Every rider experiences the call of their national team differently, but for the Austrian Dominik Juffinger, being part of the team that will represent Austria at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen is the fulfilment of one of his lifelong dreams. The young showjumper is approaching the competition with the excitement of someone who has worked for years to reach this moment and with the peace of mind that comes from doing it alongside a horse he has known since the very first day of its life.
Speaking to Chacco Info, Juffinger makes no secret of his excitement at wearing his country's colours. «Representing Austria at a World Championship means absolutely everything to me. It's a childhood dream coming true,» he states.
His travelling companion will be Neugschwents Diamant, a horse bred at his own stud farm with whom he shares a very special bond. The rider explains that he has known the horse since birth and that they very soon knew he had enormous potential. «From his very first loose jumps we saw that he would have a great career. Everything we taught him seemed as though he already knew how to do it,» he recalls.
Preparation for Aachen has been marked by patience and planning. As this is her first World Championship, she sought the advice of experienced trainers and riders to approach the competition in the best possible way. Furthermore, the team has prioritised arriving at the major objective with Diamant at peak fitness, avoiding demanding more of him than necessary over the last few months.
Although he acknowledges the enormous respect inspired by competing in a venue like Aachen, he also admits that the excitement outweighs the nerves. Just imagining entering the main arena gives him «goosebumps», convinced that the atmosphere created by the audience will provide an extra boost for all the participants.
When facing a championship of this nature, Juffinger believes the key will be to maintain confidence. He believes the most important thing will be to follow the established plan and trust fully in both his horse and himself, without getting carried away by the pressure of the moment.
Another aspect that stands out is the excellent atmosphere within the Austrian team. He will share this experience with his childhood best friend, Felix, and believes that the combination of the enthusiasm of the younger members and the experience of teammates such as Max, Kathi and Bianca could become one of Austria's major strengths during the championship.
Regarding his sporting evolution, he explains that riding numerous young horses has allowed him to gain speed of reaction in the arena, although he considers that his greatest progress has come on a mental level, learning to keep calm and to trust fully in the quality of his horses over the most demanding courses.
Although he will travel to Aachen as a reserve rider, his commitment to the team is absolute. His priority will be to help his teammates in any way they need, although he makes it clear that both he and Diamant will be completely prepared to compete if his opportunity finally arrives. Looking a little further ahead than the championship, he recognises that one of Austria's major objectives is to move closer to qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Here at Chacco Info, we would like to sincerely thank Dominik Juffinger for taking the time to share his thoughts with us ahead of the World Championships.
We are absolutely thrilled about your selection for the Austrian team and it makes us very happy to be able to give visibility to your story.
See you in Aachen!
