Reitclub Okahandja (RCO) excelled on home turf at the weekend as they won both the adult individual and club team crowns at the Capricorn Asset Management 2026 Namibian Dressage Championships.
28-year-old Svenja Späth rode her heart our on three steeds she had entered in the first, second and third level dressages at the event to carry home a total of five first places. With her cousin’s mare Seeis Anicia, the dedicated young German-trained equine manager presented herself in top form, winning both the first level test 2 and 3, as well as the musical freestyle, wowing judges and spectators alike with elegance, fluency and well-executed lines.
Späth also obtained two second places with her young upcoming gelding Equimaster Davetsaub Malibu.
Späth’s stunning black stallion Equimaster Seeis Arian, who was out of competition for a while, was back with a bang, presenting himself in excellent form. The pair defended their title as Namibian adult dressage champions with aplomb, riding to victory in both the third level test 3 and musical freestyle, and taking a close second in the third level test 2 behind Carolin Hoffmeister and Equimaster Heidi’s Mohinho from Swakopmund.
RCO’s mother-daughter combination Silke and Milanka Bean, and Okahandja veteran Beate Voigts, together with Späth racked up more rosettes for one of the oldest equestrian clubs in the country to take the title of Namibian club team champions for 2026.
Reserve champion was the team of Reitsport Zentrum Kapps comprising of Kate Alison (Lowlands Z Chianti O.T.), and Junior riders Leia-Mae van der Merwe (F.H.M) and Lee-Ann Smith (MSD Animal Health Zonjati Gunfire).
Adult reserve champion was Windhoek-based Kate Alison on her grey stallion Lowlands Z Chianti O.T.
The title of junior dressage champion for 2026 went to Leia-Mae van der Merwe and F.H.M, emulating her 2025 success on Callaho Barcelone, who has been retired since. The teenager produced beautifully fluent rides, impressing the judges from Namibia and South Africa with her seat and fine aids.
The children’s champion title was not awarded, because the two competing children did not fulfil the required criteria.
The weekend’s proceedings also included the FEI Dressage World Challenge, 7 Nations and ACES (African Confederation of Equestrian Sport) competitions.
Following the Senior I and Senior II tests on Friday morning, FEI judge Silvia Brückner hosted a riders’ discussion. This was aimed at giving competitors valuable insight on dressage standards and requirements for the Challenge, a project hosted by FEI Solidarity and aimed at promoting the equestrian sport in developing nations around the world. The events were also shadowed by applicant judges from Namibia and South Africa aiming to improve their skills. The performances of the Namibian riders measured against those of their global, continental and regional competition will only be available once all countries have concluded their respective events.
This coming weekend will see the show jumpers in action. They will meet at RVS (Reiterverein Swakopmund) for the final leg of the 2026 FEI Jumping World Challenge and the Namibian Development Series.
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