“Horse Whisperer” – Josch Löhden Wins the Tiemeyer x Hetzel Young Horse Masters with Cornets Lady

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Setting the Standard: Tiemeyer x Hetzel Young Horse Masters to Raise Prize Money to €200,000 in 2026

Outstanding young horses, flawless conditions — perfectly suited to the caliber of the sport — a foal auction, polo exhibition, and an atmosphere of international flair: once again, the Tiemeyer x Hetzel Young Horse Masters in Goch raised the bar. And it’s set to go even higher. Already Europe’s most highly endowed young horse event with €175,000 in total prize money, the Masters will see another increase in 2026. At the final awards ceremony, show director Holger Hetzel made it crystal clear: “To round it off properly, we’re raising it to €200,000 next year.”

That’s a clear message to the sport — from both the organizer and the event’s dedicated sponsors — and one that is sure to be met with enthusiasm across the equestrian world. One rider who was visibly moved by the occasion was Josch Löhden (Steddorf), winner of the €100,000 final for seven- and eight-year-old horses with the exceptional mare Cornets Lady:
“I’m honestly overwhelmed by what the Hetzel family has created here. It was my first time in Goch, and I’ll definitely be back next year.” Just minutes earlier, the rider from Lower Saxony had secured the win in the two-star S-class jump-off with a flawless and lightning-fast 41.52-second round aboard the Cornet Obolensky daughter, bred by Gebrüder Möller.

“She really is an extraordinary horse,” said the delighted winner, who also competes successfully at international level with EIC Schabernack, a half-brother of Cornets Lady. Clearly, Löhden has a knack for the offspring of Cornet Obolensky. In addition to the substantial prize money awarded to owner Hans-Peter Fricke, the 33-year-old professional was also awarded a special bonus: a five-day motorhome holiday, sponsored by Wolters — this time, notably, without horses.

Löhden and his dark bay mare Cornets Lady were just under a second faster than Elisabeth Meyer from Rottweil, who secured second place with the seven-year-old chestnut mare Eau d’Or. Meyer, who was also awarded the special prize from jeweler and goldsmith Schotten, delivered another strong performance in the final by finishing fourth with her eight-year-old KWPN gelding London MTT.

“This is by no means something to take for granted — for both horses to perform so well here,” the 36-year-old show jumper reflected. “I’m especially proud of Eau d’Or; I started her myself and brought her along through all stages of training.”

Prize Money Stays "at Home": Laurens Houben Secures Third for Hetzel Stables

The third step on the final podium ensured that part of the prize money stayed “in-house” — with Hetzel Stables and their horse owners — thanks to Belgian rider Laurens Houben. Riding the Holsteiner stallion Dior by Diamant de Semilly, bred by Friedrich Meyer, Houben secured third place in the final for seven- and eight-year-old horses at the Tiemeyer x Hetzel Young Horse Masters, adding to an already successful weekend. Following his victory with Complication-M in Saturday’s six-year-old final, Houben also placed third in the five-year-old final on Sunday — in the Prize of Hetzel Horses GmbH and Karlswood Stables, owned by Irish rider Cian O’Connor — with the Westphalian mare Clarella. Dior, notably, is owned by Hetzel Stables, and Houben was quick to give credit where credit was due: “Yes, well, that all happened thanks to his good horses,” he said with a smile, nodding toward his “boss,” Holger Hetzel.

“Talked Into It” – Jana Fink’s Unexpected Triumph

The win in the M special class with jump-off* for five-year-olds went to Jana Fink from Sassenberg, Westphalia, riding the Rhineland stallion Arcassio, owned by the North Rhine-Westphalian State Stud in Warendorf. This result came as a surprise even to the rider herself:
“To be honest, Holger had to do a bit of convincing to get me to come here,” Fink admitted. “I was always a little unsure whether I could really keep up with my horses here. But now, of course, I’m absolutely thrilled…” With a clear margin, Fink secured the win ahead of Dutch rider Desiree Kemper and her Westphalian stallion Crismo — the only two combinations to jump fault-free in the jump-off.

The Grooms – Special Awards for the Unsung Heroes Behind the Scenes

As in 2024, Frankonia Eurobau once again shone a spotlight on the essential horse caretakers — the grooms — and honored their tireless work with cash prizes. Uwe Schmitz (Frankonia) awarded several €500 cash prizes to selected grooms, chosen by a dedicated jury. In addition, the grooms of the top three horses in each final received a special and practical gift: personalized director’s chairs presented by Hetzel Horses GmbH — a gesture of appreciation for the people who make top performances possible every day behind the scenes.

“Just as I Hoped” – Hetzel’s Positive Takeaway

The mastermind behind the Young Horse Masters, Holger Hetzel, sounded clearly satisfied as the event came to a close.
“From the weather, to the incredible support of our sponsors, and most of all my phenomenal team — who gave absolutely everything to make this event a success — I want to thank everyone involved,” he said. “We want to keep pushing forward, continue to grow, and become even bigger. This year, we increased the prize money by €25,000 to a total of €175,000, and next year we’ll add another €25,000 to bring it up to €200,000 — just to round it off nicely.”

The Tiemeyer x Hetzel Young Horse Masters also drew close attention from the German Equestrian Federation (FN) in Warendorf. Horses that performed successfully at the Masters and are either already qualified or still in the running for qualification for the Al Shira’aa Bundeschampionate in September will be ranked in a special combined scoring — awarding the title “Youngster of the Year” in each of the three age categories. This special ranking, which combines results from the Masters and the Bundeschampionate, is also generously funded — with a total of €15,000 in bonuses:
– €2,500 for the best five-year-old
– €5,000 for the best six-year-old
– €7,500 for the best seven-year-old

 

Martina Brüske