Pressemeddelelse: Opdaterede etiske retningslinjer fra Dansk Ride Forbund

Dansk Ride Forbund lancerer opdaterede etiske retningslinjer for brug af heste i sport

Som en del af Dansk Ride Forbunds nye strategi ”Sammen om Hestevelfærd”, er Dansk Ride Forbund nu klar med en opdatering af forbundets retningslinjer for faglig og etisk korrekt brug af heste. Anvendelse af heste må ikke kompromittere hestenes velfærd, så de nye retningslinjer, er baseret på nyeste faglig viden og evidens, som skal sikre en fælles forståelse og forankring.

14. juli 2025

Dansk Ride Forbunds formål er bl.a. at udvikle og udbrede samspillet mellem hest og menneske, med fokus på sikkerhed for begge parter, trivsel og sundhed for hesten samt harmoni mellem alle. Det er en del af Dansk Ride Forbunds overordnede vision at styrke hestevelfærden i dansk ridesport.

Formand for Dansk Ride Forbund, Kimi Nielsen:
”De nye etiske retningslinjer beskriver Dansk Ride Forbunds forventninger og retningslinjer for anvendelse af heste. Siden den nye bestyrelse blev valgt i december, har vi arbejdet med en opdatering, som vi nu er klar med. De nye guidelines vil blive retningsgivende for, hvordan vi fremover træner og fremviser vores heste."

De etiske retningslinjer er baseret på faglighed og evidens
Opdateringen af det faglige grundlag for korrekt anvendelse af heste i sport, er baseret på anbefalinger fra Dansk Ride Forbunds ekspertgruppe bestående af forskere samt veterinære og ridetekniske eksperter. Retningslinjerne vil løbende blive opdateret på baggrund af ekspertgruppens analyser af nyeste faglige viden og evidens.

”Det er Dansk Ride Forbunds ambition, at Danmark både konkurrerer på topniveau rent sportsligt og samtidig står som et internationalt forbillede for sporten og for hestevelfærd i praksis”, udtaler Kimi Nielsen.

I Danmark er alle former for dyrehold reguleret af loven, herunder Dyrevelfærdsloven og bekendtgørelse om dyrevelfærdsmæssige mindstekrav til hold af heste. Medlemmer af Dansk Ride Forbunds medlemsklubber forventes i alle henseender at overholde gældende lovgivning.

Dansk Ride Forbunds etiske retningslinjer for brug af heste, er et supplement til den gældende lovgivning. De etiske retningslinjer fastsætter rammerne for en faglig funderet etisk korrekt brug af heste i sport såvel i den daglig træning som til konkurrence.

Dansk Ride Forbunds etiske retningslinjer udmøntes i praksis via Dansk Ride Forbunds reglement samt bedømmelser.

Spørgsmål vedr. de nye skærpede etiske retningslinjer, kan rettes til formand for DRF, Kimi Nielsen, på tlf. +45 40 18 04 84 eller på mail: kgn@rideforbund.dk

​Du kan læse og downloade de opdaterede etiske retninglinjer her.

Falsterbo victory puts exclamation mark on dominant FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season for Germany

Germany finished the 2025 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season the same way they began it: with a victory. The German team secured its third consecutive series victory Saturday at Falsterbo (SWE), recording their fourth victory of the year in five starts.

The Hartmut Lemmers-led squad, which consisted of Tessa Frank (Lavaletta), Evelyn Eger (Tabledance 3), and Svenja Kämper-Meyer (Amanyara M Frh), put an exclamation mark on the season with a winning total of 204.087. The Netherlands finished second (197.978), narrowly followed by Sweden (197.283).

Germany's four victories this season—which were earned at Wellington (USA), Compiegne (FRA), and Aachen (GER) in addition to Falsterbo—have come with a wide variety of combinations, putting the country's depth in the sport on full display. Saturday's squad was among its least experienced at the level, but the young group rose to the occasion.

"We have three quite young riders from Germany [here]. They have a lot of experience, national and international, but to ride in a Nations Cup is something special.

Hartmut Lemmers

(GER)

"We in Germany are very lucky to have a lot of good riders who can participate in a Nations Cup, so it was not always the same three or four riders that were riding," he added. "We were very happy to win with so many different riders, because that is what is good for the sport in the future. We can build up from very different riders—not just from our Olympic team."

