Zangersheide is a name which has become synonymous with excellence in so many facets of equestrian sport - Léon Melchior is the name behind Zangersheide and he is a man who forges ahead in areas others are frightened to go!

Melchior's breeding program has proved itself to be exceptional by results in top level competition - then there was the innovative World Breeding Championships for Young Horses which now sees the best young showjumping horses from all over the world.

In the 70's Limburg building contractor Melchior was bitten by the showjumping bug - he first set up his competition stables to which he then added the studfarm and since then he has become one of the major players in the world of promoting the sport of showjumping and the breeding of horses for this exciting sport. The 'Z' horses are now famous for their talent, trainability and results.

The newest addition to the competition schedule at Lanaken (in Belgium just out of Maastricht) is the FEI Open European Championships for Future Masters, a 3* event which will be held at Lanaken from 8th to 10th September, 2006.

The Organising Committee will invite riders in the age group of 18 up to and including 25 year olds. This show is called the Open European show as Lanaken is based in Europe and 'open' to include riders from other continents, who are most welcome to compete.

In many countries, outside of Europe, there is little opportunity for young riders to compete in the bigger classes over the more technical classes and with the excellent program for this new event, many young riders will gain the opportunity to build themselves a top class CV based on results from this show.

The riders will have the opportunity to jump tracks of excellence designed by Mr Frank Rothenberger from Germany.
The Zangersheide 'Z' is always highly visible as the Belgian riders proudly display it on their riding helmets - pictured right at the 2005 European Junior and Young Rider Championships, held in Switzerland.
Junior and Young Riders from all around Europe work hard to be on their countries team for the European Championships and no doubt there will be equal excitement for the FEI Open European Championships for Future Masters.
The young riders from Europe have the opportunity to compete in the European Championships for Juniors (16 years to 18 years) and Young Riders (18 years to 21
years) and this competition will be held in July in Athens at the 2004 Olympic venue - no doubt many of the successful riders at this event will be included in the invitation list for September in Lanaken.

For young riders outside of the European community there is little

opportunity for competition at this level and this latest offering from the FEI in conjunction with Lanaken this will give many riders a unique opportunity.

The Organising Committee will also invite the top 50% of riders to participate at the FEI Open European Masters from September 22 to September 24 at the Zangersheide show.

There will be a maximum of 150 horses in each category with preference given to riders starting 3 horses at the show and there will be 3 categories of classes.

The Gold series will have a height of approximately 1.45-1.50m

The Silver series will have a height of approximately 1.40-1.145m

The Bronze series will have a height of approximately 1.30-1.35m

Riders will be permitted to start a horse in different categories but each horse may only start once per day, with each rider entering a maximum of 3 horses.

The three medal winners of the FEI Open European for Future Masters will be invited by the Organising committee of CSI Zangersheide to travel at its expense to the Intercontinental for Future Masters in Monterrey (Mexico). This will be in the spring of 2007.
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