Australian rider Alicia Ryan, 28, is set to compete at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, held from 5-10 August in Verden, Germany, after being named on the Swedish team.
Alicia has been selected for the five-year-old class with stallion Morricello II VH (by Moricone x Floricello), and has also been named a reserve for the six-year-old class with Vilas Blarney (by Bon Coeur x Floricello).
Morricello II VH is bred and owned by Västra Hoby Stuteri AB, while Vilas Blarney was bred by Virpi Larsson and is owned by Monica Brandström, Gunilla Eriksson, and Agneta Jansson.
Based on the size of its studbook, Sweden is eligible to send four combinations per age category and have therefore selected a total of 12 combinations plus six reserves (two per age division).
“Morricello II VH has been selected to represent Sweden at the 2025 World Championships for Young Horses in the five-year-old class and Vilas Blarney is named first reserve six-year-old!” said Alicia via social media. “Thank you to my amazing team and owners for your trust and support!”
You can view the full list of horses named for the Swedish team via the Svenska Ridsport Förbundet (Swedish Equestrian Federation) announcement here.
Alicia has been riding professionally in Europe for the past two years and previously represented Australia at the 2023 Championships with her own mare, Merricks Sonique, in the 7-year-old class.
Alicia has also enjoyed recent success with the similarly-named Morricello III VH (by Morricone x Floricello), with the pair winning the semi-final (87.3) for four-year-olds at the recent Falsterbo Horse Show, and placed third in the final (81.917).