The last rider to enter the arena, Kämper-Meyer produced the highest marks of the day in the CDIO4* Grand Prix test, earning a score of 69.609% aboard Amanyara M Frh. 

"I was a little bit nervous today, because being the last rider always brings a little bit more pressure," said Kämper-Meyer, who was the leadoff rider for Germany at Lier (GER). "My horse was very concentrated today...I could ride from point to point, and this is what makes her really good, because when she gets into the test, she knows what she has to do."

Eger, a part of Germany's winning effort in the season's opening leg at Wellington, delivered a 67.391% score. The 27-year-old has developed her partner Tabledance 3, now 10, for five years, their journey beginning in the U25 division. Now, they are proving their consistency at the senior Grand Prix level.

"For me, this horse is super special. She has the kindest heart," Eger said. "I started with her in the U25 series and then I switched over to the Young Horse Grand Prix series, so it was a big step for us to grow in the Grand Prix sport, and now we are here. It's a deep relationship between us."

Frank was just three-tenths of a point behind with Lavaletta (67.087%), who had only shown at the FEI Grand Prix level once before. Germany was the only team to have all three of its riders score above 77 percent.

"It's an absolute honor for me to represent Germany in the Nations Cup on this world [stage]. It is overwhelming for us," she said. "We had some little mistakes in the canter work, but I'm so happy with the horse, because she really tries, and the both of us are not very experienced in the Grand Prix. I'm just so happy to be here and happy to be on the team with these amazing people."

Germany comfortably cliched the series title for the third year in a row, finishing with 52 points. The Netherlands earned second honors with 45 points, followed by Belgium (43 points). According to Lemmers, his country's consistent excellence in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series is a reflection of the federation's commitment to both winning in the present and building for the future.

"[The Nations Cup series] is very good for our head trainer, Monica Theodorescu. She can have an overview of how the horses and riders are developing. Then you always have three or four good riders together [on a team], and that is very good for the future," Lemmers said. "You are not only looking for Olympic teams, but also for other teams—what maybe in four years are Olympic teams.

"Today we had nice riding without pushing and stretching horses too deep," he added. "I'm very happy with this, how they performed."

FULL RESULTS

German Foal Championship comes up Saturday and Sunday

Escolar with 5 foals

When the prestigious German Foal Championship comes up tomorrow LIVE from Lienen at Clipmyhorse the best foals will be presented.

At the list of stallions with most foals are:

  • 5 by Escolar

  • 4 by Vjento

  • 4 by Most Wanted Nero von Bellin

  • 4 by V-Power

A total of 99 Dressage foals are qualified for the final. Both Saturday and Sunday it starts at 9.00.

Here you find the link for catalog and qualified foals.

31.000 euro top price colt by Vino Tinto / Fontaine TN at Westphalian online foal auction

Here you find the entire results.

PRESS RELEASE:

Young sire tops the price list Son of Vino Tinto achieves top price of 31,000 euros

Münster: 30 dressage-orientated young talents were up for sale this evening at the Westphalian online auction. 77 per cent of these found a new owner at an average price of 7,739 euro. A colt from the first vintage of Vino Tinto advanced to the top price of 31,000 euros.

The head number 1 in this auction lot was Vivant Vino. He is a son of Vino Tinto, who found his new home in the Netherlands last year at the Westphalian Spring Auction at a hammer price of 161,000 euros. This evening, 14 parties competed for the knockdown of his son, who was bred by Noortje Radstake, Netherlands, out of the Verb.Pr.St. Rubiera by Fontaine TN. The bids came from England, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. The virtual hammer for the strong moving bay finally fell with the 40th bid at 31,000 euros.

Head number 3 Vivalesco JD also cracked the 10,000 euro mark. Once again, it was the stallion Va Bene from the Wadenspanner stallion station, whose offspring have already impressed in previous online auctions this year. This son of Va Bene/Escolar (breeder and exhibitor: Dieter Joachim, Delbrück) descents from the damline of Florenciano, who was successful in Grand Prix competitions under the saddle of Hubertus Schmidt. The young stallion was knocked down to Luxembourg at a hammer price of 16,000 euros.

A total of 23 of the 30 foals on offer changed hands this evening. With an average price of 7,739 Euros, the Westphalian Studbook realised a total turnover of 178,000 Euros. Six of the foals sold will grow up outside of Germany in the future.

