In what could have passed for a championship lineup, the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of Fontainebleau (FRA) came down to the wire Saturday at Le Grand Parquet. Deciding the result in the final ride, eight-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth (GER) clinched a victory for Germany, which secured its second straight podium to take a decisive hold of the series standings.
Lead by Chef d'Equipe Monica Theodorescu, Germany’s four-rider squad of Benjamin Werndl (Quick Decision Frh), Svenja Kämper-Meyer (Amanyara M Frh), Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth OLD), and Werth (Wendy de Fontaine) finished on a winning total score of 230.065 in the CDIO5* Grand Prix test. Great Britain finished second (228.630), followed by Belgium (224.761).
“We had two combinations from [the 2024 Paris Olympics] and also some younger up-and-coming horses and riders,” Theodorescu said. “The big goal [this year] is [the World Championships at] Aachen. This was a very, very good competition on a very high level.”
The lead changed hands among the top three nations repeatedly throughout the competition, putting all the pressure on the anchor combinations. Justin Verboomen (BEL) and Zonik Plus were the first to answer the call, and they executed an outstanding test, earning a personal best score of 83.500% from the judges. That mark would ultimately be the best individual score of the competition, with Verboomen and the immensely talented 10-year-old stallion receiving marks as high as 10 for their flawless canter pirouette.
“Zonik was absolutely fantastic. I haven't quite grasped the progress yet,” Verboomen said. “I'm not quite able to do everything I truly want to do yet, but he showed tremendous progress today. In my dream, the horse is even more independent in the arena, with a sense of ease.”
Charlotte Fry (GBR) and Glamourdale—twice bronze medalists at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games—could not quite catch the leading pair, but a strong finish to their test, particularly in the piaffe, brought up their marks to an 80.848% score. That put Great Britain into the lead, requiring Werth and Wendy de Fontaine to score 79.152% or better.
The pair did not execute their strongest test, with some miscommunication in a transition from canter to passage, but fantastic pirouettes and an overall strong performance was enough to get the job done for their teammates. The final score was 80.587%.
“To be honest, my plan was to come to Fontainebleau to have a nice training start to the outdoor season. Then I saw the [start] list and I said, ‘Wow, this is not a good idea!’” Werth exclaimed. “It was a super field; it couldn’t be better…I think the whole team did really well. I’m pretty happy with Wendy for her first outdoor start [of the year].”
The German team was the only group to have each of its riders score above 70 percent, and all five athletes finished among the top 10 individual scores. Frederic Wandres (GER)—who anchored Germany in the series’ opening leg at Wellington (USA), where the team finished second—put up a score of 76.826% with his Olympic gold medal-winning partner, Bluetooth OLD.
Werndl and Kämper-Meyer, meanwhile, delivered with less experienced horses. Aboard the 10-year-old Quick Decision Frh for the gelding’s first team start, Werndl was reminded of Paris, where his sister Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) rode to Olympic gold alongside Werth and Wandres.
“I was very pleased [with my horse] and thankful to be on the team. It was the same team setup my sister had [in Paris] with Isabell and Frederic, so I had goosebumps," he said. "I’m very, very happy and pleased.”
While Kämper-Meyer’s score was ultimately the drop score, the amateur rider finished less than three-tenths of a point behind Werndl. She bred Amanyara M Frh herself.
“It was amazing riding on this team today, in this arena,” she said. “The mare is amazing. The longer she goes in the arena now, the better she gets. We really had a great time today.”
Germany earned 15 points for the victory, giving them a decisive series lead with 23 total points. Great Britain now sits second with 13 points, followed by Belgium (11 points).
The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ continues at Lier (BEL) on 23 May.