Grade I individual champion Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance,

posted the highest score of the day of 78.792. © FEI / Leanjo de Koster

The FEI Para Dressage European Championship in Ermelo (NED) commenced this morning with the Grade II individual medals decided. 

Germany’s team stalwart Heidemarie Dresing clinched the gold with a classy performance riding the 10-year-old Poesie 143 for a score of 77.267. This was the young horse’s first Championship, and Heidemarie was thrilled with their result. 

“I’m very happy with her performance, especially because she is not that experienced. She started off the test a bit tense, but she did so well and she produced some great trot work,” Heidemarie said of her and Nadine Plaster’s Oldenburg mare. 

“She’s quite a sensitive mare, so it’s difficult to find that balance between being energetic and too calm, but we found that in part today and I have very strong hopes for her in the future.” 

Many athletes have decided to take the opportunity this year to present their younger horses and give them some much needed experience of a Championship atmosphere, Heidemarie being one of them. 

“I’m really aiming to build Poesie up for the future [with this experience]. I want her to be with me all the way until the Paralympic Games in Brisbane 2032,” she said of her talented equine partner. 

The silver medal went to Katrine Kristensen of Denmark with her partner from the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, Goerklintgaards Quater, with the combination finishing on a score of 74.586. 

“I’m so satisfied with Quater today, he really tried to stay focused in the arena and I took a very cautious approach,” Katrine said of the 17-year-old gelding.

“I didn’t press him too much to give him a very good experience, as we are in here two more times this week.” 

The Danish warmblood gave Katrine a fluid, relaxed test allowing her to ride into the transitions between the walk and trot movements which punctuate this A test. 

“It’s the hard part of riding in this Grade because we need to have an active trot but a relaxed walk, and we have to trust that if we ask the horse for more, they also stay calm in the walk,” Katrine explained. “But today, I think I managed that balance between them.” 

Katrine also announced that she is competing while 21 weeks pregnant with her second child at this event. “I could feel the baby kick as I went up the centre line, as if they were saying 'come on!',” she beamed. 

Taking the bronze medal was Great Britain’s Jemima Green with the expressive and exciting Fantabulous, scoring 73.000 at the first Championship for both. 

Elated with their result, Jemima was emotional when talking of their time in the arena together.

“I’m just very overwhelmed and surprised, I wasn’t expecting this at our first Championship as he’s only seven,” she smiled through the tears.

“It was such a big ask of him and he really tried for me, he felt nervous, but he really worked with me. You just hope these kinds of outcomes find you, but until it really happens, you don’t want to actually realise it.” 

Latvia’s Snikus crowned champion once more

Retaining their Grade I individual Champion title were crowd favourites, Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, posting the highest score of the day of 78.792. 

The pair performed a graceful and accurate test, but ever the competitor - speaking through his sister Elene Brigman - Rihards felt there was more to improve upon for the team test, on Friday. 

“Of course, Rihards is happy with first place, but he knows some little things that could be improved which we will try to get on point and even better for the next start,” Elene said of the result. 

Being a seasoned campaigner with multiple World, European and Paralympic medals to his name, the 17-year-old Latvian warmblood King of the Dance knows when he is in the white boards of the arena and when he needs to perform.

“He really enjoys competing and actually being the king of the dance, he knows it’s his job and both he and Rihards are very similar in that way,” she said, to which Rihards smiles. 

Making it a battle for the title was Italian world number one, Sara Morganti riding Mariebelle, finishing on a score of 77.414 to claim the silver. 

“The test felt beautiful because the mare was really listening to me,” Sara said of her partner from the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.

“She was attentive and really concentrating, so it was one of those tests that you hope to have in your life, where it all comes together.” 

The 13-year-old Belgian warmblood gave Sara an active ride, really demonstrating to the crowds just how much trust exists between the horse and athlete.

“One of the main things that made me really happy is that she was very calm, which is my main aim of the test,” Sara said of their performance. 

For the second time today, bronze was claimed by Great Britain, this time Mari Durward-Akhurst took the accolade with the ever-dependable Grade I expert, Athene Lindebjerg on a score of 75.958. 

The combination has really solidified their partnership in the 12 months since their bronze medal winning performance in Paris, and Mari was delighted with the horse’s test today.

“She felt amazing, it was a really good test, she was so forward. She loved it and that’s what really matters,” she said of the 18-year-old mare. “It makes it so special because she just loves every minute, as do I, but it’s just so nice that she enjoys it so much.”

Battle for the Grade III medals 

Finishing up the first day was the hotly contested Grade III individual competition, which saw the home nation claim two of the three medals on offer. 

Gold went to Rixt van der Horst with the impressive young horse Eisma's Royal Fonq N.O.P. The Westphalian chestnut gelding and the team steadfast that is Rixt entered the arena as the first combination to go and held onto their lead throughout with an unbeatable score of 77.100. 

“It’s always exciting to be the first one into the arena and Fonq was a little tense, but I think we did a proper test with no big mistakes so I’m very happy”, Rixt said. 

“I think the picture was really harmonious and he settled in, but I was also pleased with the level of activity. It’s really nice to be here on home soil and I feel a little bit of pressure with everyone expecting results after having such a good result in Paris, but it’s really nice to be here.” 

Team compatriot, Tessa Baaijens-van de Vrie took the bronze medal with a score of 73.000 at what is her mare’s first ever Championship.

“I am very happy with Happy Grace,” Tessa smiled, speaking of her and J.P. Baaijens’ Dutch warmblood. 

“At first she was scared of all the flowers, but her trot was very nice, so she is a drama queen but a lovely one. I was particularly pleased with the walk on the long rein, we have trained for it so much and now, for the first time, she did it well and she was relaxed.” 

Interrupting the Dutch duo was Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen, who took the silver medal with Jolene Hill to score 76.400. 

The combination performed a cohesive test. 

“I’m just happy to have her back in the arena and with the level of fluency I got in the test. The transitions are our strength and going back and forward between the strides, but to be honest, I just enjoyed the moment,” he said, clearly pleased with the result.

Tobias also announced that this Championship is to be the 17-year-old mare’s final competition.

“She’s happy and I’m just going to enjoy my last competition with her, she has been with me for so many years now, and we never competed without getting a medal, so I wanted to stop at the top.” 

More medals on day two at Ermelo

Thursday sees the culmination of the individual Championship titles with the battle for the Grade IV and V medals being contested, leading with Grade IV at 10:00, followed by the Grade V competition starting at 13:30. 

FULL RESULTS