🇩🇰🇩🇰Selina Vittinghus med Atterupgaards Bernachi og Susanne Barnow med Kjeldgårdens Django vinder af indledende 5 års og 6 års Folksam Open i Falsterbo

Dagens vinder team fra venstre ejer og avler Krisitine Munch Sinding, rytter Selina Vittinghus og medejer Charlotte Hamilton sammen med 5 års DV hingsten Atterupgaards Bernachi e. Bon Courage/Caprimond. Privat foto.

5 års Folksam Open - de 12 bedste klar til finalen

Selina og “Benny” har medbragt sidste uges gode form fra UVM udtagelsen, og kunne med en super flot tur idag slå fast hvorfor de er blandt de også udtagne ekvipager til UVM i Verden i starten af august. Dagens score 88,000 for gangarter og 71,364% for program = samlet 79,682%.

På en skarp 2. plads finder vi endnu en dansker nemlig Anne-Marie Hosbond med Fürstenklang, som gik ad midten for 2. gang i dag nogensinde.

Selvom Emma Ahlberg er svensker, så medtages hun her som dansker med en flot debut og samlet nr. 6 sammen med SK Ivanna (helbror til hingsten Iron). Også klar til finalen er Katrine Kraglund med Hamiltons Tiger KIng placeret som nr. 7, og placeret som nr. 12 og sidste i finalen er det Fredensdals Impressive med Betina Jæger.

6 års Folksam Open - 12 ekvipager klar til finalen

Vinder af semfinalen Folksam Open for 6 års Kjeldgårdens Django e. Donkey Boy/De Noir, avlet af Jørgen Nielsen og ejet af Steffen Kristensen og Barnow Dressage og redet af Susanne Barnow.

Parret kommer også med en frisk UVM udtagelse som 1. reserve fra sidste uge, og viser en overbevisende tur i dag med dagens højeste score for gangarter 92.200 samt 70,167% for programmet. Samlet score på 81.184%

Finaleklar er også Michala Damm-Frydenberg med Vesterbundgårds Armani e. Freestyle / De Noir, avlet af R. Christensen & A. Pedersen og ejet af CVL Horses. En ekvipage der i løbet af foråret har været særdeles succesfulde med M-niveau, og viser i dag også hvorfor de kan blande sig helt i toppen. Parret slutter som samlet nr. 5. Dansk avlet Alibi´s Survivor med norske Caroline Hansen, som til dagligt er ansat hos Søren Wind er også finaleklar med en placering som nr. 9, mens Susanne Barnow også er finaleklar med Jack Daniel´s ABN placeret som nr. 11.

5 års klar til finalen

6 års klar til finalen

CHIO Aachen 2025: Standing Ovations for sensational winner Justin Verboomen in the Lindt-Prize (Press release)

The spectators celebrated the rider that had won over their hearts and who is now also the winner of the Lindt-Prize 2025, the Belgian show-jumper Justin Verboomen and his stallion, Zonik Plus, the dressage discovery of the year. Since the CHIO Aachen at the latest.

The sensation is perfect. It is Justin Verboomen and his self-schooled, nine-year-old Zonik Plus’ first Grand Prix season and the pair managed to qualify for the CHIO Aachen straight off. It was Verboomen’s first appearance at the World Equestrian Festival. And the Lindt-Prize went to a Belgian pair for the first time in the history of the CHIO – who in the proceeds left last year’s winners and Olympic silver medallists behind them, the most successful dressage rider of all time, Isabell Werth, and her Wendy de Fontaine. Verboomen was awarded a score of 89.40 percent, Werth 88.44 percent. Third place went to the delighted team Olympic gold medallist, Frederic Wandres with Bluetooth OLD, ahead of the Olympic bronze medallist, who came third in the MEGGLE-Prize, Becky Moody (GBR) with Jagerbomb (85.490).

The sensational thing was the way the triumph of Verboomen and his Hanoverian-bred Zonik son came about and how he was celebrated. It was the victory of harmony and smoothness.

