European dressage has its roots in ancient history, dating back to the 4th century BC. However, it was first made official in 1963. Since then, it has continued to evolve as a sport. The 2025 Dressage Championship was also a showcase of grit and resilience. La Polo brings you your front-row seats to witness action and the very best of equine sports.
Germany Grabs its 26th Gold!
The formidable German side was once again well equipped for the challenge and successfully won its 26th gold medal. Some notable names from the German side included:
- Isabell Werth, combined with Katharina Hemmer, scored 75.699%.
- Frederic Wandres scored 74.721%.
- Even Wendy de Fontaine, being a part of the German side, helped keep the challenges thrown by opponents at bay.
Image Credit: ©FEI/Liz Gregg
Britain Dropping Down to Silver
The defending champions of the last championship faced tough competition. This time, settling for a silver medal. Nevertheless, their team comprised the following renowned veterans:
- Carl Hester – The veteran produced the team’s best score. Riding his Royal Fame, he posted a phenomenal score of 76.087%.
- Charlotte Fry – Her adaptive nature helped the team with a score of 75.869%.
- Becky Moody – She scored 74.829%.
- Collectively, the trio achieved a total of 226.785% to secure the silver medal.
Denmark’s Walk to Bronze
Denmark got a chance to celebrate a deserved bronze medal at this year’s European Dressage.
The duo of Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and her horse, Mount St. John Freestyle, made Denmark’s walk to the podium possible.
Verboomen: A Debut Grabbing Two Golds!
The event’s most electrifying story belonged to Belgium’s Justin Verboomen and his equine partner, Zonik Plus. Their ascent was a dream debut – nothing short of meteoric! The flawless flair of Justin’s performance left everyone flabbergasted.
Major Achievement:
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Raising Standards of Freestyle
Elevating the standards of Grand Prix Special and Freestyle, they achieved a score of 89.964% (Freestyle).
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Securing a Golden Double
Adding further charm to their first appearance was the fact that they bagged not one but two gold medals in this year’s event.
Personal Best: A Hit and A Miss
Katharina Hemmer from Germany broke her personal record, showcasing a remarkable ascent in her performance.
Major Achievements:
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Groundbreaking Performance
She registered 78.678% at the event. Despite her endeavour, she missed a spot at the podium by a slim margin.
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Future Linchpin
Executing such consistent performance reveals her future potential of becoming a core member of the upcoming German line-up!
Fair Play: The Descent of New Rules upon Riders
The European Dressage 2025 introduced a number of stringent rules to ensure fair play and uphold the integrity of equestrian sport worldwide. A few changes among them were:
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An Earnest Noseband Inspection
By standardising tightness around nosebands, the FEI is set to focus on the welfare of horses. Tight nosebands caused breathing issues along with pain. Hence, a minimum gap of 1.5 cm between the noseband and the horse’s nasal bone was made a compulsion.
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Ban on Artificial Aids, Such as Foam Enhancers
Further artificial enhancers that imitate the natural roaming of the mouth were banned.
European Dressage: An Ongoing Evolution
With numerous changes in both rules and results, European dressage continues to astound the fans. Justin’s debut was proof of the unwavering towards the sport, followed by Germany’s dedication to preserving its place at the top.
It has undoubtedly become evident that this year’s dressage has caused a shift in the trajectory of upcoming equestrian events!
