Friday – Verboomen makes history with Grand Prix Special triumph
Belgium had never before claimed a medal at a major Dressage championship, whether in team or individual competition. That changed on Friday, Aug. 29, when Justin Verboomen (BEL) made history in Crozet (FRA) by winning gold in the Grand Prix Special at the Jiva Hill Stables FEI Dressage European Championship with his exceptional stallion Zonik Plus. Their 82.371% score left no doubt. Silver went to Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and Mount St John Freestyle, while bronze was awarded to Isabell Werth (GER) and Wendy de Fontaine.
Early tension in Crozet
From the very first athletes, the atmosphere was electric, with serious medal contenders entering the arena early in the day. The top 30 combinations from the Grand Prix faced a wide range of weather conditions – from sunshine to heavy showers and gusts of wind – that kept both athletes and spectators on edge.
One of the earliest challengers was Charlotte Fry (GBR) with her World Champion and Olympic bronze medallist Glamourdale. After a disappointing day in the Grand Prix, Fry was determined to fight back, taking maximum risk in the trot tour. With energy, power and courage, the highlights were outstanding extensions, one-tempi changes and lateral work. But some shaky transitions and a less consistent piaffe held the score to 75.289%. It was enough for an early lead, but far from the podium by the end of the day.
Verboomen and Zonik Plus after winning the Grand Prix Special in the rain. (FEI / Leanjo de Koster)
Hemmer delivers the test of her life
Next into the arena was Katharina Hemmer (GER) with Denoix PCH (owned by Nancy Gooding and Hubertus Schmidt). Completing the test of her life, the chestnut gelding showed relaxation, uphill movement and a harmonious, classical picture with not a single mistake. Their 78.678% kept them at the top of the leaderboard for a long time and eventually secured them fourth place.
“I am so amazed,” smiled Hemmer afterwards. “It doesn’t often happen that you can truly enjoy your test while riding it, but today was one of those days. Denoix wanted to do everything right, he really gave it all.”
Great Britain’s Becky Moody and her home bred Jagerbomb (owned by the rider and Jo Cooper) were also looking to make amends after mistakes in the Grand Prix. Their beautiful, still contact was textbook. While his passage may not be the most scopey, it has the rhythm of a metronome. With 77.796%, Moody finished just behind Hemmer in fifth.
Carl Hester (GBR) once again gave a masterclass in classical riding with Fame (owned by Fiona Bigwood, Mette Dahl and the rider), though tension in the walk left him just short of Moody’s score.
Norway’s Isabel Freese and Total Hope, third in this year’s FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Basel (SUI), impressed again with a solid Grand Prix Special that scored 74.316% for tenth place, easily qualifying for Sunday’s Freestyle.
Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD (owned by Hof Kasselmann) followed with a fault-free performance. His piaffe, passage and pirouettes still lacked some power and have room to develop further. Their 75.942% left them in seventh.
Verboomen’s moment of magic
Then it was time for the sensation of the moment: Justin Verboomen (BEL) and Zonik Plus (owned by Verboomen). You could hear a pin drop in the stadium as spectators held their breath. The lightness, suppleness, and perfect balance between collection and relaxation captivated the crowd and the judges alike. Always with his ears pricked, attentive yet soft in every step, Zonik Plus danced his way to 82.371%.
With Werth, Laudrup-Dufour and Van Liere still to go, Verboomen’s victory was not yet certain, but the Belgian had thrown down a historic challenge.
Isabell Werth (GER) and Wendy de Fontaine (owned by Chateau de Fontaine and Madeleine Winter-Schulze) gave it their all, but mistakes crept into the one-tempi changes in the canter tour, keeping them just shy of 80%. Their 79.027% secured bronze for the most decorated athlete in history.
“We started this season quite late and I can feel we are not yet at peak form,” Werth admitted. “It was a challenge to reach the podium, but there were many things that pleased me today. In the Freestyle I want to take more risk – I will go for it!” she laughed.
Mount St John Freestyle and Laudrup-Dufour deliver
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and Mount St John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour Aps and Mount St John Equestrian) then entered the arena to breathless anticipation. Their performance was a joy to watch, soft and elastic, but a major mistake in the one-tempi changes – scored as low as 3.7 – proved costly. Even so, the rest of the test was of such high quality that they still posted 81.687% to secure silver.
“She felt absolutely wonderful. She was so soft, I really could present her in the most supple way. Aiming for gold is hard with such an amazing group of riders. I’m super proud of Freestyle. The scores of the other combinations motivate me to get better. On Sunday we will give it everything,” she said.
Final competitor of the day was Dinja van Liere (NED) with Hermès, who took double individual bronze at the World Championships 2022 in Herning. As always, Hermès delivered a strong piaffe and passage, but some points were lost in the trot tour. Their 75.486% left them outside the medals.
A golden day for Belgium
Verboomen was left almost speechless after clinching his historic medal, one that delivered not only personal glory but also Belgium’s first ever Dressage gold.
“I still cannot believe what just happened. I felt so much pressure yesterday and today, also pressure that I put on myself. That was hard to handle. Zonik is still so young and I feel like we have so much to learn together. I am speechless.”
