The criteria, approved by Equestrian Australia (EA), the FEI and the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH), came into effect from 1 January 2026 and outlines how Australian five, six and seven-year-old horses will be selected to represent the nation on the world stage.
Under the policy, EA’s National Dressage Selection Panel (NDSP) will select up to three combinations across the age groups – one five-year-old, one six-year-old and one seven-year-old – with priority given to home-bred horses. Where no eligible Australian-bred horse meets the required standards, foreign-bred horses may be considered in accordance with WBFSH rules.
DJWTS is the official National Selection Procedure event
A key update for 2026 is the confirmation of the Australian Young Dressage Horse Championships (AYDHC) as the official National Selection Procedure event. Hosted as part of Dressage and Jumping with the Stars (DJWTS) at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre (19-21 March 2026), the event will feature a ground jury of three FEI Young Horse judges, including at least one international judge.
Provided minimum eligibility requirements are met, the winners of the five, six and seven-year-old championships at the AYDHC will be automatically offered a place at the World Breeding Championships. Minimum scores in the final test are set at 80 per cent for five and six-year-old horses, and 70 per cent for seven-year-olds.
This marks a notable change from 2025, where combinations were required to also achieve qualifying results at CDI-YH level (as the Young Horse classes at DJWTS are not CDIs). With DJWTS recognised as the national selection event, Australian-based horses can qualify domestically without the need to contest a CDI class, streamlining the pathway for locally produced young horses.
For overseas-based combinations, qualification remains via CDI-YH competition, with minimum eligibility requirements of 75 per cent for five and six-year-old horses and 70 per cent for seven-year-olds in either the Preliminary or Final Test Horses qualifying via this route are only offered a place should the AYDHC (national selection event) winners fail to achieve minimum scores or choose not to take their place on the team.
All horses must hold a current FEI passport or recognition card and be registered with a WBFSH member studbook from birth. Athletes must meet EA and FEI eligibility and integrity requirements, with combinations required to lodge an expression of interest by 21 April 2026.
Importantly, the early release and FEI approval of the 2026 criteria provides breeders, owners, and riders with greater certainty and planning time as they prepare young horses for international championship targets.
As has been the case in previous years, selected combinations will compete at their own expense, with EA supplying team uniforms only.
In 2025 Australia had two combinations compete, Alex Vodermair and Exact in the six-year-old class who placed fourth in the Small Final and Tayla Desmet and Dark Diamond who contested the five-year-old class and finished sixth in the Small Final.