Ideally, dressage riding is like dancing – two partners in harmony. The one leads and supports discreetly; the other partner accepts the lead and lets both shine out as a pair. That was precisely what Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus did today in the Lindt-Prize 2025. That is how one imagines dressage to be. Light, matter of course – effortlessness instead of control. All of which was accompanied by light, discreet melodies that were composed especially for the pair. “I wanted to make it smooth and harmonious so the people could feel the emotions… I want them to feel the sensitive part of Zonic and me. I want them to get goosebumps,“ explained Verboomen. He definitely achieved his aim, everyone in the Dressage Stadium in Aachen today felt the connection between the rider and Zonik Plus, whom Verboomen discovered and bought as a two-year-old in Portugal. He then brought Zonik back to Belgium when he was three and a half and has been schooling him ever since.

When the pair turned on to the last centre line of the freestyle, the spectators started clapping to the rhythm of the music. At first one was worried it might disturb Zonik Plus’ concentration, but that wasn’t the case. As the pair halted for the salute, the crowd jumped up on its feet – thunderous applause, whistling and standing ovations accompanied the pair on their way to the exit. Then, the score was announced: 89.40 percent! Even more cheering and jubilation!

Quotes

Justin Verboomen after the prize-giving ceremony: “I am overjoyed, my horse was unbelievable! I really had a super connection with him today. That was my main goal here at the competition this week. That is the most important thing for me!” Whether he had already grasped the fact that he had earned himself a place on the Winners’ Board on his first appearance in Aachen? He shook his head tentatively. Obviously not. But he knows what he wants for the future: “The only thing I want is to have the same feeling I had today in the Grand Prix and the Special.”

Isabell Werth gave her all with Wendy. She didn’t even make any mistakes in the one-tempi changes, as she had in the classes before. She too received enthusiastic applause in her “living room”. Werth’s summary: “Yesterday Wendy was on fire, today she was more relaxed. I am happy with the improvements that have occurred from day to day. The canter was much better and can improve a little more. The transitions were great; the walk was immediately there. She was dynamic, there were no big mistakes.

Whether she was a little disappointed at coming second? “No! As I said, I love to have competition, I love competing. We all do. Sometimes you have a percentage more, sometimes a percentage less. This is the challenge.“

Frederic Wandres said: “It is the last day and I am back on the podium. We showed a good development. My horse was good all week. It was a tough week with the weather conditions, it was so hot at the beginning and now rain, which is difficult for the horses. He was also happy with his new freestyle music under the motto “All you need is love”. “The music came just on time; I didn’t have chance to test it,” he revealed. But it all fitted perfectly.

CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg: “The big winner today is the sport. We received a lot of criticism in the run-up. You gave the answer to that today. We saw super pictures, super horses. Thank you to you all, your teams your grooms they all work so hard behind the scenes. I think today was a foretaste of what we will see next year at the World Championships.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

Photo: The sensational winner of the Lindt-Prize of the CHIO Aachen 2025, Justin Verboomen, on his Zonik Plus, as well as Ernst Tanner, Dr. Adalbert Lechner and Michal Spiller (Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lindt & Sprüngli AG, CEO of Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG and Managing Director of Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli Deutschland GmbH), Chief Judge Katrina Wüst and ALRV President Stefanie Peters. (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner).

CHIO Aachen 2025: Semmieke Rothenberger celebrates her first triumph at the Soers in the iWEST-Prize (press release)

Winner of the iWest-Prize, Semmieke Rothenberger on Farrington, together with her father Sven Rothenberger, Matthias Meyer (Managing Director of IWEST) and ALRV Supervisory Board member Peter Weinberg. (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Leonie Minten).

First victory at the CHIO Aachen and a new personal best – Semmieke Rothenberger won’t forget the Grand Prix Freestyle 2025 in the iWest-Prize in the Dressage Stadium at the Soers for the rest of her life.

“You have won in Aachen!!!” the national coach, Monica Theodorescu, rejoiced, kissing Semmieke Rothenberger on the cheek. Last year, the 25-year-old and her KWPN-bred gelding, Farrington, won the Final of the Piaffe-Prize, today they triumphed in the iWEST-Prize, the Grand Prix Freestyle of the CDI4*-Tour at the CHIO Aachen. What’s more, with a new personal best of 79.980 percent.