Saturday is a rest day for human and equine athletes in Crozet. On Sunday the action continues with the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Sunday – Verboomen doubles up with Freestyle gold
The Freestyle finale of the Jiva Hill Stables FEI Dressage European Championship 2025 in Crozet (FRA) was a true nail-biter. The top three combinations all delivered tests of exceptional quality, yet none escaped without errors. In the end it was Justin Verboomen (BEL) who, after taking gold in Friday’s Grand Prix Special, also claimed the Freestyle title aboard his own stallion Zonik Plus. With Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) in silver and Isabell Werth (GER) in bronze, the podium mirrored that of the Special.
Verboomen will be welcomed home as a hero: never before had Belgium won a medal at a major Dressage Championship. By collecting two golds in one weekend, he has written history for his nation. Scoring a new personal best of 89.964%, the modest Belgian could hardly believe what he had achieved.
“This result is a surprise for me. I am so proud, Zonik is still so young. Test after test I feel him becoming more mature. He is always attentive to me,” said Verboomen.
Early thrills in the opening groups
From the very first group the competition delivered excitement. Patrik Kittel (SWE) completed his best test of the Championship with Touchdown (owned by Sommarkvarn AB), dancing perfectly to his rhythmic music for 81.139%, which was in the end good enough for sixth.
His compatriot Maria von Essen (SWE) also impressed, showing the piaffe and passage strengths of Invoice (owned by Alexanders Hovslageri) to score 80.193% for seventh place. The black gelding may not be the biggest in size, but he showed great ability to switch gears. A small hesitation at the end of the two-tempi changes kept Von Essen just below Kittel.
Carl Hester (GBR) presented Fame (owned by Fiona Bigwood, Mette Dahl and Hester) with masterful technical skill. Despite a mistake in the two-tempis, the 58-year-old laughed afterwards: “Yes, I had a few old-man mistakes. The atmosphere here is fantastic, the crowd is very close which makes it quite exciting.”
Charlotte Fry (GBR) entered next with Glamourdale (owned by the athlete and Van Olst Horses), aiming to defend her 2023 European Freestyle silver. However, tension crept in from the very start. Despite the stallion’s extraordinary uphill canter, their 79.573% kept them out of medal contention.
Emotion and farewell moments
Dinja van Liere (NED) experienced an emotional test with Hermes (owned by Joop van Uytert), finishing on 77.782% in what she revealed would be their last performance together. Tearfully she shared:
“Hermes has been great the whole week. We wanted to give it all today. It was a difficult ride, because it was our final one. I can’t say much more now, but I am sure he will have a great future ahead of him.”
Norway’s Isabell Freese and the expressive Total Hope OLD (owned by Lone Boegh Hendriksen, Oivind Bache and Paul Schockemöhle) powered their way to 80.593% and eighth place.
Werth raises the bar
The tension built in the final group. First up, team gold medallist Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD (owned by Hof Kasselmann) produced a flowing ‘love’-themed Freestyle for 81.771% and fifth place.
Dressage queen Isabell Werth (GER) then took to the arena for her 17th European Championship. With Wendy de Fontaine (owned by Chateau de Fontaine and Madeleine Winter-Schulze), she delivered absolute class, hitting every beat of the music with spot-on piaffe, passage, pirouettes and extended paces. Her 88.046% earned bronze: her third medal of this Championship, her 29th at a European Championship and an incredible 55th medal across all major championships.
“Wendy was fantastic. I think no one was without mistakes today, it was a tough competition between us. Today I was getting closer to the form I want to have with Wendy: being able to present her in the very best way. She gave her heart for me today,” Werth said.
Just off the podium was Britain’s Becky Moody with her home-bred Jagerbomb (owned by Moody and Jo Cooper). Their cheerful Beatles Freestyle put a smile on everyone’s face. With a high degree of difficulty, they earned 86.982% and fourth place.
Laudrup-Dufour piles on the pressure
The crowd held its breath as Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and Mount St. John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour ApS and Mount St John Freestyle) entered. Focused and expressive, the mare danced through her test with just one error in the two tempis. With 89.821% she moved ahead of Werth, leaving only Verboomen to go.
“I was very pleased with our test, but a little disappointed we just missed out on the gold. It was so close, between our rides, but also with the scores. One thing is certain: Justin and I will be battling for medals many more times in the future,” said Laudrup-Dufour with a smile.
Belgian history made
The arena fell silent as the Special gold-medallists returned: Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. Their harmonious, emotional test captured the audience. A bold moment came when Zonik Plus transitioned into canter out of a half-pass in trot, and the crowd exploded as they finished. Their 89.964% secured gold by the slimmest of margins.
Explaining his choice of Freestyle, Verboomen said, “I wanted everyone to feel the emotion, and to keep the connection with my horse. His strength is that he always wants to show his very best. If I don’t make mistakes, he doesn’t either.”
Katharina Hemmer (GER), participating at her first senior Championship with Denoix PCH (owned by Nancy Gooding and Hubertus Schmidt), closed the show as the last combination to go on 78.882%.
With sold-out crowds for both the Special and the Freestyle, the Jiva Hill stables FEI Dressage European Championship in Crozet ended on the highest of notes, and with a new star rising to the very top: Belgium’s Justin Verboomen with Zonik Plus.
FULL RESULTS here.
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