Team Sweden Wins 2026 APHA Youth World Games

August 28, 2026, Jessica Hein, PHJ News:

With individual event wins that bookmarked the beginning and end of the 2026 APHA Youth World Games competition, Team Sweden brought home championship honors and bragging rights. The three-member team—composed of Ellen Berndtsson, Märta Broberg and Alma Hultstrand (pictured above)—earned 34 points in the Youth World Games, which took place August 26–27, at the 2026 European Paint Horse Championship in Kreuth, Germany.

Alma kicked off the competition with a win in ranch riding, competing aboard SQ Justified. Märta placed sixth in hunt-seat equitation with Gamblers Mr Zip. Ellen earned reserve champion honors in horsemanship, riding PL Pinewoodinvitation. Alma returned to pilot Firstsensationalhint in showmanship, where she captured another championship.

“I’ve competed once before [as part of a Scandinavian team],” Ellen said. “That was really fun, but this was even more fun—being here and having a Swedish team. The energy is so much fun: everybody is rooting for each other, everyone’s cheering, everyone’s happy. I’m really glad we got a team going.”

Good Teams

Taking place every two years, alternating between the United States and Germany as host venues, the Youth World Games provides an opportunity for young riders from around the world to compete as a team in four events, demonstrating their horsemanship skills in a fun, friendly competition. The 2026 Youth World Games had 10 participating countries, and the race to the team championship race proved tight.

Champion: Team Sweden—34 points
Ellen Berndtsson, Märta Broberg & Alma Hultstrand

Reserve Champion: Team Germany—29 points
Mira Bonfig, Chiana Marie Koehler, Emily Schneider, Marie-Sophie Waitzinger & Marilou Schuster

Bronze Champion: Team USA—28 points
Angel Baer, Colten Dulin, Jesse Henry Zeldenthuis & Marley Ann Smith

4. Dutch Diamonds (Netherlands)—27 points
Nienke Kramer, Femke Kramer & Rochelle Ubachs

5. Team Belgium—25 points
Nissa Claesen, Emma De Burlet, Lily Fery & Linde Hanssens

6. Team France—25 points
Félicie Maras, Shawna Tartarin-Bony, Sixtine Toubon, Maeva Tridon & Lily Marcet

7. Team Austria—17 points
Xenia Angerer, Sophie Angerer, Lina Gehring & Lana Tengg

8. Team Italy—10 points
Anna Dallapiccola, Giada Giuliani & Kendra Simeoni

9. Team China—9 points
Anderson Linghan An, Sophie Yutong Duan, Jiaxin He & Anna Wen

10. Team Slovakia—5 points
Nina Dobrovodska, Laura Mikova & Emma Stefanisinova

Good Sports

Demonstrating character, camaraderie and the true spirit of competition—in and out of the arena—is a key part of the Youth World Games experience. Anonymous judges scouted participants to identify the exhibitor who best exemplified integrity, humility, dedication, and respect for others and his or her mount.

With a bright smile and positive outlook, Femke Kramer of the Netherlands was awarded the Youth World Games Sportsmanship Award. She received a Cowboy Bronze trophy.

Good Horses

The Youth World Games relies on the generosity of horse owners who donate use of their horses for the competition. Exhibitors randomly select their mounts, and this year’s participants consistently expressed appreciation for the quality of horses featured in the 2026 Youth World Games.

“It’s really cool to ride good horses,” Ellen said. “I’ve seen these horses show my whole life, and I think they’re really cool. Just getting to ride them was such a great experience.”

Ellen was one of several Youth World Games participants who donated use of their personal horses for the contest, as well. She donated CBS Mechanical Deer, a decorated show horse and multiple European champion who was APHA’s No. 1 Youth Solid Paint-Bred horse in 2024. Watching other riders enjoy success aboard her homebred gelding meant as much to Ellen as her own accomplishments. Ultimately, CBS Mechanical Deer was named Most Valuable Paint for the 2026 Youth World Games. The 2020 sorrel solid gelding won a Perri’s Leather trophy halter from APHA.

“Of course, it’s so much fun to win and see my teammates classes and to show myself, but I thought it was really fun to see my horse do very well. I started crying happy tears. I’m very proud of him,” Ellen said. “My family bred the horse and trained the horse. It was very cool to have our horse named Most Valuable Paint.”

 Thank you to the horse owners who donated use of their Paints in the 2026 Youth World Games:

Agnes Kramer	Clementine Durand	Fabiola Schmidt	Sabrina Rauh
Alexandra Kohler	Cornelia Pangerl	Janice Remmers	Sandra Rüd
An Tomsin	Donna Berger	Jasmin Schuster	Sarah Bonfig
Anja Cannaerts	Dora Gocze	Maeva Tridon	Vincent Tartarin
Anna-Alisa Samse	Dorina Berger	Manuel Haslach	Viola Wirth
Bianka Schwaiger Tengg	Ellen Berndtsson	Matlida Källström	Werner Caberghs
Catharina Van Bekkum	Ellen Compagnie	Melissa Van Looy	Zoe-Christine Cosic