Team Podium at the FEI Driving World Championship 2025 - Combined Ponies - Haras Du Pin (FRA)

© MGuillamot

22.09.2025

The Netherlands set the pace at the 12th FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies to win team gold and two individual titles in Le Pin au Haras (FRA). 

Singles

The first Championship title was awarded to Tobias Bücker (GER) who first won gold in 2003. Rising from second after the Dressage and Marathon to win another individual world title, Tobias drove a finely judged Cones round to add only 1.03 to his score for a total of 136.53. Overnight leader and Dressage winner Vera Bütikofer (SUI) was the last to drive but had an unfortunate ball at the midway point in the course to add 3.00 and drop a place to silver on 137.50. Marathon winner Sebastien Pallen (BEL) was only just behind on 138.39 for the bronze medal after adding 1.90 in time penalties to his overnight score. The margins were tight for the top three places with only 1.86 separating them at the end of the event.

Pairs

It was an even tighter contest in the Pairs class as Dressage leader Maria Buchwald (DEN) had to settle for silver after defending champion Rodinde Rutjens (NED) won an unprecedented fourth consecutive title by just 0.31. Edging ahead after winning the Marathon, Rodinde maintained her overnight lead despite a ball rolling to add 3.00 to her score for 137.43. Maria was second overall after the Marathon and produced a double clear in the Cones to apply the pressure and finish on 137.74. 

Despite a gap of 10 years since she had last competed at an FEI Driving World Championship, when she won the 2015 Pony Pair world title, Anna Grayston (GBR) exceeded her own expectations to take bronze with 143.89. Driving a new pair of ponies this season who have little experience at this level, Anna produced a double clear in the Cones to seal her podium place. Stating beforehand that she came to Le Pin without the pressure she’d had 10 years ago, she rose to the occasion to take home a surprise medal for the British.

Four-in-Hands

Another Dutch defending champion who arrived in Le Pin as a favourite, Marijke Hammink (NED) took a third consecutive individual title after winning the Marathon and Cones to total 137.56. Hot on her heels was multiple German champion Steffen Brauchle (GER) who had been second overnight and maintained his place with another double clear to finish only 1.18 behind on 138.74 and take silver. Dressage winner Yannik Scherrer (SUI) took bronze on 145.27. Showing consistency at an FEI World Championship, the top eight of the 16 Drivers in the class all produced double clears in the Cones.

Team medals

Despite winning two of the three individual titles, The Netherlands were pushed hard by the Germans and ultimately only 1.11 separated them. In addition to gold medallists Rodinde and Marijke, the winning Dutch team comprised Marije Willemsen and Dirk Bastiaansen from the Singles class, Cas Hendriks from the Pairs and Dianne Legematt - Van Bemmel from the Four-in-Hands. Taking the lowest score from each duo of Drivers across the three phases, The Netherlands totalled 414.83, having added only 0.36 after the Cones.

The German team drew on Anna Genkinger in addition to Tobias from the Singles, Carl Holzum and Christof Weihe from the Pairs and Patrick Harrer joined Steffen from the Four-in-Hands and their total was 415.94. For Belgium, Frederick Jans joined Sebastien from the Singles, Pieter Van Den Broeck and Nicolas Deudon represented the Pairs, and Julien Vanhoenacker and Tinne Bax from the Four-in-Hands contributed to their total of 429.09. They were the only team who finished on their Dressage and Marathon totals having posted four zero scores in the Cones. The remaining teams on the leaderboard were Switzerland, Denmark and France. 

In a poignant gesture during the final medal ceremony, the grooms joined the Drivers on the podium for the individual presentations. For the teams, all six Drivers stood together.  

The FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies rounds off a busy series of international FEI Driving Championships which began with the Young Horses in Hungary. The Dutch have dominated taking most of the gold medals, but they have faced stiff opposition every step of the way.

Next for Driving fans it’s the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2025-2026 series for the top ranked Horse Four-in-Hands, which starts in Lyon (FRA) on Saturday 1st November 2025. 

Results here