Kool & the Gang sang “It’s a celebration”. At the end of the Rothenberger and Farrington’s freestyle the crowd didn’t have to be asked twice. With rhythmic applause the spectators accompanied the pair through the last sequences of their fantastic choreography “That was a ride that I won’t forget as long as I live!” exclaimed Semmieke Rothenberger. “I noticed that the crowd started clapping very early on. But it was simply fantastic that they celebrated my horse. I mean, I celebrate him every day, but I find it absolutely wonderful that he impresses everyone else too!

Whereby she failed to mention that she too has contributed greatly to his success. She really has won everything that this sport has to offer, from Pony classes through to the U25 generation. She has also competed at the German Championships of the Seniors. But as the national coach said: Now she has also won in Aachen. A milestone in a career and one that other riders endeavour to achieve their whole life long. Her comment? “I am speechless.”

She left significantly more experienced trailing behind this evening. The Spanish rider, Borja Carrascosa finished second with Sir Hubert NRW on a score of 77.890 percent, followed by the 2014 Team World Champion, Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier with Valencia AS, in third place.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: WOTAX-Prize goes to Dinja van Liere and a “super superstar” (press release)

Dinja van Liere and her Mauro Turfhorst v. Zonik, the winning pair in the WOTAX-Prize, together with their groom Susan van Dongen and Horst Wollgarten (managing partner of WOTAX Steuerberatungs- und Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft). (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Leonie Minten).

Dutch victory in the WOTAX-Prize, the Intermédiaire I on Saturday evening. The World Championships bronze medallist, Dinja van Liere, presented her aspiring youngstar, Mauro Turfhorst, in whom she places big hopes for the future. Today, he collected his first gold rosette at the CHIO Aachen.

Dinja van Liere won the Intermédiaire I, the WOTAX-Prize with the just eight-year-old KWPN-bred stallion, Mauro Turfhorst by Zonik on a score of 75.294 percent. Van Liere’s eyes were sparkling when she began to rave about her four-legged sports partner, whom she has been schooling since he was a three-year-old and whom she came fourth with at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, as a six and seven-year-old. “You want me to tell you something about Mauro? That could take a while!” she joked. “I am a huge fan of his. The feeling he gives me when I am sitting in the saddle, is so light and easy. It is simply fun to ride him. All I have to do is remember the test. He does the rest: “He is going to be a super, superstar!”

The pair that came second in the Small Tour in Aachen on a score of 73.823 percent has a great deal more experience, they are namely the winners of the Prize of VUV-Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände, the Prix St. Georges, Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster. The 13-year-old Hanoverian-bred gelding proved once again that he is a specialist in the Small Tour in Aachen. He has been competing in the WOTAX-Prize since 2021, has won the class twice and come second two times before and added a further silver rosette to the list today. After his Prix St. Georges victory, he joked as to whether “Quizzie” could perhaps claim a place on the renowned Walk of Fame as the most successful horse of the Small Tour. He certainly deserves it!

Third place went to a World Champion, the 2024 World Champion Young Dressage Horse of the seven-year-olds, Life Time FRH under Charlott-Maria Schürmann. The fact that both Mauro Turfhorst and Schürmann with her eight-year-old Hanoverian-bred stallion by Livaldon competed here in Aachen, lent the competition an extra touch of excitement, because it was the first time that the two of them have taken part in the same class since the World Championships in Ermelo, where Mauro Turfhorst came fourth. Although two judges saw Schürmann and the elegant, dark chestnut stallion clearly in front, this time Life Time had to bow down. The pair was awarded a score of 73.647 percent.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus sensationally win the MEGGLE-Prize (press release)

The sensational winner of the MEGGLE-Prize, the Belgian Justin Verboomen, with his Zonik Plus together with Marina Meggle. (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Diana Wahl).

What a MEGGLE-Prize at the CHIO Aachen 2025! Personal bests for all top three riders and a Belgian newcomer that left Isabell Werth and her Olympic gold and silver medallist horse, Wendy, behind him. Plus, a pair from England that took the hearts of the crowd in Aachen by storm.

2025 is the first international Grand Prix season for the Belgian rider, Justin Verboomen, and his self-trained and just nine-year-old Zonik Plus. It was the second Spécial ever for both horse and rider. And then in the MEGGLE-Prize at the CHIO Aachen! The Belgian dressage rider and his black stallion didn’t let that deter them. The pair danced to a phenomenal victory and their personal best score of 80.745 percent. It was Verboomen’s first victory in the dressage arena in Aachen.

