Germany completed a clean sweep of the team titles at this year’s FEI Dressage European Championships for youth categories by claiming Pony gold in Le Mans (FRA). Individual Test gold also went to Germany, with Leni-Sophie Gosmann and Diamantini EA WE taking the victory. Denmark’s Filippa Jaeger Jensen and Sir Sansibar secured Freestyle gold, continuing the country’s success in this competition after Denmark also won the title last year.
The German team won gold with a margin of more than four percentage points, with all four combinations scoring above 73%. The level was also high among the Danish team, whose four combinations all scored above 72% to secure silver. Sweden completed the podium with team bronze.
No pressure for German team
The German Pony Dressage team consisted of Leni-Sophie Gosmann with Diamantini EA WE, Lilly Kasselmann with Nasdaq FH, Lilli von Helldorff with Nabucco HW and Victoria Winkmann with Peach.
Chef d’Equipe Marion Fohrer was proud of her team’s performance.
“We have a mix of newcomers and more experienced combinations in our team. The most important thing for us is always to show fine riding and harmony. That is what we strive for, and it is how we achieve our success.”
Leni-Sophie Gosmann was Germany’s highest-scoring athlete in the Team Test, achieving 75.600% with Diamantini EA WE. She smiled when asked about the secret behind Germany’s continued success.
“I don’t think there is a secret. We are a large country, but we always work as a team. Most of all, we are very grateful for the good ponies and horses we have.”
Despite the high expectations surrounding the German team, the young athletes felt little pressure during the competition.
“My teammates had already ridden well, so I was able to relax during my test,” Gosmann explained.
Lilly Kasselmann felt much the same, while Lilli von Helldorff was delighted with the performance of Nabucco HW.
“My pony felt amazing and he is always so focused. Being able to ride him is a dream come true.”
Victoria Winkmann was the first German combination to enter the arena, but she also remained calm.
“Even so, I didn’t feel any pressure because we were both very relaxed.”
Gosmann progresses from bronze and silver to gold
Leni-Sophie Gosmann has steadily worked her way up the individual podium at the FEI Dressage European Championships for Ponies. She claimed individual bronze in 2024 and silver in 2025 before securing the gold medal in Le Mans this year.
“I’m overwhelmed. This is an incredible feeling, and I’m so grateful to have this pony and a super team by my side. Diamantini is a sweetheart. At home, we also do a lot of fun things, like cantering in the field without a saddle or sometimes even without a bridle.”
Silver went to Filippa Jaeger Jensen and Sir Sansibar. The Danish athlete was contesting her third FEI Dressage European Championship for Ponies, each time with a different pony.
“Sir Sansibar and I have only been a combination for a short time. This European Championship was only our third competition together. He gave me an amazing feeling,” she said.
Germany secured another place on the podium through Lilly Kasselmann and Nasdaq FH, an experienced pony who has already competed at European Championships with several athletes.
“I’m very happy, even though we had a small mistake,” Kasselmann said after claiming bronze.
Jaeger Jensen takes Freestyle gold
The positions were reversed in the Freestyle, where Denmark’s Filippa Jaeger Jensen and Sir Sansibar took the gold medal ahead of Individual Test winners Gosmann and Diamantini EA WE.
Jaeger Jensen and Sir Sansibar scored just shy of 80% with their Einaudi-themed Freestyle, producing a beautiful and fault-free performance. It earned the Danish athlete the first gold medal of her career.
“This is truly amazing. I’m so grateful for my pony and for our performance today. He’s my heart pony.”
Jaeger Jensen also revealed that Sir Sansibar will return to his owners after the European Championship.
Silver went to Leni-Sophie Gosmann and Diamantini EA WE with a score of 78.845%. Their appealing Freestyle was set to cheerful music and included ten-metre circles in canter ridden with one hand.
Gosmann, who is competing in her final year at Pony level, said she was very grateful and also extremely pleased with the silver medal, which brought her successful Championship in Le Mans to a close.
There was a new name on the podium in third place. Denmark’s Steffanie Victoria Horsted Dyrlund and Cosmo Callidus NRW scored 76.215% to claim the bronze medal.
The elegant dark pony showed an expressive frame and produced an energetic Freestyle performance. Horsted Dyrlund could hardly believe the result afterwards.
“I really didn’t expect this. It is absolutely amazing.”