{"id":69080,"date":"2025-07-13T12:33:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T02:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/?p=69080"},"modified":"2025-07-13T12:33:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T02:33:04","slug":"aachen-2025-dressage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/2025\/07\/aachen-2025-dressage\/","title":{"rendered":"Aachen 2025 Dressage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rebecca Ashton reports from the world’s greatest horse show,
\nshe also took the photos<\/h3>\n

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<\/h3>\n

Fant\u00e1stica! Aachen never disappoints, and this year with Spain being the showcased country, it was flashy and bright. The organisers even managed a bit of Spanish weather for us with the temperature soaring into the mid 30s on the first few days, which deteriorated into an \u201cAussie winter\u201d of rain, wind and 14 degrees by the end of the week.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>But the story of the show in the Deutsche Bank Stadium had to be that of Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. The pair from Belgium began the show with a second in the Grand Prix with 78.348%. When questioned if he expected such a good score, Justin\u2019s blunt answer was, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Yes.<\/span>\u201d. Zonik Plus was almost foot perfect and at only nine years old, he<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s going to be an exciting horse to follow. Justin reflected, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>At home it is better of course, but to bring it to competition, this is in the future\u201d. The future proved very close and the pair won the Special two days later (cracking 80%) and the Freestyle (almost hitting 90%).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0Justin and Zonik Plus trying out the Aachen arena\u00a0<\/span><\/em>before the action\u00a0starts\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Justin, 37, bought the black, Zonik stallion as a two and half year old from Portugal, and has trained him ever since. Justin is quiet and shy and seemed completely overwhelmed with the results and the attention, but at this rate, will have to get used to all the accolades and questions from the media. He seemed genuinely completely gobsmacked by the whole, wonderful experience. As a rider, he is soft and quiet, gently guiding his barefoot, young stallion, and he\u2019s received numerous offers for the horse. “I was going to sell him to build my own stable, but one and a half years ago I decided to keep him, and the stable can wait,” said Justin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>In the Special, which was both his, and the horse\u2019s second ever, he said: \u201cAt some points I supported him and at other points he supported me.\u201d And that\u2019s the sort of beautiful bond these two have.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>By the Freestyle, that feeling was there, and it was a near perfect performance. The music was ethereal, moody and strong. \u201cI want to reflect the sensitive part of Zonik Plus, and me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>\u201dI had a super connection with him today. Every day he has grown. Everything was perfect today. Now I want to bring that feeling into the Grand Prix.\u201d They thoroughly deserved their standing ovation from the knowledgeable Aachen audience. The horse, who seems born to this atmosphere, just took the whole, huge Aachen experience in his stride like he had done it a thousand times.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Isabell Werth has a completely different horse and a completely different freestyle. She and Wendy de Fontaine wowed the crowd like no one else can. She enjoys every second and her passion just seems to get stronger and stronger\u2026and it\u2019s infectious. There was even a big \u201cWhoop!\u201d from the German as she nailed her ones, which had proved a problem in the Special.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>The most perfect music and an extraordinary freestyle. The highest score was from C judge Katrina W\u00fcst who scored the pair 90.775%. The final placing was second behind Justin, where she had also finished in the Special, although she had won the initial Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>After the Freestyle, Isabell enthused, \u201dShe was more relaxed today. My canter work was much better, more relaxed and the walk was there. There was the relaxation and the dynamic. She has shown improvement day to day”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And that\u2019s the genius of Isabel Werth. She will always fix her problems. She leaves no stone unturned, and she does it all with such good fun. And as for Wendy, \u201cShe loves to compete, she\u2019s super nice and uncomplicated. She\u2019s a real fighter, very cool and not mare-ish at all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>\u201cShe\u2019s so clear in her mind and so focused. She\u2019s really a performer. The whole body of the horse has improved. She\u2019s only 11. \u201c<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The legendary German rider also gained a standing ovation, and the clapping began well before the final centreline, with Isabell smiling through the whole test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Frederic Wandres and his ever reliable Bluetooth were on the podium twice during the 5* competition, with a third in the Grand Prix and again in the Freestyle. That reliability is built on trust. \u201cHe\u2019s a very sensitive horse. I have a good connection with him. I spend a lot of time with him. He loves attention, he really asks for it. He\u2019s a little bit spoilt. If I\u2019m not there, my partner Lars spends a lot of time with him\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bluetooth with Freddy and Lars\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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And as for the freestyle? \u201cI was riding to new music. \u2018All You Need Is Love\u2019. This message, everyone gets it. I really like my music. You want to give the feeling that you have with your horse to the audience,” said Freddy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Becky Moody was competing in her first Aachen, and what a show it was. With a fourth in the Grand Prix scoring 75.718%\u00a0<\/span>on Jagerbomb , the powerful home-bred gelding surprised Becky by being as hot as he was, and not too keen to show any halts. \u2018It took me by surprise. In Paris he was hot, but he was hot all the time. He was quite hot when I stretched him here on Tuesday, but yesterday he was great, super ridable, very relaxed, walking, halting. And then I got on him today and didn\u2019t expect to have what I had. If I had known he was hot, I would have done a bit more with him this morning, given myself a little bit more time, but it\u2019s all learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And learn they did as Becky and Jagerbomb climbed to third place in the Special with <\/span>78.404%. Becky really believes her gelding is a high 70s scoring horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Katharina Hemmer with Hubertus Schmidt and Denoix<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Katharina Hemmer is another who has blasted onto the world stage with her trainer\u2019s horse, Denoix. Hubertus Schmidt handed over the reins to his young student a few years ago, and the combination haven\u2019t looked back. Katharina\u2019s riding is soft and the pair just don\u2019t miss a beat. Hubertus lead the 13-year-old Destano gelding quietly into the arena each test, whispering assurances as they went. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Katharina and Denoix<\/em><\/p>\n