Second place went to Isabell Werth and Wendy, who were awarded a score of 80.106 percent after making mistakes in the one-tempi flying changes. This was also a personal best for the pair. The British rider, Becky Moody, and her self-bred Dante Weltino son, Jagerbomb, were delighted at coming third with a score of 78.404 percent. The third personal best.

Not a man of many words, Justin Verboomen said after the Grand Prix in the Prize of Family Tesch that he can’t wait to show Zonik Plus’s real potential in the dressage arena. Whether that had been the case today? “Not yet. But you will see it one day!” he promised. Whereby everyone was already totally impressed with the pair’s performance today.

Isabell Werth doesn’t shy competition. On the contrary. “It was great sport and the strong competition makes it spicy. That is the reason I am still here.” She wasn’t surprised by the performance of the new talents. “I saw Justin in Lier and it was clear to me that he wouldn’t try to be a gentleman. That is what we love to have: Exciting sport and competitive shows, that is what the spectators love.”

The British rider, Becky Moody, member of the team that won bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris, was overjoyed: “It is something else to ride into this arena. The crowd are fantastic and so knowledgeable.“ At the same time, the atmosphere brings challenges with it. “He was definitely very enthusiastic today in the arena! He didn’t want to stand still, but it is precisely this energy that makes the rest of his test so special. That is what we are all striving for finding the balance between energy and relaxedness.”

Tomorrow, we continue with the Lindt-Prize. CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg, is looking forward to the next encounter between the “big three” – and she is certainly not on her own: “We all know that Isabell (Werth) is at her best when she is challenged. Namely, the most successful dressage rider of all time then excels with top performances. It is going to be exciting!

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: “No mistakes and you are on the podium“ – Ingrid Klimke wins consteed-Prize

Ingrid Klimke and Vayron NRW, the winning pair in the consteed-Prize, together with groom Carmen Thiemann, Dr. Ariane Reinhart (former board member of Continental AG) and ALRV supervisory board member Peter Weinberg. (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner).

Ingrid Klimke and Vayron made expensive mistakes in the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize on Wednesday. They wanted to make sure that didn’t happen in today’s Grand Prix Spécial, the consteed-Prize. They totally achieved that aim.

Ingrid Klimke and Vayron won the Grand Prix Spécial, the consteed-Prize with a score of 74.128 percent, followed by the pair that came third in the Grand Prix: Henri Ruoste (FIN) with Tiffanys Diamond (73.872). The winners of the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize, Isabel Freese (NOR) and Total Hope, had to be satisfied with third place today and a score of 73.660 percent.

Ingrid Klimke was delighted that her plan came off after the Grand Prix on Wednesday, when she and Vayron made expensive mistakes in the canter tour on the centre line with the pirouettes, an exercise that the Westphalian stallion finds difficult due to his sheer size – 1.90 metres, as his rider explained. After that the two-time team Olympic gold medallist and ex-European Eventing Champion followed a tip the former national eventing coach told her. “Hans Melzer always used to say: ‘No mistakes and you are on the podium!‘ That was my motto today. I said to myself I want to go through the exercises one by one without any mistakes.“

It worked. And Vayron performed immaculately. “I had the feeling he was completely focused in the Spécial. He marched down the long sides on his own, so that I thought in the extended trot: Wait a minute! But he was great to ride and he was totally in his element,” the Master of Riding explained about the eagerness of the Vitalis son, who won team silver for Denmark at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 with his former rider, Daniel Bachmann Andersen.

Ingrid Klimke emphasised that the national dressage coach has contributed greatly to her and the horse getting used to each other so quickly. “I must say a big thank you to Monica Theodorescu. Since I have had him, she comes every week and has always said we will get there. I think you will manage it as soon as he learns to trust you.“

A victory at the CHIO Aachen definitely shows that the two of them are on the best track.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: Prize of Family Tesch goes to Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine (press release)

Winner of the Prize of Family Tesch, Isabell Werth, together with Siegward Tesch and ALRV President Stefanie Peters. (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner).

Isabell Werth and her Olympic mare, Wendy de Fontaine, competed at the CHIO Aachen for the second time and they clinched the victory of the Grand Prix, the Prize of Family Tesch, for the second time today. Whereby it was a closer race than many had expected today.

