Zonik Plus and Justin Verboomen winner of last leg of World Cup season 2025/2026 - screenshot/Clipmyhorse
H2R comments about Zonik Plus vs Glamourdale from s`Hertogenbosch performances
The combination of softness, power, quality and accuracy makes a winner.
From the start list Zonik Plus and Glamourdale were the top contenders for the last leg.
For both the Grand Prix and the freestyle it became very close race, both tests with a small surplus for Zonik Plus from the judges. No doubt Zonik Plus and Justin Verboomen has been unbeatable. Even though the two stallions hardly only has the color and abilities in common, they both shows freedom, expression, balance and super frame. The obivious differences from H2R point of view was power, accuracy and quality of the exercises this weekend which wasn´t completely reflected on the scoreboard.
In the Grand Prix Zonik Plus was not fully concentrated, and at the same time showing some tensions which was reflected in more minor issues (not directly technical errors) 78,457%. Glamourdale showed a strong Grand Prix, where piaffe tours could be more active and lost of balance for 2nd pirouette 78,022%.
Glamourdale & Lottie Fry 2nd place for both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle - screenshot / Clipmyhorse
Glamourdale freestyle with power, freedom, expression, balance and super frame. Top quality of extensions, half passes, passage and 1 times. Small error for 2 times, successful repeated in the jokerline and piaffe pirouette missing more energy, final result 89,085%.
Zonik Plus freestyle with expression, freedom, balance and super frame. Unfortunately not the same power and natural forward search as we´ve seen them before. Looks as if Justin has to ask a bit more for the piaffe, like also the passage and extensions missing bit more natural power. Half passes missing bit more suppleness and flow, while the series becomes very tense, with a small error for 1 times, but repeated for jokerline without errors. Pirouettes are definitely in a league of their own, final result 89,205%.
It is not an easy task to sit in the judges chair, and the sport will always be a combination of judging each exercise combined how your eyes see the full picture. (You simply cannot put your personal subjective assessments away).
AI in dressage
We are living in a world where AI has become a part of our everyday, but not many of the dressage sport lovers would like AI to replace our judges. Could AI be kind of add on for the future judging, to ask about exercises like extensions, series, walk, half passes, piaffe, frame or use of tail and position of ears. All elements measureable in terms of correct development of AI for the future.