The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal: A Highlight for Young Dressage Horses

Nürnberger Burg-Pokal 2026: Qualifiers, Final, Rules and Livestream

The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal is one of the most important dressage series for young horses in Germany. Since 1992, the series has given seven- to nine-year-old dressage horses the opportunity to present themselves at St. Georg Special level and take the next step towards Grand Prix sport. Many horses that later became internationally successful first attracted attention in the Burg-Pokal.

Where can you watch the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal live?

The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal is a dressage series with more than 30 years of tradition and is designed for seven- to nine-year-old dressage horses. The final of the series takes place every year at the Frankfurt Festhalle Horse Show, traditionally in mid-December, and can be streamed live on ClipMyHorse.TV from 16 to 20 December 2026.

The special atmosphere of the Frankfurt Festhalle makes the final one of the most emotional highlights of the German dressage season every year.

Watch the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal 2026 live & on demand on ClipMyHorse.TV and follow the best young dressage horses on their way to the Frankfurt Festhalle.

Dates and Qualifiers

The season features eight qualification events. The winning pairs of the final qualifiers secure a direct ticket to the final in Frankfurt. In addition, the four second-placed horse-and-rider pairs with the highest percentage scores of the season also qualify.

2026 Qualifiers:

How does qualification for the final work?

Each station consists of a qualification for the final qualifier and the actual final qualifier. The best twelve pairs from the preliminary test are allowed to compete in the final qualifier. The winning pair of this final qualifier receives a direct ticket to the final in Frankfurt.

In addition, a ranking of the second-placed pairs is kept throughout the season. After the final qualification event, the four second-placed pairs with the highest percentage scores are also nominated for the final. This creates a final field of twelve pairs.

Who is allowed to take part in the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal?

Seven- to nine-year-old dressage horses and ponies are eligible to compete, provided they have not been placed in a Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special or Grand Prix Freestyle by the entry deadline. This ensures that the series remains specifically reserved for young horses that are still on their way to the top level of the sport.

Each rider may compete with a maximum of two horses. The competitions are advertised nationwide and are open to riders of the relevant performance classes as well as foreign participants with a guest licence.

Why is the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal so important?

The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal is considered one of the most important springboards for young dressage horses. Numerous horses that later became successful in international Grand Prix sport had previously been in the spotlight of the Burg-Pokal.

Names such as Rubinstein, Weihegold OLD, Total Hope OLD, Destacado FRH and El Santo NRW show the quality that the series has produced over the decades. This makes the Burg-Pokal not just a competition, but also a glimpse into the future of dressage sport.

Isabell Werth remains the most successful Burg-Pokal rider to date. She has won the series four times, including in 2008 with El Santo NRW, her Ehrentusch son who went on to collect more than 40 wins at S level. The gelding—known as “Ernie” in Werth’s stable—ranks among the most successful horses ever to compete in the Burg-Pokal.

The Rules and Regulations

Only seven- to nine-year-old horses may compete in the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal—and only if they have not yet been placed at Grand Prix level. Across a total of twelve final qualifiers contested at St. Georg Special level, only the winning horse-and-rider combination qualifies for the final in Frankfurt.

Traditionally, the season opens at Horses & Dreams in Hagen at the Kasselmann yard. This is followed by further top-class shows with highly competitive fields, such as the Schafhof Dressage Festival, the Verden Championships, and the German Championships at the Longines Balve Optimum.

If a qualifier is split into multiple sections and results in two or more winners, the combination with the highest score (best percentage) earns the qualification spot.

If a qualified rider cannot compete, a roll-down system applies: throughout the season, an overall ranking is compiled based on the percentage scores across all qualifiers. If a horse or rider withdraws, the next combination on this list moves up.

Each rider may start a maximum of two horses at the Frankfurt Festhalle show—even if they have qualified more than two. The final is ridden as a St. Georg Special, where the best horse is crowned.

The top three combinations from the final also qualify for the freestyle to music held in the evening—still at St. Georg Special level—known as the Siegerpreis.

The History of the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal

The young horse series was founded in 1992 by Hans-Peter Schmidt, the then Chairman of the Executive Board of Nürnberger Versicherung. A passionate equestrian himself, he had been an active rider in his younger years and was also an honorary member of the German Equestrian Federation (FN).

At the side of the now 80-year-old stood the late Dr. Reiner Klimke, for many years the world’s most successful dressage rider. Specifically for the Burg-Pokal, Klimke developed the “Prix St. Georg Special” (also listed as Test S5 in the official test book)—a special, more demanding version of the Prix St. Georges. In the St. Georg Special, for example, the rein-back is scored with a double coefficient, providing a clear test of suppleness, obedience, rideability, and the rider’s correct use of aids. The rider’s seat and influence are also judged with a coefficient of two.

Nürnberger Burg-Pokal for Juniors

Since 1995, the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal has also included a Junior series, giving younger riders the opportunity to demonstrate their talent in dressage and, in some regions, also show jumping.

