where each full FEIF member associations may enter a maximum of 2 horses per age group, whereas no reserve horses are possible. The horses may take part in both the breeding and sports classes, but the shoeing may not be changed at all during the World Championships.
A horse may only represent the member association in which it was born. All stallions presented for judgement must have proof of parentage either by blood type or DNA analysis (born from 2006 on).
Stallions and mares are shown in separate classes in the following age groups:
a) 5 years old
b) 6 years old
c) 7 years old or over
European Championships (1970 – 1989)
- 1970 – First European Championship in Aegidienberg, Germany.
- 1972 – European Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland
- 1975 – European Championships in Semriach, Austria
- 1977 – European Championships in Skiveren, Denmark
- 1979 – European Championships in Uddel, the Netherlands
- 1981 – European Championships in Larvik, Norway
- 1983 – European Championships in Roderath, Germany
- 1985 – European Championships in Vårgårda,
- 1987 – European Championships in Weistrach, Austria
- 1989 – European Championships in Wilhelmsborg, Denmark
World Championships (since 1991)
- 1991 – First World Championships in Norrkoping, Sweden
- 1993 – World Championships in Spaarnwoude, The Netherlands
- 1995 – World Championships in Fehraltorf, Switzerland
- 1997 – World Championships in Seljord, Norway
- 1999 – World Championships in Rieden, Germany
- 2001 – World Championships in Stadl Paura, Austria
- 2003 – World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
- 2005 – World Championships in Norrkoping, Sweden
- 2007 – World Championships in Oirschot, the Netherlands
- 2009 – World Championships in Neckertal, Switzerland
- 2011 – World Championships in St. Radegund, Austria
- 2013 – World Championships in Berlin, Germany
- 2015 – World Championships in Herning, Denmark
- 2017 – World Championships in Oirschot, Netherlands
- 2019 – World Championships in Berlin, Germany
- 2021 – cancelled (COVID-19), planned: Herning, Denmark
- 2023 – World Championships in Oirschot, Netherlands
- 2025 – World Championships in Birmenstorf, Switzerland
World Champions 2023
| Rider | Horse | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jóhanna Margrét Snorradóttir | Bárður frá Melabergi | IS | T1 Tölt |
| Máni Hilmarsson | Gljátoppur frá Miðhrauni | SE | T2 Tölt |
| Frauke Schenzel | Jódís vom Kronshof | DE | V1 Four Gait |
| Sara Sigurbjörnsdóttir | Flóki frá Oddhóli | IS | F1 Five Gait |
| Elvar Þormarsson | Fjalladís frá Fornusöndum | IS | PP1 Pace Test |
| Elvar Þormarsson | Fjalladís frá Fornusöndum | IS | P1 Pace Race 250m |
| Helga Hochstöger | Nóri von Oed | AT | P2 SpeedPass 100m |
| Jóhanna Margrét Snorradóttir | Bárður frá Melabergi | IS | C4 Four Gait Combination |
| Caspar Logan Hegardt | Oddi från Skeppargården | SE | C5 Five Gait Combination |
| Herdís Björg Jóhannsdóttir | Kvarði frá Pulu | IS | T1 Tölt - Young Rider |
| Lena Becker | Bikar frá Ytra-Vallholti | DE | T2 Tölt - Young Rider |
| Jón Ársæll Bergmann | Frár frá Sandhól | IS | V1 Four Gait - Young Rider |
| Glódís Rún Sigurðardóttir | Salka frá Efri-Brú | IS | F1 Five Gait - Young Rider |
| Benedikt Ólafsson | Leira-Björk frá Naustum III | IS | PP1 Pace Test - Young Rider |
| Freja Løvgreen Gandrup | Fjölvi fra Hedegaard | DK | P1 Pace Race 250m - Young Rider |
| Alicia Palm | Ljúfa från Ekeholm | SE | P2 SpeedPass 100m - Young Rider |
| Jón Ársæll Bergmann | Frár frá Sandhól | IS | C4 Four Gait Combination - Young Rider |
| Benedikt Ólafsson | Leira-Björk frá Naustum III | IS | C5 Five Gait Combination - Young Rider |