It is my great pleasure and privilege to extend a warm welcome to dressage and breeding enthusiasts from all over the world as we arrive at the legendary showgrounds at Verden, a place that holds special memories for so many of us and where the spirit of sports horse breeding is very much alive.

It was at Verden that in 1997 we saw the very first pilot project of what was later to become the FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses, and it is now the 17th time that we gather here to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of horsemanship and breeding knowledge and inspiration that bring this Championship to life.

We are extremely grateful to the Hannoveraner Verband and the German National Federation who have worked tirelessly over the years to make this event so memorable for all of us.

The last time we saw each other here for the World Breeding Championships was in 2021 as we were just about emerging from the restrictions of covid lockdown. Organising an event under such circumstances was highly challenging but also truly extraordinary and a great testimony to the resilience and spirit of cooperation shown by all of you, organisers, participants and visitors alike.

It is hard to believe that last time we went through the entrance gates, we were all putting on our face masks and remained careful to maintain our social distancing.

And still, my most enduring memory of that time was one of happiness and gratitude simply to be there and see so many old friends and colleagues who had been separated from each other for so long.

The magic of our sport and of breeding is that of a shared experience, of moments that touch us and inspire us to continue our journey of breeding and producing happy, talented and beautiful horses for the future. No viral post on social media and no tv broadcast can replace the sheer joy and sense of the sublime we gain from coming together in this way.

And maybe then the answer of how we can secure the future of our sport is strikingly simple. We will succeed by overcoming distances and divisions, be they physical or be they in our minds. By showing solidarity and understanding, qualities that in my experience are central to good horsemanship and a characteristic of all true breeders.

With its long and illustrious history, Verden holds a special sense of connection with the many generations of horses and breeders that came before us. We owe it to them to keep their spirit alive by continuing in our quest to secure the future of our sport and of our horses.

Jan Pedersen