As the third pair to go in the Prize of Family Tesch, Isabell Werth and Wendy put in an almost immaculate test with highlights in the piaffes, which was awarded a score of 79.761 percent and top of the table. But it was too early to celebrate yet. Because the final duo, the Belgian rider, Justin Verboomen, and his nine-year-old, self-trained Hanoverian stallion, Zonik Plus, had received plenty of praise before arriving in Aachen.

It is the first Grand Prix season for the beautiful black horse that looks just like his dam’s sire, Hohenstein, and who has been scoring higher and higher marks from show to show. In Lier he was awarded 78.543 percent, which significantly contributed towards his home country winning their first FEI Nations Cup ever. The pair was thus awaited with trepidation in Aachen, ultimately, they scored 78.348 percent, coming second behind Isabell Werth and Wendy. Whereby the judge at E, Katrina Wüst, saw Verboomen and Zonik Plus in first place with a score of over 81 percent.

Frederic Wandres and his reliable sports partner, Bluetooth, came third. After a magnificent round the pair from Hagen were awarded a score of 76.891 percent. Like Werth and Wendy Wandres and Bluetooth formed part of the German team that won Olympic gold in Paris.

Asked about her mare, Wendy, Isabell Werth swarmed: “She is so clear in her mind. She always knows when it is important. She is still very young. She is only eleven. But her whole body has improved over the last year. We are getting to know each other much better.“ Sounds like there may be even more potential there.

The runner-up, Justin Verboomen, is also convinced of that. To the more or less rhetorical question as to whether he was surprised by his result today, the 37-year-old Belgian rider simply answered “No!”, adding “Zonik Plus really is a special horse and I am very proud of him, very happy with the progress I have made with him over the short period of time. He still needs a bit of time and I can’t wait to show what he does at home in the tests.”  

It will be exciting to see how the pairs perform in the coming challenges at the CHIO Aachen, the Grand Prix Spécial, the MEGGLE Prize on Saturday and the Freestyle competition, the Lindt-Prize on Sunday.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: German dressage trio unbeatable in the Lambertz Nations Cup

Isabell Werth and her Wendy, who won the Lambertz Nations' Cup with the German dressage team at the CHIO Aachen 2025. (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner).

The winners in the Lambertz Nations Cup have been listed since 1977. It is easier to count how often Germany hasn’t won this international game between the dressage nations – four times. However, the new victory was no sure-fire success either.

The German team was actually supposed to comprise of four members. But at the last moment, Sönke Rothenberger withdraw Fendi and it was too short notice to appoint a pair to replace him. So, Katharina Hemmer with Denoix PCH, Frederic Wandres with Bluetooth OLD and Isabell Werth with Wendy de Fontaine had to hold their own without him. A task they mastered with flying colours. Hemmer and her Destano son were awarded a score of 75.413 percent, putting them in the lead. Wandres and Bluetooth managed to top that with a score of 76.891 percent. Isabell Werth and Wendy’s was the icing on the cake: 79.761 percent, which also meant the victory in the individual classification for the pair. The German team’s total score amounted to 232.065 percent.

Isabell Werth may not have been a member of every German Nations Cup victory to-date, but of many of them. And nevertheless, she raved: “’Winning a Nations Cup is always something special and in Aachen it is very special.”

The national coach, Monica Theodorescu, was proud of her team: “Nobody made any errors and I am very happy,” she summed up, albeit admittedly, hardly surprised. Regarding Rothenberger’s withdrawal she commented that it had been a shame that it came too late to appoint a substitute and that they had simply had to deal with the situation.

Second place for the Belgian team on a total score of 219.804 points was a small sensation, which was above all attributable to the performance of Justin Verboomen and his just nine-year-old Zonik Plus. The pair also came second in the individual competition on a score of 78.348 percent. The team was completed by Larissa Pauluis with Flambeau (72.065), Domien Michiels with Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof (69.391) and Charlotte Defalque with Botticelli (68.283). Their combined score: 219.804 points and the best result a Belgian team has ever achieved in the Dressage Stadium at the Soers. The quartet’s comment about this historic achievement? “Nothing, we are still in shock!”