In 2022, the series was held across ten equestrian federations: Bavaria, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, Northern Germany, Rhineland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Thuringia. The levels vary depending on the federation and range from E to M level.

In Baden-Württemberg, there is also an additional show jumping series at M level. The rules are similar to the “main tour”: throughout the outdoor season, juniors can qualify through multiple classes for their federation’s final.

The finals in each federal state are often held during the season or towards its end. In Hesse, the junior final (a combined dressage/show jumping competition) took place at the Frankfurt Festhalle tournament on 15 December 2022.

Lead-Rein Class at the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal

Traditionally, all qualifiers—and especially the final—also feature a competition for the very youngest upcoming riders: the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal lead-rein class at the Frankfurt Festhalle tournament is always a highlight for both the audience and the children taking part. In the lead-rein class, children aged four to eight ride their ponies while being led by a handler. Alongside basic riding skills such as a balanced seat at the walk and trot, the overall turnout and grooming of the pony is also assessed.

Thanks to the impressive setting of the Frankfurt Festhalle, the Burg-Pokal lead-rein class is a truly special experience for the youngest participants—they get to ride in the very same arena as the sport’s top riders. The class is not open for direct entry: potential participants must apply, and may then be invited by the Hesse State Commission.

The Louisdor Prize: Grand Prix for Young Horses

At the Frankfurt Festhalle Tournament, it’s not only the Burg-Pokal final that takes place: dressage and show jumping up to S* level** with international top riders are also on the schedule. Another highlight is the final of the Louisdor Prize—a competition series similar to the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal, but for eight- to ten-year-old dressage horses competing at Grand Prix level.

The Louisdor Prize is designed to introduce talented young dressage horses to the highest level of the sport using a shortened version of the Grand Prix. In 2022, the warm-up class for the Frankfurt final required the specially developed “Louisdor Grand Prix” test for the first time. In the decisive final itself, riders perform the full Grand Prix.

Year after year, the Louisdor Prize attracts horses tipped for a major future in international dressage—some of them, such as Total Hope OLD, are also former Burg-Pokal finalists and winners.

Weihegold OLD continues to feature prominently in the Burg-Pokal story. In 2019, when the final was last held in Frankfurt, Isabell Freese claimed the coveted winner’s ribbon with Total Hope OLD, a daughter of Totilas out of Weihegold OLD. Total Hope OLD combines some of the very best dressage bloodlines, and with 79.22% she achieved the second-highest score ever recorded in a Burg-Pokal final.

Only Nadine Capellmann and Elvis VA were higher, setting the all-time record in 2004 with 81.17%—a mark by the chestnut gelding by Espri out of a Garibaldi II dam that has remained unbeaten for 18 years. Over his career, Elvis VA placed 115 times at Grand Prix level.

In last year’s anniversary edition, Helen Langehanenberg won the 30th final with her Zack daughter Straight Horse Ascenzione, scoring 77.27%. Langehanenberg competed with two horses: alongside Ascenzione, she also rode Schöne Scarlett, posting an even 77.00%—only to surpass her own mark as the final rider in the class, securing both first and second place.

Here’s the victory lap of Helen Langehanenberg and Straight Horse Ascenzione:

FAQ: The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal

What is the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal?

‍The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal is considered one of the most important national dressage series for young horses. It is aimed at seven- to nine-year-old dressage horses competing at St. Georg Special level.

Who is allowed to take part in the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal?

‍Seven- to nine-year-old dressage horses and ponies are eligible to compete, provided they have not yet been placed in Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special or Grand Prix Freestyle. The series is designed to prepare promising young horses for higher-level sport.

Where can you watch the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal live?

‍The final and selected competitions can be watched live and on demand on ClipMyHorse.TV.

At what level is the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal ridden?

‍The qualifiers and the final are ridden at St. Georg Special level. This demanding dressage test evaluates, among other things, suppleness, rideability, obedience and correct use of the aids.

How do riders qualify for the final in Frankfurt?

In the qualification competitions, the winning horse-and-rider pair usually qualifies for the final in Frankfurt. If a qualification is divided into several sections with more than one winner, the pair with the highest percentage score qualifies.

Where and when does the final of the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal take place?

The final traditionally takes place at the Frankfurt Festhalle Horse Show in mid-December and offers a special indoor atmosphere for riders, horses and spectators.

Can a rider start with several horses in the final?

‍Yes, but each rider may start with a maximum of two horses in Frankfurt, even if they have qualified with more than two horses.

What is the Siegerpreis at the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal?

‍The Siegerpreis is a freestyle test ridden in the evening at St. Georg Special level. The three best pairs from the final qualify for this freestyle.

Why is the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal so important for dressage sport?

The Nürnberger Burg-Pokal is regarded as a springboard for future Grand Prix stars. Many former Burg-Pokal horses later became successful at international level, making the series an important indicator of top potential.