The combination placed fifth in both the Grand Prix (75.413%) \u00a0<\/span>and the Special (77.447%<\/span>\u00a0and gained a place on the German team for the Europeans in Crozet. The Freestyle was being ridden to perfection, when just as they turned onto the final centerline, there was a miscommunication, which unsettled the horse and he remained quite sharp all the way into the final halt. Just one of those things, but unfortunately expensive.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Katharina and Denoix, team members for the Europeans<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Katharina, Frederic and Isabell will be joined in Croset by Ingrid Klimke and Vayron. This pair competed in the four-star competition and really clicked in the Special, winning with <\/span>74.128% The bay stallion is a giant, and Ingrid slight, so it has been quite the journey for them to learn each other\u2019s ways in a very short amount of time, but it is really now starting to come together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ingrid and the giant, Vayron\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Ingrid informed, \u201cFor me it\u2019s just so interesting to learn, and I\u2019m just happy that he\u2019s never trodden on my foot. His are so big! He is such a soft gentleman. He\u2019s very sensitive and really reacting to fine aids, otherwise I could not do it. He was so successful with Daniel. So I\u2019ve tried to get to know him, know his personality and tried to let him know that he can trust me. At home I already feel so confident in every movement. If I can bring it in the ring faultless from movement to movement, that is now the real challenge, that he is confident and I am quick enough and can support him. He is just wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Isabel Freese and Total Hope (Totilas) won the four-star Grand Prix on 74.261% after storm delays that saw the event conclude at midnight. They had to settle for third in the Special (<\/span>73.66<\/span>0<\/span><\/a><\/span>%) behind Ingrid, and Henri Roust on the 13-year-old Tiffanys Diamond who were in second place on <\/span>73.872<\/span><\/span>%. In the Grand Prix, Henri and his picture-perfect Tailormade Temptation mare were third on 73.087%, edged out by Sandra Sysojeva on Maxima Bella who scored <\/span>73.696<\/span><\/span>%<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Ingrid and Vayron, winners of the Special<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Prix St Georges, it was really a case of four seasons in one competition. The class began for Becky Moody and Magic Dream JB in 36 degree heat, and finished after two stops due to thunder and lightening storms. Some combinations were really in the pouring rain and Marieke Van De Putten pulled out the highly anticipated About You RS2, after preparing twice to ride. She thought a third time was just too much to ask of the youngster.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Frederic Wandres and his small tour stalwart Quizmaster won the test on <\/span>73.91<\/span>2<\/span><\/span>%. Ingrid Klimke was last to go about two hours late, and it is a reflection on her professionalism and skill that she could pilot her \u201cspecial\u201d youngster Diafys (DeLorean 2) around for a super second place on a score of <\/span>72.647<\/span><\/span>% . <\/span><\/p>\n

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Dinja Van Liere on her very matcho <\/span>Mauro Turfhorst<\/span> (another Zonik) was third on <\/span>72.38<\/span>2<\/span><\/span>%. The stallion had a big spook in the first corner, which possibly cost them the win.\u00a0<\/span>The latter combo ended up winning the Inter 1 with power and precision scoring <\/span>75.294<\/span><\/span>% This nine-year-old is really going to be something flash.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The only Aussie in the dressage lineup was 21 year old Kate Kyros who rode her 12 year old Dutch bred Apache stallion, Intro K, in the small tour. They came 12th in the Prix St Geoges with <\/span>66.323<\/span><\/span>% and seventh in the Inter 1 on <\/span>69.382<\/span><\/span>%. What a great experience to ride at the world\u2019s biggest show!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Europeans should be an exciting tournament in a couple of months. Isabell Werth is loving this, in her words \u201cspicy\u201d, competitive environment, and she always steps up in these big Championships. Wendy gets better and better, and with a little bit of smoothing around the edges, she\u2019ll be right in the running.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark with MSJ Freestyle has already won the Special at Paris Olympics, but they didn\u2019t come to Aachen. No doubt they\u2019ll be fired up to prove that win in Paris wasn\u2019t a one off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>Lottie Fry should be there on Glamourdale. Not only did they take team and individual bronze in Paris, but also won the World Cup final this year in Basel. They also did not come to Aachen this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>And now the Belgium team member Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus seem to be hitting their peak at just the right time. The horse is only nine, but still will certainly be in the running for an individual medal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As for the teams, you\u2019d have to think Germany will be hard to beat. Team GB will surely be on their heels and now Belgium with Justin Verboomen and Larissa Pauluis riding Flambeau are also looking like they wouldn\u2019t mind taking home a bronze, having taken the second place at Aachen in the Nations Cup behind Germany. But we\u2019ll have to wait for that…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s the world’s greatest horse show, and once again, the best from all around the world were there to do battle, Rebecca Ashton was there for this on-the-spot report..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-dressage"],"acf":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69080"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69116,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69080\/revisions\/69116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}