Proud James

Proud James (born 2020) is a grey KWPN stallion who is currently the "golden boy" of the young horse dressage world. As of March 2026, he is widely considered the most successful young dressage horse in training, having achieved a historic "double" by winning back-to-back world titles.

He is owned by Helgstrand Dressage and has recently moved into the stable of a global icon.

2026 Status: The Isabell Werth Era

The biggest news of early 2026 is the change in the stallion's pilot.

• The New Partnership: In February 2026, it was announced that the "Queen of Dressage," Isabell Werth, has taken over the reins of Proud James. While he was previously developed to stardom by Mette Sejbjerg Jensen, Werth is now riding him as his former rider is expecting a child.

• Public Debut: Werth presented him for the first time at the 2026 Helgstrand Stallion Shows, where the duo received a standing ovation.

• The 6-Year-Old Campaign: In 2026, the goal is clear: a "Hat Trick" at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. If he wins this year, he will be one of the few horses in history to win as a 4, 5, and 6-year-old.

Record-Breaking Achievements

Proud James's career has been a sequence of "perfect" or near-perfect scores:

• 2025 World Champion (5-Year-Olds): He captured the gold medal in Verden with a massive score of 90.60%, including a 9.3 for his trot and a 9.5 for perspective.

• 2024 World Champion (4-Year-Olds): He won the 4-year-old challenge in Ermelo with an 86.2%, marking him as the horse to watch globally.

• KWPN Performance Test Record: He remains the highest-scoring stallion of his testing year, earning 91 points, including a perfect 10.0 for self-carriage and suppleness.