Third place went to Sweden with an accumulated score of 216.935 points. The team comprised of Patrik Kittel with Touchdown (73.587), Maria von Essen with Invoice (72.565), Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén with Hyatt (70.783) and Caroline Darcourt with Lord Django (66.239). Patrik Kittel was not only delighted about the team’s result, but also about that of his fellow competitors: “It is nice to see everything change and new riders and new teams coming up. It is the same with Sweden, we have new riders on the team and with Stefan (Jansson) a new chef d ’équipe. So, we came to Aachen with no expectations and now we are sitting here coming third – that is really cool!

CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg agreed: “I am completely with Patrik. So many new faces! It keeps the sport alive. It was super sport and great pictures for our sport.”


All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: First Grand Prix victory in Aachen for Isabel Freese from Norway in the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize (Press Release)

The photo shows the winner's podium in the HAVENS Horse Feed-Prize at the CHIO Aachen 2025: from left Sandra Sysojeva, Isabel Fresse and Henri Ruoste together with (l.) Maarten van der Heijden (Chief Judge), Joris Kaanen (m.) (Managing Director HAVENS), and ALRV Supervisory Board member Dr. Thomas Förl (r.). (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner).

A huge victory for Isabel Freese! The Norwegian rider, who has been living in Germany for a long time, won the Havens Horsefeed-Prize, the Grand Prix of the CDI4* Tour with her Olympic horse, Total Hope.

It was an international podium in the prize-giving ceremony of the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize in the Dressage Stadium: Norway ahead of Poland and Finland. Isabel Freese won the class with the Oldenburg-bred stallion, Total Hope on a score of 74.261 percent. It was the first time that the 46-year-old has won a Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen. Second place went to Sandra Sysojeva with the also Oldenburg-bred mare, Maxima Bella (73.696). Henri Ruoste finished third with his Danish-bred mare, Tiffanys Diamond (73.087).

The best German pair were Semmieke Rothenberger and Farrington in fourth place on a score of 72.565 percent.

The winner couldn’t have been happier. “I am simply mega, mega, mega happy to win here in Aachen! That is simply above all my expectations!” Above all, she was delighted with her meanwhile 13-year-old stallion, who descends from Totilas (Edward Gal/Matthias Alexander Rath) and Weihegold (Isabell Werth), both of whom already excelled here in Aachen in the Big Tour. Total Hope did credit to both of them today. “I am super happy with my horse. He was a bit tense at the beginning when the spectators started clapping. But he coped with it really well! He was totally with me – it was simply great fun,” she raved.

Isabel Freese and her fellow competitors were able to totally live out their exuberance later in the prize-giving ceremony. The horses were namely dispensed from taking part and the riders did the lap of honour on foot, galloping around the arena spiritedly.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

CHIO Aachen 2025: Prize of VUV-Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände Aachen goes to Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster again (press release)

Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster ended their performance in the Prix St. Georges, the Prize of VUV-Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände just in time before the heavens opened. But even if they had had to ride in the middle of the storm, one can rely on “Quizzie”.

Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster won the Prix St. Georges, the Prize of VUV-Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände on a score of 73.912 percent. It is the second victory in succession in this class for the pair, after coming second twice in previous years. The perfect start to the weekend in the Dressage Stadium at the Soers, the team Olympic gold medallist is convinced: “Quizzie has been our lucky charm for the past five years already. It is always good to get off to a good start in the Small Tour!” But in spite of both the horse and rider’s experience, success never comes easy here: “Although Quizmaster is very experienced, we still have to put everything into practice in the arena.” Especially since adverse weather conditions came into play. “Today, we experienced the entire range of weather conditions. We even had a light thunderstorm during our test. But it was okay. And he still fully demonstrated all of his strengths.”

The weather was definitely more than just a harmless small talk topic of conversation today at the Soers. The program in both the main stadium and dressage stadium had to be interrupted from time to time. Ingrid Klimke's Diafys OLD was completely unimpressed by the involuntary break. The pair have been together since 2024, but didn’t start competing until this year. And yet the 2023 National Champion of the seven-year-old dressage horses purred through the Dressage Stadium in Aachen as if he had known his rider for years and was rewarded with a score of 72.647 percent for his performance.

A Dutch duo came third, Dinja van Liere and the eight-year-old KWPN stallion, Mauro Turfhorst, who finished fourth at the World Championships of the Young Dressage Horses, both as a six and seven-year-old, and also excelled today here in Aachen.

All CHIO Aachen 2025 results.

(Photo: CHIO Aachen/Diana Wahl).

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